Eric Danver on Scaling From Papa John’s to 63 Hand & Stone Locations: “I’m in the People Business”

https://www.franchisechatter.com/2026/07/27/eric-danver-on-scaling-from-papa-johns-to-63-hand-stone-locations-im-in-the-people-business/

Eric Danver, Founder and CEO of FGG Spa, LLC, is the largest franchisee in the Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa system, owning and operating 63 locations across eight states: New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Florida. With sales revenues over $95M, the company goal is to achieve 100 locations in the next three to five years.

Eric was previously an owner for PJPA, LLC that operated 53 Papa John’s restaurants. He served as Operating Partner of PJNJ from its inception in 1995 until the sale of its stores to Papa John’s in 1999.

Franchise Chatter: You’ve been franchising for over 25 years, starting with Papa John’s, where you eventually built a 53-restaurant portfolio. How did you first get into franchising, and what did that experience teach you that you later carried into building FGG Spa?

Danver: Franchising has been my life’s work for more than 25 years, and there really is no substitute for experience. Looking back, the biggest lesson I learned wasn’t about pizza or wellness — it was about people.

I’ve always believed I’m not in the pizza business or the wellness business. I’m in the people business. The quality of any organization is ultimately determined by the quality of the people you attract, develop, and empower. Great people create great cultures, and great cultures create great businesses. That philosophy guided me throughout my Papa John’s years and has become the foundation of everything we’ve built at FGG Spa.

Franchise Chatter: You transitioned from Papa John’s into Hand & Stone, starting out as a client before becoming a franchisee. What made you make that leap into an entirely different industry, and what did you see in the brand that made you confident enough to invest?

Danver: I’ve always been active and enjoyed getting massages while traveling. When I discovered Hand & Stone, I was impressed that consumers could receive a high-quality massage at an affordable price in a professional, welcoming environment. As a customer, I was hooked.

As a business owner, I became even more intrigued. I started studying the business model, visited locations, and spent considerable time performing due diligence. My experience at Papa John’s had taught me that your success as a franchisee is heavily influenced by the quality of your franchisor’s leadership. I came away convinced that Hand & Stone had an exceptional leadership team, a differentiated membership model, strong unit economics, and significant runway for growth.

It wasn’t simply that I liked the service — it was that I believed the business model could scale for decades.

Franchise Chatter: You’ve just signed a development agreement for 13 additional units, bringing your total footprint to 76 locations across eight states. What gave you the confidence to make a commitment of this size, and why now?

Danver: The simple answer is that the model works.

You don’t continue investing at this level unless you’re confident in both the economics and the long-term future of the brand. Existing franchisees voting with their own capital is one of the strongest endorsements any franchise system can receive.

We’ve experienced consistent success because of a proven operating model, strong franchise support, and an outstanding leadership team. We also believe there remains tremendous opportunity to grow through both new development and strategic acquisitions. We aren’t growing for the sake of getting bigger — we’re growing because we believe we can continue building great businesses that serve our communities and create opportunities for our people.

Franchise Chatter: This new agreement concentrates growth primarily in Florida. What makes Florida such an attractive market for Hand & Stone right now, and how does it fit into your broader multi-state strategy?

Danver: Florida continues to be one of the strongest wellness markets in the country. Some of our highest-performing spas are located there, and the brand already enjoys tremendous consumer awareness because of its significant presence throughout the state.

Beyond that, Florida’s population growth, favorable demographics, and continued migration trends make it an exceptional long-term market. We believe demand for affordable wellness services will continue to increase, making Florida an important part of our overall growth strategy.