A Heart for Heroes: Honoring Veterans with Franchise Ownership Opportunities, Remembering Fallen Service Members

At PJ’s Coffee, we proudly acknowledge the invaluable qualities that veterans bring to the table, making them outstanding franchise partners. These traits, honed through military service, align seamlessly with the core values and requirements for success within our franchise system:

• Leadership — Developed through military training and experience, veterans understand the importance of leading by example and motivating their team members much like successful business owners.
• Resilience — Veterans have encountered adversity and challenges during their service, which equips them to navigate the highs and lows of business ownership.
• Discipline — Accustomed to following procedures and executing tasks efficiently, veterans bring a high level of discipline that is crucial for running a successful franchise operation.
• Attention to Detail — Trained in quality control and operational efficiency, veterans ensure customer satisfaction within a franchise business.

The PJ’s Coffee brand emphasizes community involvement as a pillar of our operating model and one of the keys to a franchisee’s success in their business, resonating with veterans and civilians alike. By harnessing these shared values and qualities, veterans can thrive as franchise partners, contributing to our brand’s success while honoring their service to our country.

Our commitment to honoring U.S. veterans and military members at PJ’s Coffee runs deep. As a proud five-star member of the International Franchise Association VetFran, we offer qualified veterans a 20% discount on their initial franchise fee all year long. Additionally, we host an annual Veteran Franchise Giveaway, providing deserving veterans with the opportunity to own their own PJ’s Coffee franchise.

Memorial Day Tradition: The Missing Man Table

This Memorial Day weekend, we’re proudly continuing our tradition of honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation.

All PJ’s Coffee locations — over 180 systemwide — will participate in our annual “Missing Man” tradition: A solemn tribute to fallen, missing or imprisoned military service members. Each table will feature items that signify the importance of their sacrifice, including:

• An empty chair to represent the Americans who were or are missing from each of the Armed Services — U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard.
• A white cloth to exemplify the purity of their motives when answering the call to serve.
• A single red rose to recall the lives of these Americans and their loved ones who keep their faith while seeking answers.
• A yellow ribbon to represent the continuing uncertainty, the hope for their return and the determination to account for them.
• A slice of lemon to remind guests of their bitter fate, captured or missing in a foreign land.
• A pinch of salt to represent the tears of the missing heroes and their families.
• A lighted candle to reflect hope for their return.
• An inverted piece of glass to denote their inability to share a toast.

We hope that these reserved tables serve as poignant reminders of the profound significance of this sacred national observance.

The Veteran Advantage at PJ’s Coffee

One such inspiring story is that of Bobby Mounts, a Marine Corps veteran and former police officer who won the giveaway in 2020. Bobby and his wife, Kristy, have not only opened their first PJ’s Coffee in Ruston, Louisiana, with hopes to expand, but they have also exemplified the core values and spirit of strong PJ’s Coffee franchise partners. Their passion, integrity and entrepreneurial mindset have earned them accolades such as the 2022 Rookie Franchisee of the Year Award. Their dedication to professional growth and community engagement has set a high standard for franchise success, consistently elevating their store’s profitability.

Bobby isn’t the only veteran making an impact at PJ’s. We have several veteran franchisees such as Angel Correa (San Antonio, Texas), Wayne Heaton (Linwood, New Jersey), Rudy Moreno (Harlingen, Texas), George Craft (Bossier City, Louisiana), Lenny Sims (Montgomery, Texas), Anita Grant (Waldorf, Maryland) and many more. Veteran leadership is also deeply ingrained in our company culture. Peter Boylan, president of PJ’s Coffee, is a U.S. Army veteran who understands the significance of authentically honoring those who served. Our Chief Development Officer, David Mesa, also served eight years in the U.S. Marine Corps.

At PJ’s Coffee, we value the skills, integrity and leadership that veterans bring to our franchise family. If you’re ready to join a brand that makes a difference while offering a rewarding business opportunity, visit pjsfranchise.com to learn more.

Together, we can continue to honor our nation’s heroes while building successful PJ’s Coffee franchises across the country.