Turning Point

Turning Point is a restaurant chain specializing in breakfast, brunch, and lunch, operating with a daytime-only model from 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The company was founded in 1998 by Kirk Ruoff, who acquired a failing 14-table restaurant in Little Silver, New Jersey, and transformed it into the first Turning Point location. Ruoff, a Boston College graduate with a degree in entrepreneurship, had a background in the restaurant industry that began at age 13 and included management experience at Chili's. His vision was to create an upscale daytime dining experience.

The business model focuses on providing high-quality meals made from scratch, with a philosophy that "fresh is always best". The menu features creative and seasonal options, including specialty pancakes, skillets like the "Wilbur Skillet," various eggs benedict, sandwiches, and salads. The company also operates its own coffee roastery, Cowabunga Coffee Roasters, and emphasizes its gourmet coffee and tea offerings. This focus on a limited-service window allows employees a better work-life balance, a key aspect of its operations.

Initially, Ruoff and his wife invested $10,000 to acquire the first location, with the previous owner financing the balance. The company has since grown from a single store to a multi-state chain with locations in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Florida. In 2019, Turning Point received a significant investment from private equity firm NewSpring Capital to finance expansion. As of early 2022, the company began franchising, seeking experienced restaurant operators to expand its footprint. The business generates revenue through its corporate-owned restaurants and franchising fees, which include a 5% royalty on revenues and a 1% brand fund contribution from franchisees.

Keywords: breakfast restaurant, brunch spot, lunch cafe, daytime dining, restaurant chain, franchise opportunity, Kirk Ruoff, seasonal menu, fresh ingredients, East Coast restaurants, upscale casual dining, breakfast and lunch, Turning Point, New Jersey restaurant, coffee roastery, eggs benedict, pancakes, work-life balance, restaurant franchising, private equity