Raised on the North Shore of Oahu and Kauai, Hawaii, Peter
Favre grew up in and around the tourist industry. After a stint as a tour boat
owner-operator on the Napali coast of Kauai and after considering a career as a
professional surfer, Favre ventured to Northern California to seek fame and
fortune.
After completing the management program at McDonald’s
Hamburger University in Oak Brook, Illinois, Peter was on the fast track with
the fast food icon. His primary talent was going into McDonald’s locations as a
manager, primarily in the South Bay, to help improve business. He was an
instant success with the golden arches as he was able to come into any location
and improve their volume almost immediately.
How did he do it? By giving people the finest, most
attentive and professional service they had ever experienced. And, boy, did it
work. Soon Peter was opening new McDonald’s and saving existing ones with his
endearing personality and incredible work ethic.
One of the great things about the 12 years Peter worked for
McDonald’s was that during that time he met his wife, Carole. She was working
at one of the stores he managed, and the two hit if off instantly when they met
in 1988. In 1992 they were married. Carole is Mrs. Mojo, and has been an
integral part of the restaurant’s success from day one, by offering everything
she has toward making Mojo a success. Carole is a local San Jose girl who
graduated from Santa Teresa High School in 1987.
During the entire time that he was working for the McDonald’s,
Peter Favre was thinking and dreaming about starting a restaurant company of
his own, one where he could use many of the McDonald’s philosophies and improve
upon them.
After looking at several possible food-related business
ventures, Carole and Peter decided to take the hamburger to the next level.
They knew that people were tired of 99 cent, microwaved burgers and wanted
something that was high-quality and great tasting.
Peter and some colleagues went on a road trip throughout
California, to taste other hamburgers and see what other “fast casual” food
businesses were doing. He met owners, looked at layouts, visited kitchens and
talked with employees as well as customers, to find out exactly what they
wanted in a hamburger. He also met with a wide variety of food vendors at food
shows. And soon the Mojo story began.
Next: The Early Mojo
Years
