Matthew Matt grew up in Philadelphia and is a computer programmer. When he became unemployed in 2001, his brother-in-law Kimo Sihapanya brought him to Northwest Arkansas to partner in the opening of Taste of Thai II in Bentonville.
The Sihapanya family also owns Taste of Thai in downtown Fayetteville.
Matt moved to Northwest Arkansas in 2002 and ran Taste of Thai II until it closed in 2017 after a fire and the landlord decided not to rebuild. While the Sihapanya family continued to expand Thai restaurants throughout the region, Matt wanted something different. Today, he is a franchisee of Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop in Bentonville. His love of Philly cheesesteak sandwiches and American food made him the perfect owner of his newest local restaurant venture.
“Because of my love of sandwiches, I met with several sandwich shop brands looking for a franchise opportunity,” Matt said. “I met with Jon Smith Subs, Jersey Mike’s and Great Steak Escape, but found they were more do-it-yourself models than I was looking for. I met with Capriotti’s corporate team in Las Vegas and found they offered a lot of support and training to ensure quality was consistent throughout the chain.”
Matt signed with Capriotti’s in 2021 and opened his location at 1406 S. Walton Blvd., Suite 2, in Bentonville, near Walmart headquarters. Matt said opening during the pandemic has not been without challenges, but the business continues to gain sales in its third year of operation.
He said it could take a few years to find the perfect location and get approval for the franchise. When he was trying to open the restaurant, there was a major shutdown in much of the country. But he loved the brand and wanted it to succeed in Northwest Arkansas. Matt said Capriotti’s also works with several different lenders that help with business financing.
“I was fortunate to know enough people with restaurant experience to help me staff the business,” said Matt. “Capriotti’s has a great training program to align staff with company goals, quality expectations and customer service standards.”
Another reason he liked the Capriotti brand was its focus on social engagement.
“Initially, my wife (Phetsamone) would come with her running groups and they would share their experiences with other runners and friends. And business was good because it spread through word of mouth,” said Matt.
Because of his connection to running, Matt wanted to sponsor participants for the Bentonville Run. He wanted to help people who might not otherwise be able to participate and challenged others to set goals, train and focus on achieving something new. Matt reached out to the members of the Benton County Drug Court program who wanted to train and run the half marathon. He sponsored them for the event and encouraged them to join running groups for training. He said the training and focus on the run was helpful for those trying to complete the program.
“We have sponsored several of these runners over the years and they invited me to their graduation ceremony, which meant a lot to us,” Matt said. “The mayor of Bentonville was also at the graduation ceremony and heard from the graduates about the run and the sponsorship. The next week, Mayor Stephanie Orman called me and presented me with a Bentonville Spirit Award for our work with the drug court participants and the city’s big annual running event.”
Matt plans to open eight Capriotti’s Sandwich Shops in Northwest Arkansas over the next few years through franchise partnerships. Each shop will offer between two and three full-time positions and approximately eight part-time positions. The first will be two new Capriotti’s restaurants in Washington County; the Springdale and Tontitown locations are scheduled to open later this year. Matt is a partner in these ventures.
He said being part of a franchise like Capriotti’s has had its advantages in dealing with food price inflation. He said bulk buying has helped keep menu prices lower than other competitors. He said the corporate office provides price recommendations, but the operator has the final say on local menu prices.
Matt was named Franchise Partner of the Year at Capriotti’s regional meeting in May. He was recognized for his commitment to excellence, leadership, innovation and visionary teamwork approach that drives the success of his franchise and the entire network. Matt was one of six franchise operators among more than 175 U.S. stores to receive an award.
