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Wahoo’s Fish Taco: 100 units in 5 years
September 3rd, 2009, 6:25 am · 26 Comments · posted by Nancy Luna, Staff Writer
Marking a major strategy change in its 20-year history, Wahoo’s Fish Taco has halted plans to build company-operated restaurants.
Instead, it will focus on franchising.
The Santa Ana-based chain, founded in 1988, has hired Tom Orbe to lead a major franchising effort.
Orbe, who owns a Wahoo’s in Temecula, said Wahoo’s wants to build 100 new new franchise units over the next five years.
“This marks a huge shift, because we’re not looking to build more company stores. We’re looking to franchise,” Orbe said during a recent phone interview.
When an iconic chain such as Wahoo’s starts to franchise, red flags go up. It often means the original owners are not involved in future growth, and therefore, the quality of the restaurant might go down.
Orbe promises that won’t be the case with Wahoo’s, a beloved Southern California chain known for its fiercely loyal fans.
Wahoo's founders
New franchisees will be vetted by Wahoo’s owners Wing Lam, Ed Lee and Mingo Lee to ensure that they are “passionate about Wahoo’s,” Orbe said.
The 55-unit chain will focus on expanding in Oregon, California, Texas, Florida and Virgina.
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Are they trying to answer a question that isn’t being asked?
I used to be a fan of this place, but the $11 combo for chicken and rice. Come on now…
Quality has gone down over the years also…..
It’s all about revenue and generating it with as little overhead cost associated with it as possible for the Franchisor. Franchises make Franchisor’s money, when done right it can be substantial. Corporate stores are a heavy cost to operate and manage. Franchises, if managed properly, can generate a sizable income, with little overhead to the Franchisor….when run properly. Time and
Nooooooo! As a regular patron of Wahoos, I do not see this as a good thing.
Risky, risky, risky. Similar moves have killed other restaurants.
I think this is do or die. They’ll either become a step closer to being a household name, or they’ll all fold.
agreed!
I’ve never understood how this place has stayed in business……………the quality and price aren’t there!
watch, in a few years, wahoo’s is going to file ffor bankruptcy. fast growth = bad move.
look at circuit city. there gone.
The food is not good. I tried it 3 times just to be sure. Yuck!
Why don’t they just use bigger tortillas?
misleading headline. i thought they were making their taco 3 times as large! i still like it there. the banzai burrito, blackened fish with green sauce!
This will really make a dent in the Orange County Economy. Maybe the “Science Dude” will give us his take on it. (Don’t disagree with him or he will delete your blog.) You see, Gary doesn’t believe in free speech.
He is kinda touchy.
I just like to say for the record that Gary (aka science dude) is the hardest working reporter here at OCR!
We went there one time. The food is awful with no flavor and pricey.
This is not news.
This is an advertisment. Why is the OCR turning ads into news? Did Whahoo just buy a full page and this editorial content was tossed in to sweeten the deal ?
SHAME!
From the negativity of many of the comments, I’d hardly call this an advertisement.
I don’t know, I lived off this place in college..it was great food and at the time they had coupons. But another poster said it best, 11 bucks for rice and some crappy beef, it used to be great quality.
If they don’t regulate the franchises close enough, they will tarnish the reputaion even further… I wish them the best though.
TO THE MODERATOR AT THE REGISTER -
might you not want to delete Jake’s comment about “a bunch of Chinese”?
If P.F. Chang’s were described as being run by “a bunch of whites” and that were given as a reason for the food quality, would that not be racist and offensive?
I like Rubio’s better than Wahoo’s. However, the best stufff is in the little hole-in-the-wall places. Chains always have lower quality and standards.
Wahoo’s sucks; if I wanted Asian Mexican I would go looking for it… If I want Mexican with a beach/surf feel I will go to a hole in the wall in many places and GET REAL Fish Taco’s not some bland tasting grilled fish with Asian rice
(Before you get on your high horse about my comments: I’m Asian and I can’t stand Wahoo’s)…
Rubio’s is MUCH better; yet other chains like Chronic Taco’s are just as good - Stick with the independents if you can. My favorite in OC is El Burrito Jr (an LA small chain - but run by people who know how to cook the food and how to not be an arrogant bunch of jerks)
One of the first to open will be in the new food court at UC Irvine.They already have the sign up.
WHOOOOOOOOOOOOO, wait a minute before you go off the deepend!
First, I have been a fan of Wahoo’s for quite a few years and Wahoo’s has the best quality food out there. When you eat at a majority of the Mexican type restaurants out there you feel like you cannot move afterwards. You feel sluggish and really do not feel like doing anything. When I eat at Wahoo’s, I appreciate the quality of the food, the cleanliness of the restaurant and the kind and courteous staff. This is California comfort food to the highest level. You cannot go wrong with Wahoo’s food.
As far as the price of $11.00 for a combo of chicken and rice,????? I have never paid this unless I tip really big….. What I order is a carne asada taco, cheese enchilada, white rice and black beans with chips, salsa and guacamole and a large drink and I am on the lower side of $10.00. Yes it is not Del Taco and tacos are not .99 cents each which taste like processed cardboard with ketchup on them. These are the same tacos that take 8 to fill you up and you can do the math.
As far as the franchise model, what a home run for the right person that really gets the brand, able to dedicate the resources and manpower to the growth. Franchises and owning a business are not for everyone. Can a franchise fail? Sure but it is a lot better to buy a franchise with an infrastructure than a “mom and pop” start up. I have looked high and low at franchises and this is a unique opportunity with a proven brand. Ultimately, the article says that each person that wants the opportunity to own a Wahoo’s must be “Voted on” to make sure that the person is passionate about the brand. I find it interesting that the person being interviewed has experience of owning a Wahoo’s franchise and understands points of view, the potential franchisee and the Wahoo’s brand.
I remember hearing Dickie Barrett from Indie 103.1 FM interview one of the owners from Wahoo’s several years ago and Dickie said, “What is the worst thing about Wahoo’s? Answer: There is not enough Wahoo’s around. Long live Wahoo’s and great food. I’m interested, as I have seen the lines of happy customers at Wahoo’s over and over again.
Making money, serving good food, having great friends and being passionate about the brand that you are a part of. Now my life can be complete.
Long live Wahoos!
Maybe you didn’t intend to be offensive, but you didn’t explain your comment enough for me to think otherwise.
FYI, my comment yesterday at 5:30 pm was directed at Jake’s comment, which has been deleted.