Thompson Street Capital Partners Acquires Bubbakoo’s Burritos, a Rapidly Growing Mexican-Fusion Fast-Casual Franchisor

Thompson Street Capital Partners (TSCP), a private equity firm based in St. Louis, announced today it has acquired Bubbakoo’s Burritos (Bubbakoo’s), a New Jersey-based franchisor of fast-casual Mexican-fusion restaurants. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Founded in 2008 in Wall Township, New Jersey by restaurant industry veterans Bill Hart and Paul Altero, Bubbakoo’s delivers a bold twist on traditional Mexican fare. With a focus on made-to-order food and a vibrant restaurant experience, Bubbakoo’s began franchising in 2015. The brand has since expanded to more than 130 locations across 15 states, primarily along the East Coast and Midwest.

This acquisition comes at a time when the fast-casual category continues to outperform broader foodservice segments, driven by evolving consumer preferences for flavorful, customizable cuisine and growing investor appetite for scalable restaurant concepts.

“Bubbakoo’s has created an innovative and compelling brand that resonates with a broad and growing customer base,” said Bob Dunn, Managing Partner at TSCP. “Bill and Paul have built something special—an exciting concept with strong franchisee relationships, consistent unit growth, and a passionate following. We are thrilled to partner with the team as they enter this next phase of expansion.”

“We see tremendous opportunity to support Bubbakoo’s continued growth by investing in technology, brand development, infrastructure, and franchisee support systems,” said Joe St. Geme, Managing Director at TSCP. “The Company has built a strong foundation, and our team is eager to help accelerate growth while maintaining the culture and values that have made Bubbakoo’s a success.”

“From our earliest days in New Jersey to now having more than 130 locations across the country, we’ve been incredibly proud to see our vision resonate with guests, franchisees, and communities,” said Mr. Hart, Co-Founder of Bubbakoo’s. “Our growth has always been grounded in our commitment to food quality, hospitality and a culture that values individuality and innovation.”

“Thompson Street Capital Partners brings deep experience in scaling founder-led businesses and shares our passion for supporting franchisees and delivering great experiences to customers,” added Mr. Altero, Co-Founder of Bubbakoo’s. “With their support, we’re confident Bubbakoo’s can accelerate its growth into new markets, invest in technology and infrastructure, and continue building a world-class franchise system.”

Sidley Austin acted as legal advisor to TSCP.

About Thompson Street Capital Partners

Thompson Street Capital Partners (tscp.com) is a middle-market private equity firm that helps transform already exceptional businesses into market leaders. Based in St. Louis, Missouri, TSCP invests globally in the life sciences and healthcare, software and technology, business and consumer services and products sectors. TSCP partners with management teams to increase value by accelerating growth, both organically and via complementary acquisitions.

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