October 15
October 15, 2007
Ruberta LaCoste
October 17, 2007
Nick Lakhani, co-owner with his brother Karim of the Cinnamonster franchise in the Southland Mall, needs to grope for words to describe the lusciousness of his signature Gourmet Monster Cinnamon Rolls.
Lakhani was unable to give an idea of the size of an individual roll, except to say, “It’s a monster.”
“It’s rich and gooey, that’s what sets them apart,” he said. “People wait in line. We’re the Mercedes of cinnamon rolls. It’s gourmet.”
The Cinnamonster chain started in 1991, and has 450 locations in 18 states. Lakhani opened the Cinnamonster in the Southland Mall on Aug. 31. The mall site marks his first experience as a Cinnamonster franchisee.
“Business has been tremendous,” Lakhani said, though he is not able to estimate how many Monster Rolls he sells each day because of opening so recently.
Lakhani will soon know the daily tally. The Gourmet Monster Cinnamon Roll is the only pastry Cinnamonster sells, except for the Mini-Monster Rolls-munchkin versions of the big daddy. The Monster Roll comes in original, and caramel and pecan flavors.
All the cinnamon rolls are made from scratch on the premises, Lakhani said. Customers can watch the pastries being prepared out front. The rolls are served hot from the oven with a coating of cream cheese icing, though customers can order the rolls without the frosting if desired.
Cinnamonster also sells blended mocha lattes, vanilla lattes, iced mocha lattes, espresso, cappuccino, apple and orange fruit juices, soft-serve ice cream, milkshakes, milk, chocolate milk, bottled water and Fuze beverage.
Lakhani is particularly enthused about his Smoothies, which are 99 percent fat-free and made with fresh fruit.
The Chicago native has lived in Terrebonne Parish for the past 12 years.
“People are coming up to me saying, ‘Thank you for opening in the mall,'” he said. “People in south Louisiana love to eat. This was an opportunity for us to bring the franchise to the Southland Mall.”
Cinnamonster has only one other location in Louisiana, in the Baton Rouge area. The company, headquartered in Colorado, goes for the impulse buy, setting up shop in malls, airports and train stations.
Stores are constructed to make customers think of European-style bakeries, with warm colors enhancing the rich aroma of cinnamon rolls baking in an oven.
“It’s a novelty snack item,” Lakhani said. “It becomes like a treat for the customers.”
Cinnamonster is open Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 6 p.m.
Brothers Nick and Karim Lakhani opened a Cinnamonster at Houma’s Southland Mall in August. Since then, their signature Gourmet Monster Cinnamon Rolls have become a popular sell. “It’s rich and gooey… People wait in line. We’re the Mercedes of cinnamon rolls. It’s gourmet,” Nick Lakhani said. * Photo courtesy of CINNAMONSTER
