After working as a software engineer for 14 years, Louai Qaqish decided it was time to make a career change.
Qaqish researched various franchise opportunities that offer healthy food options, like Subway and Jamba Juice, before deciding on Blendz. The Blendz franchise touts its eateries as quick-service restaurants where healthy food meets the speed and convenience of traditional fast food.
Last July, Qaqish opened his first Blendz on Loker Avenue in Carlsbad. He said he chose Blendz because he likes the product itself and the fact that the restaurant has the potential to offer a fully organic menu.
“The goal is to reach close to 100 percent organic on everything that we serve by the end of this year,” Qaqish said. “Maintaining a healthier diet is our focus, so we're very adamant about getting top of the line products.”
The Blendz menu features tossed-to-order salads, grilled panini sandwiches, gourmet soups and almost 20 blended smoothies. Most of the items on the menu are less than $7.
“People love the soups here. The gourmet soups that we have are wonderful,” Qaqish said.
There are several other flavorful items also on the menu. The grilled artichoke quesadilla includes feta and jack cheese, diced artichoke hearts and sundried tomato pesto melted inside a grilled whole wheat tortilla for $4.99.
The tri-tip panino is a fantastic choice for meat lovers. The $7.99 sandwich includes choice tri-tip filet, shredded jack and cheddar cheese, caramelized onions and horseradish-Dijon mustard.
Blendz doesn't offer soda, but does have iced tea that can be mixed with one of five natural juices. Smoothies range in price from $3.49 to $5.49, but are offered at the discounted price of $2.50 during Smoothie Happy Hour, which brings smiles to the faces of juice junkies from 5 to 8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.
Frequent customer Reid Tracy said his favorite item on the menu is the grilled chicken panino. The delicious sandwich has sliced grilled chicken breast, roasted red peppers, provolone cheese and basil pesto.
Tracy said he eats lunch at Blendz at least once a week because he enjoys the food.
“It seems fresh and different,” he said. “It's a good blend of healthy things.”
For those who don't have time to leave the office, delivery is available for orders of $35 and more. Blendz offers a separate catering menu for individuals and corporations hosting events.
Qaqish said the restaurant's walk-in business is flourishing and its catering and delivery orders are growing. The franchise is doing so well that Qaqish plans to open a second Blendz sometime next summer in the San Elijo Hills Town Center.
However, he said his main business goal is not expansion, it is customer satisfaction. Qaqish added that his personal goal is to be the best boss possible by offering his employees benefits and a healthy environment to work in.
“I really think there is more to the workplace than work. We should have fun, communication and trust,” he said.
Blendz:
Address: 2708 W. Loker Ave., Suite 104, Carlsbad
Contact: Call (760) 804-8888 or visit www.blendz.com
Hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays
Qaqish researched various franchise opportunities that offer healthy food options, like Subway and Jamba Juice, before deciding on Blendz. The Blendz franchise touts its eateries as quick-service restaurants where healthy food meets the speed and convenience of traditional fast food.
Last July, Qaqish opened his first Blendz on Loker Avenue in Carlsbad. He said he chose Blendz because he likes the product itself and the fact that the restaurant has the potential to offer a fully organic menu.
“The goal is to reach close to 100 percent organic on everything that we serve by the end of this year,” Qaqish said. “Maintaining a healthier diet is our focus, so we're very adamant about getting top of the line products.”
The Blendz menu features tossed-to-order salads, grilled panini sandwiches, gourmet soups and almost 20 blended smoothies. Most of the items on the menu are less than $7.
“People love the soups here. The gourmet soups that we have are wonderful,” Qaqish said.
There are several other flavorful items also on the menu. The grilled artichoke quesadilla includes feta and jack cheese, diced artichoke hearts and sundried tomato pesto melted inside a grilled whole wheat tortilla for $4.99.
The tri-tip panino is a fantastic choice for meat lovers. The $7.99 sandwich includes choice tri-tip filet, shredded jack and cheddar cheese, caramelized onions and horseradish-Dijon mustard.
Blendz doesn't offer soda, but does have iced tea that can be mixed with one of five natural juices. Smoothies range in price from $3.49 to $5.49, but are offered at the discounted price of $2.50 during Smoothie Happy Hour, which brings smiles to the faces of juice junkies from 5 to 8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.
Frequent customer Reid Tracy said his favorite item on the menu is the grilled chicken panino. The delicious sandwich has sliced grilled chicken breast, roasted red peppers, provolone cheese and basil pesto.
Tracy said he eats lunch at Blendz at least once a week because he enjoys the food.
“It seems fresh and different,” he said. “It's a good blend of healthy things.”
For those who don't have time to leave the office, delivery is available for orders of $35 and more. Blendz offers a separate catering menu for individuals and corporations hosting events.
Qaqish said the restaurant's walk-in business is flourishing and its catering and delivery orders are growing. The franchise is doing so well that Qaqish plans to open a second Blendz sometime next summer in the San Elijo Hills Town Center.
However, he said his main business goal is not expansion, it is customer satisfaction. Qaqish added that his personal goal is to be the best boss possible by offering his employees benefits and a healthy environment to work in.
“I really think there is more to the workplace than work. We should have fun, communication and trust,” he said.
Blendz:
Address: 2708 W. Loker Ave., Suite 104, Carlsbad
Contact: Call (760) 804-8888 or visit www.blendz.com
Hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays