Saladworks Offers Healthy Fast Food Option in Brandon

For first-time entrepreneurs Calvin and Felicia Rucker, Saladworks is just the right-sized project.

The couple, Brandon area residents for more than 10 years, have used their previous experience to come together and bring the franchise concept from Pennsylvania to Florida. Their restaurant opened Monday, March 19, at 2020 W. Brandon Blvd., in the Brandon Lakes Plaza shopping center.

With a limited startup capital, the couple were looking for something a bit cheaper than the usual fast food brands and have now agreed to open three stores in the bay area.

"We liked what we saw in the franchise so Calvin went to Pennsylvania and they interviewed him to make sure he was the right person to bring the brand to Florida," Felicia Rucker said. "We ended up signing on for three stores, so we hope to open one in Carrollwood and another in either New Tampa or South Tampa."

Calvin Rucker had spent years working in fast food. He got his start at Kentucky Fried Chicken but eventually found himself climbing the Wendy's corporate ladder. He had worked his way up to district coach and helped oversee the construction of new stores. His desire to open a franchise of his own grew during that time, but given his resources, opening up a Wendy's or KFC wasn't realistic.

Felicia, a grant manager for Hillsborough County Affordable Housing, decided to get on board. She knew she could help with financial side of it, keeping books and helping monitor construction costs. After a bit of research, the couple found Saladworks to be a more realistic option for them.

"We'd like to open a KFC or Wendy's some day, but we need to start out with something small," Felicia Rucker said. "This was easier for us to started on. The location was previously an interior decorating store, so we had to have it redesigned to be a restaurant but this location is great for what we want to do."

The Ruckers examined several options for a small franchise, but in the end, the healthy concept of Saladworks was part of what drew the couple to the franchise.

"I'm a junk food junkie, I admit that," Felicia Rucker said. "But the Saladworks company really sold us on the healthy food concept, and they've been a great partner to have working along side us on this. We've got two kids, and we saw the need for a kids menu, which eventually the corporate office devised. That's the kind of partner they are."

The Saladworks experience is about options. Customers come in and can choose from a number of salads that follow a recipe, or they have the option to create their own salad using a diverse list of proteins, dry toppings, cheeses and different types of lettuce or pasta.

Any of the menu salads can be turned into wraps, and the restaurant boasts a variety of soups, from Maryland crab to lasagna soup. The price is reasonable usually ranging in the $7 to $8.30 range for a hearty portion of salad.

The restaurant also boasts a lounge area with free Wi-Fi, something new to the Saladworks concept.

Brandon's John and Alice Singleton were Saladworks' first customers and were full of excitement about what the brand can bring to the area's healthy dining repertoire.

"We are big salad eaters," John Singleton said. "We came out just for this because when we saw the sign we were excited. This is the perfect lunch spot for a couple of retirees like us."

Saladworks is offering a $5 salad special through Wednesday, March 21. For more information, call 813-476-1686.