Atlanta – June 3, 2003 – It’s difficult to forget Anthony “Zippy” Morocco, Georgia’s first All-American in basketball. Of course, excelling in one area wasn’t enough.

Morocco had to go one better and make a name for himself on the gridiron, becoming one of the Bulldogs’ finest pass receivers and kick returners. Some 50 years later, he remains one of Georgia’s greatest two-sport athletes.

Zippy’s son Chris, inducted into the Athens Hall of Fame on May 19, led the Clemson Tigers to two Gator Bowl victories and posted one of the best passing efficiencies in Clemson history. In the business world, Chris is attempting to match his father’s feat – success in two distinct, but related areas. As a Partner in Atlanta-based Planet Smoothie, Chris drives the sales and marketing of the 130-store chain, two of which are housed a football’s throw from Clarke Central’s Death Valley stadium.

Not satisfied with the success of the Planet Smoothie franchise, Chris and CEO Phil Coleman plan to bring the highly successful PJ’s Coffee to Athens. PJ's Coffee began in 1978 as a small retail store in New Orleans. In the 25 years since, it has grown into a multi-million dollar company involved in virtually every aspect of the specialty coffee industry. PJ's buys, roasts and distributes all of its own coffees and serves them at its company owned and franchised cafes on the East Coast.

“We have a brand in PJ’s that produces some of the best coffee in the country,” explains Morocco. We believe Athens is a great market because of its eclectic college community and the real estate properties that exist in and around downtown.”
In New Orleans, which has a history of traditional coffee spots and cafes reminiscent of the European coffee community, PJ’s has been a number one ranked brand in the marketplace for years.

“Our plan is to expand the PJ’s concept initially in the Southeast then along the East Coast through a comparable franchisee program that has worked well for us at Planet Smoothie,” explains Morocco. “In markets with established coffee retailers, we will lead with our great coffee and create more of a destination with our wine bar and Internet access offerings. If real estate permits, we may even see a franchisee lining up a Planet Smoothie with a PJ’s because of the economies of scale and increased real estate flexibility.”

Morocco, whose recent hall of fame induction paid tribute to his accomplishments on the gridiron with Billy Henderson’s ’83 and ‘84 Clarke Central Gladiators and record-setting years with Clemson University, was also drafted by the Montreal Expos out of high school. If sports talent is any indication of the success Morocco hopes to score with the rollout of PJ’s, franchisees would be smart to get a front row seat.

Planet Smoothie and PJ’s Coffee are part of Atlanta-based Wow! Brands, a healthier choice, affordable restaurant portfolio of four concepts, including Moe’s Southwestern Grill and the new Mama Fu’s Pan Asian concept scheduled to debut in Atlanta in June.

Back to News Articles >>