Mauricio Araque always had an entrepreneurial spirit. As a university student in Venezuela, he would buy cheese wholesale from a local factory and resell it to supermarkets. This venture eventually led to even greater success, as Araque went on to own restaurant franchises throughout the country. By Kelsi Trinidad
FRANCHISEE OF THE MONTH: Mauricio Araque
Mauricio Araque always had an entrepreneurial spirit. As a university student in Venezuela, he would buy cheese wholesale from a local factory and resell it to supermarkets. This venture eventually led to even greater success, as Araque went on to own restaurant franchises throughout the country.
In 2014, Araque and his family moved to Ontario, Canada, and he invested in his own UPS Store location. While working at that location, the owner of a new neighboring restaurant, Pür & Simple®, would come in to print menus ahead of its opening. Araque took a look at the menus and was intrigued.
Pür & Simple is a modern breakfast and lunch concept that focuses on providing fresh, premium ingredients and offers a menu designed to satisfy everyone. In February 2020, Araque opened his first location in Oakville, Ontario, making it just the second store in the franchise.
“I saw the menu, and then, I fell in love, and the rest is history,” recalled Araque. “I came back to my roots.”
Despite opening during the 2020 global pandemic, his first location quickly thrived. Two years later, Araque opened his second location in Ancaster, Ontario, which now serves as the corporate training site for new franchisees.
Recently, Araque sold his Oakville location to focus on a new role as an area developer for Pür & Simple. This year, the company has plans to expand across the U.S., and Araque will be at the helm of that endeavor, working to develop new locations for the restaurant franchise. As of now, the first U.S. store will open in San Antonio, Texas, and more locations in Texas and South Florida are in the works.
“The beauty of owning this particular brand or this kind of restaurant is basically that you are home by 4 p.m.,” said Araque. “I’m doing what I love, and I have a life. Life is not only to make money and to have a good job. It is also to enjoy life.”
Kelsi Trinidad