A former Metro by T-Mobile storefront on Gallatin Pike N. is being converted into the newest outpost of Teriyaki Madness, the fast-casual Japanese-inspired chain, marking the brand's entry into the Madison market. Metro Nashville permit records identify Teriyaki Madness as the future tenant at 1712 Gallatin Pike N., a commercial retail corridor in the northern Metro Nashville suburb.
The Madison restaurant is the work of franchisee Dishant Patel, who is bringing three Teriyaki Madness locations to his Tennessee territory as part of the brand's broader development across the state, according to WhatNow. Patel was introduced to the brand through Manoj Patel, an existing Teriyaki Madness franchise owner and family member, per the same report. No opening date has been announced for the Madison shop.
The menu leans on the chain's signature format: grilled proteins, rice, noodles, vegetables and sauces assembled into made-to-order bowls. Offerings include chicken teriyaki, steak teriyaki, spicy chicken, orange chicken and chicken katsu, all built around flame-grilled marinated meats and sweet soy-ginger sauce, a style that traces back to Seattle-style teriyaki shops popularized in the 1970s, according to Owler. Toshi's Teriyaki Grill in Seattle is widely credited with originating that quick-serve model in 1976.
A Family Network Fuels Tennessee Growth
Teriyaki Madness itself was founded in 2003 in Las Vegas by brothers Rod and Alan Arreola and their cousin Eric Garma, who modeled the concept on Seattle-style teriyaki shops they frequented in college, as reported by Restaurant Dive. Franchise investor Michael Haith began investing in the company in 2012, bought out the original founders, and took over as chief executive in 2014, relocating headquarters to Denver. Haith had previously built out franchise systems including Maui Wowi Hawaiian Coffees & Smoothies and Doc Popcorn.
The Madison opening also fits a pattern of family-driven expansion that has helped the chain spread through the Southeast. Manoj Patel helped launch the brand's regional footprint by opening a top-performing franchise in Madison, Alabama, in April 2018, a success that inspired other family members to acquire development rights across Tennessee, Ohio and Delaware, according to Teriyaki Madness. That momentum led cousins Kirti and Ankit Patel to secure development rights in Franklin, Tennessee, that same year, and the network has kept growing since.
Small Footprint, Big Off-Premises Business
The conversion of a compact former phone store into a restaurant is consistent with Teriyaki Madness' real estate strategy nationwide. Typical locations occupy roughly 1,600 square feet, and off-premises channels such as third-party delivery, digital pickup, curbside and catering made up 86% of total sales for the chain in 2023, per Forbes. That heavy reliance on takeout and delivery reduces the need for large dining rooms, making smaller suburban retail spaces like the one on Gallatin Pike N. a practical fit.
The chain has also invested in technology built for that kind of quick pickup, rolling out its Mad Dash location-tracking system in early 2024 so staff can meet mobile app customers at the curb as soon as they arrive, faster than a standard drive-thru, according to a PRWeb release cited in the dossier. To help franchisees manage rapid store ramp-ups, the company launched an affiliated management firm called Restaurant Sherpas in 2020, offering turnkey operations support for 3% of sales, aimed largely at multi-unit investors and absentee owners.
Tennessee's Growing Slice of a National Chain
Teriyaki Madness has more than 200 locations across 42 states, with restaurants operated by multi-unit franchisees, per the franchise's own figures. As of July 2026, the chain operates 13 locations across Tennessee out of 258 stores nationwide across 43 states, making Tennessee its sixth-largest state market behind California, Texas, Nevada, Colorado and Ohio, according to a ScrapeHero report. California currently leads the brand with 42 locations.
The company has also landed on the Inc. 5000 list of America's fastest-growing private companies for eight consecutive years through 2024, posting a 129% three-year growth rate and opening 28 new shops in 2023 alone. With Dishant Patel's planned three-unit Tennessee build-out now underway, the Madison store adds one more link to a franchise network that keeps expanding largely through word of mouth between family members already running successful shops.
