Family opens eatery in Spanish Fork 5 years after son’s cancer diagnosis
Brandon Bowman, general manager, sets out a completed dish as he and Charlene Richardson prepare food during a promotional event Wednesday, March 13, 2019, at Teriyaki Madness in Spanish Fork. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
The teriyaki chicken bowl is pictured Wednesday, March 13, 2019, at Teriyaki Madness in Spanish Fork. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
Kevin Bowman, left, franchise operator, poses for a portrait with Brandon Bowman, general manager, before a promotional event Wednesday, March 13, 2019, at Teriyaki Madness in Spanish Fork. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
Keaton Tuttle, 3, of Spanish Fork, uses a "chork" to eat a piece of chicken during a promotional event Wednesday, March 13, 2019, at Teriyaki Madness in Spanish Fork. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
Tayven Tuttle, 8, of Spanish Fork, gets a straw for his drink as he's accompanied by his brothers and grandparents during a promotional event Wednesday, March 13, 2019, at Teriyaki Madness in Spanish Fork. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
Brandon Bowman, general manager, prepares teriyaki chicken during a promotional event Wednesday, March 13, 2019, at Teriyaki Madness in Spanish Fork. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
Spanish Fork Mayor Steve Leifson chats as he eats during a promotional event Wednesday, March 13, 2019, at Teriyaki Madness in Spanish Fork. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
Charlene Richardson cuts spicy chicken during a promotional event Wednesday, March 13, 2019, at Teriyaki Madness in Spanish Fork. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
Brandon Bowman, general manager, prepares vegetables during a promotional event Wednesday, March 13, 2019, at Teriyaki Madness in Spanish Fork. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
Teresa Argyle, left, eats with her grandchildren along with her husband and Spanish Fork City Councilman Chad Argyle during a promotional event Wednesday, March 13, 2019, at Teriyaki Madness in Spanish Fork. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
An order of chicken potstickers is pictured Wednesday, March 13, 2019, at Teriyaki Madness in Spanish Fork. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
The spicy chicken bowl is pictured Wednesday, March 13, 2019, at Teriyaki Madness in Spanish Fork. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
An order of chicken eggrolls is pictured Wednesday, March 13, 2019, at Teriyaki Madness in Spanish Fork. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
Five years ago in Las Vegas, Emily and Kevin Bowman’s 6-year-old son William fell ill.
Visits to two different hospitals in the area resulted in doctors telling Emily and Kevin Bowman the same thing: their 6-year-old had done something to damage his kidney, and he would be fine if they just let him heal.
“But he wasn’t healing, he was getting worse,” Emily Bowman said.
Emily Bowman knew two of her friends in Las Vegas took their daughters all the way to Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City for treatment — one to receive treatment for epilepsy and another to receive treatment for cystic fibrosis.
“It seems like anyone who really wants really good care in Las Vegas goes all the way to Salt Lake for it,” Emily Bowman said.
Kevin Bowman said his cousin also did a residency as a doctor at Primary Children’s and recommended bringing William up to Salt Lake City.
So, the Bowmans brought William to Primary Children’s, where doctors diagnosed the illness as a Wilms tumor — a type of childhood cancer that starts in the kidneys.
“Within an hour they knew what it was and they had a plan in place to treat it,” Kevin Bowman said. “So we just decided to move here.”
Everything happened quickly after that. William was diagnosed in February 2014, and within a month the Bowmans were able to take care of their house in Vegas, Kevin Bowman found a job in Provo, and the family found a place to live in Spanish Fork, where Emily Bowman has several family connections.
“When we decided to move up here, it was … certainly different for use because we both grew up in Las Vegas,” Kevin Bowman said. “Never really thought to even leave but, man do we love Utah, and man do we love Spanish Fork.”
Now, at 11 years old, William is healthy and well.
“You’d almost never know he went through it,” Kevin Bowman said.
And the Bowmans have no plans to move back to Vegas — in fact, they are becoming even more embedded in Spanish Fork by opening up the first Teriyaki Madness restaurant in Utah.
Teriyaki Madness is a fast-casual, “healthier” dining option that also caters to a number of food sensitivities such as gluten and dairy free, and the made-to-order food can also be made vegan. First founded by a group of brothers in Seattle, the restaurant made its way down to Las Vegas, where it became a franchise. Kevin Bowman’s store is the 49th in the franchise and the first in Utah.
The very first franchisee is actually Kevin Bowman’s brother-in-law, who opened his first restaurant in Las Vegas in the early 2000s.
For Kevin Bowman, who worked as a construction project manager in Las Vegas and then managed the HR department for a marketing department in Provo, it seems like an unorthodox move. The reasoning behind it? Simply, the family missed the food.
“Our kids, when we go back to Vegas to visit our family, they ask for two things: are we going to granny’s house, and are we getting Teriyaki Madness,” Kevin Bowman said.
After at first trying — and failing — to convince his brother-in-law to open a franchise in Spanish Fork, it was suggested Kevin Bowman open one himself.
“He said, ‘I’d love to help you out, but why don’t you just do it,’ (and) we said, ‘OK, why don’t I?'” Kevin Bowman said. “So I started to figure out if I could … and here we are.”
Emily and Kevin Bowman have been familiar with the franchise since they first married, more than 14 years ago, so they felt confident they could do it with the support of family, and the franchise.
“The infrastructure and the support from the franchise has just absolutely blown me away,” Kevin Bowman said. “If it weren’t for the corporate team at Teriyaki Madness … I couldn’t have done it.”
That support and care from the franchise is what led current owner and CEO Michael Haith to Teriyaki Madness three years ago.
“I think (Teriyaki Madness) really takes care of its franchisees,” Haith said. “The franchisees are all really satisfied and happy with the support they get, the reaction they get from customers, they’re really proud of being able to serve something that’s healthier than the burgers and sandwiches and pizza that kind of dominate the landscape.”
Haith added that he loves the “little left of center” culture of the restaurant, and said it’s satisfying to be a part of something that’s growing so quickly and has such “raving” fans — Haith hopes to see 11 more Teriyaki Madness locations scattered throughout Utah.
“I think the demographics (of Utah) are fantastic, people tend to eat out a little bit more, they appreciate different kinds of food, and I think they live a little healthier lifestyle than some,” Haith said. “We think we are just going to do great in Utah.”
Haith is no stranger to the food scene in Utah, as he used to run the food and beverage programs for both the Utah Arts Festival and the Park City Arts Festival.
“I like Utah a lot,” he said. “Hopefully, we’ll just go ahead and blow Utah away.”
The Teriyaki Madness in Spanish Fork, located at 788 N. 800 East, will have a “soft opening” on Friday followed by a grand opening on Saturday, and then a “charity day” on Monday where a portion of every purchase will go to Mac’s Gift, a charity that helps families of children with cancer celebrate Christmas in a meaningful way.
“We really want the franchise owners to connect with the community,” Haith said. “We want it to not feel like a franchise, we want it to feel like a neighborhood restaurant where everybody goes and they’re comfortable … the community supports the restaurant and the restaurant supports the community.”
Mac’s Gifts is one close to their hearts, as they were on the receiving end of the charity while William was going through cancer treatment.
Needless to say, the entire Bowman clan is excited for the restaurant to open and to eat their favorite food again. Kevin Bowman said he can’t pick a favorite dish because it’s all good, but Emily Bowman recommends the spicy orange chicken, and their 6-year-old Lia said her favorite is definitely the noodles.
It’s been a journey for the Bowmans to get here, and while they’re nervous for opening day, they’re also excited about their new restaurant, for the community and for their family.
“Now, I can’t imagine doing anything else,” Kevin Bowman said. “I know the food is fantastic, so I know that if I serve it right, people will come for more.