With the right management team in place from the start $GIGL could have been a franchise idea that worked. Unfortunately with all the mismanagement and the high salaries this endevour never took on a smiling face in the most important of eyes... the accountants...
There are better franchise opportunities out there with well run companies that are simply far more attractive to retail entrepreneurs.
The truth is this was a great idea but a loser from the start thanks to greedy executive management.