TJ Cinnamons

The founders of the T.J. Cinnamons Bakery concept weren't looking to start a franchise when they began to develop The Original Gourmet Cinnamon Roll. In fact, Ted and Joyce Rice hoped only that proceeds from the sales of their homemade products would provide them with enough income to spend more time together and perhaps contribute to their retirement fund. But demand for the delicious Cinnamon Rolls and Pecan Sticky Rolls became so great that the Rice’s realized they had much more than a part-time business venture on their hands. After only a few months of selling the rolls from a mobile bakery unit at state fairs, rodeos, arts and crafts shows and festivals, the Rices built up such demand that they felt compelled to open the first permanent T.J. Cinnamons bakery in a Kansas City, Missouri, shopping mall. Within eight months, two more bakeries opened and Ted and Joyce resigned their full-time jobs to oversee this fast growing business. Their success continued and in 1986, Venture Magazine named T.J. Cinnamons one of the fastest growing franchise businesses. By 1988, the chain included 247 bakery locations. A declining economy, lower traffic, and inexperienced operators, however, took their toll on the T.J. Cinnamons system, and by 1996 only 47 T.J. Cinnamons bakeries remained. That's when Arby's, LLC stepped in and purchased the T.J. Cinnamons brand as a breakfast/snack/dessert dual-brand for the Arby's system.