Atlanta, Georgia, USA: Nearly 20 years after beginning his career as a teenage waiter, Amol Kohli has taken the reins of Brix Holdings, overseeing a multi-brand restaurant portfolio in a rare instance of a franchisee-led acquisition.
Amol Kohli, an Indian-American entrepreneur and multi-unit owner of Friendly’s restaurants, has officially acquired Brix Holdings, the parent company behind the family-style restaurant chain. This unusual takeover highlights a trend where experienced operators are stepping into leadership roles at large restaurant groups.
Announced in July 2025 and finalised through Kohli’s investment firm, Legacy Brands International, the deal appoints him as chairman of Brix’s board, while he maintains management of his own Friendly’s locations. Kohli will guide the strategic vision of Brix Holdings, with CEO Sherif Mityas continuing to manage day-to-day operations. The company’s portfolio includes Friendly’s, Clean Juice, Red Mango, Orange Leaf, Smoothie Factory + Kitchen, Humble Doughnut Co., and Souper Salad.
Kohli’s journey began as a waiter at Friendly’s, and today he owns over 30 Friendly’s outlets across the U.S. East Coast.
Starting at age 15 near Philadelphia, he earned $5 an hour while waiting tables, cooking, washing dishes, and serving ice cream. Kohli credits those early experiences with teaching him the essentials of payroll, food costs, and restaurant operations long before he became an owner.
After earning finance and marketing degrees from Drexel University, he briefly explored a career on Wall Street but soon returned to the hospitality industry. A former supervisor offered him a management role across multiple Friendly’s locations, launching a 16-year career in which he revitalised struggling restaurants and expanded into a multi-state franchise network.
“Friendly’s has been a part of my life since I was 15,” Kohli said. “I started as a breakfast server and eventually grew into managing, developing, and owning multiple locations over the last 16 years. Now, with Brix Holdings, I aim to expand the scale, infrastructure, and reach of all our franchise networks.”
John Antioco, managing member of JAMCO Interests LLC, praised the decision: “Amol is the perfect choice to lead Brix Holdings. His track record at Friendly’s, combined with deep knowledge of multi-brand franchising, positions him to drive growth and support franchisees across all brands.”
Kohli intends to grow all Brix brands nationwide, with immediate emphasis on expanding Friendly’s into markets including Georgia, the Carolinas, and Texas.
Addressing potential challenges, Kohli emphasised opportunity over obstacles: “My main goal is to grow the brand organically and explore strategic acquisitions where they make sense,” he said, emphasizing a philosophy of steady, deliberate expansion and alignment with franchisees.
Industry observers note that Kohli’s takeover serves as an example of franchisee-led integration, demonstrating how operational expertise can translate into ownership and broader strategic influence.
