NEW WORLD COFFEE MANHATTAN BAGEL INC
8-K, 1999-09-07
EATING PLACES
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                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              Washington, DC 20549

                                    Form 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                        Pursuant to Section 13 or 15 (d)
                     of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

       Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) : August 24, 1999

                    NEW WORLD COFFEE - MANHATTAN BAGEL, INC.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

         DELAWARE                     0-27148                  13-3690261
         --------                     -------                  ----------
(State of other jurisdiction  (Commission File Number)       (IRS Employer
     of incorporation                                     Identification Number)


                  246 INDUSTRIAL WAY WEST, EATONTOWN, NJ 07724
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)


       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (732) 544-0155



<PAGE>


         ITEM 5.  Other Events.

     a) On  August  17,  1999,  the  stockholders  of  the  Company  approved  a
one-for-two  reverse split (the "Reverse Split") of the outstanding Common Stock
of the Company.  The Reverse Split was effective as of August 24, 1999. Pursuant
to the  terms of the  Reverse  Split,  each  share  of  Common  Stock  held by a
stockholder  at the close of business  on August 23,  1999 will,  from and after
August 24, 1999,  represent  one-half of a share (e.g.:  a  stockholder  holding
1,000  shares of Common  Stock on August  23,  1999  would be the  holder of 500
shares on August 24, 1999). The symbol "NWCID" will be in effect for a period of
approximately  twenty  days from August 24, 1999 and then will revert to "NWCI".
The new CUSIP number for the Common Stock is 648904 20 9.

     Stockholders holding their stock in brokerage accounts need take no action.
Stockholders  holding stock in their own name may obtain new certificates in the
reduced amount. In order to receive new certificates, stockholders may surrender
their old  certificates  to the  Company's  transfer  agent at:  American  Stock
Transfer  & Trust  Co.,  40  Wall  Street,  New  York,  New  York  10005,  Attn:
Reorganization.  If the  combination  results in a fractional  share  (i.e.,  59
shares become 29.5 shares),  the Company has directed that the fractional  share
be "rounded up" to a whole share (i.e., 30 shares).

     A Restated Certificate of Incorporation, which reflects the approval of (i)
the  Reverse  Split;  (ii) a staggered  Board of  Directors;  and (iii)  various
procedural  provisions  related to the Board of Directors and stockholder voting
discussed  in this Form 8-K,  was filed with the State of Delaware on August 17,
1999. A copy of such Restated Certificate of Incorporation is annexed as Exhibit
3.1.1 to this Report on Form 8-K.

     (b)On August 31, 1999,  the Company  acquired the assets of the  Chesapeake
Bagel Bakery franchise  business from  Atlanta-based  AFC Enterprises,  Inc. The
acquisition  (the  "Chesapeake   Acquisition")  adds  more  than  70  franchised
Chesapeake  locations to the Company's  Manhattan  Bagel system.  The Chesapeake
Acquisition  is being  financed  through a  combination  of cash and  debt.

     (c)The Company has completed a senior debt financing with BankBoston,  N.A.
(the  "Lender")  dated as of August 31,  1999,  pursuant to which the Lender has
provided  a term loan of  $12,000,000  and a  revolving  line of credit of up to
$3,000,000.  Proceeds  were used for (i)  payment  of the cash  portion  and the
closing costs of the Chesapeake Acquisition;  (ii) repayment of certain existing
indebtedness to BET Associates,  L.P. and the Manhattan Bagel Company  Unsecured
Creditor's Trust; and (iii) working capital and general corporate purposes.

         To secure  payment of this  indebtedness,  the  Company  and its active
subsidiaries  have  granted  security  interests  on all of their assets and the
stock of such active subsidiaries has been pledged with the Lender. Accordingly,
if the Company  defaults under the loan documents,  an exercise of such security
interest and pledge could effect a change in control of the Company's  business.
A copy of the credit  agreement  is annexed as Exhibit  10.16 to this  Report on
Form 8-K.

         ITEM 7.  Exhibits.

         The following exhibits are hereby filed with this Form 8-K:

Exhibit
Number            Description
- ----------        ---------------
3.1.1             Restated Certificate of Incorporation.

10.16             Credit Agreement dated August 31, 1999 by and among the
                  Company, its active subsidiaries and BankBoston, N.A.

99.1.1            Press Release dated August 23, 1999.

99.1.2            Press Release dated August 31, 1999.

99.1.3            Press Release dated September 1, 1999.

                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                        NEW WORLD COFFEE -
                                        MANHATTAN BAGEL, INC.


                                    By: /s/ Jerold E. Novack
                                       ------------------------
                                       JEROLD E. NOVACK
                                       Chief Financial Officer

Date:    September 7, 1999






                                  Exhibit 3.1.1



                      RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION


       New World Coffee-Manhattan Bagel, Inc., a corporation organized and
existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, hereby certifies as follows:

1.   The present name of the  corporation is New World  Coffee-Manhattan  Bagel,
     Inc. The original  Certificate of Incorporation  of the corporation,  under
     the name "World  Coffee,  Inc.," was filed with the  Secretary  of State of
     Delaware on October 21, 1992.

2.   Pursuant to  Sections  242 and 245 of the  General  Corporation  Law of the
     State of Delaware,  this Restated Certificate of Incorporation restates and
     integrates  and  further  amends  the  provisions  of  the  Certificate  of
     Incorporation of this corporation.

3.   The text of the  Restated  Certification  of  Incorporation  as  heretofore
     amended or  supplemented  is hereby restated and further amended to read in
     its entirety as set forth in Exhibit A attached hereto.


4.   This Restated Certificate of Incorporation shall become effective on and as
     of August 24, 1999


     IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  this Restated  Certificate of  Incorporation  has been
signed under the seal of the corporation this 17th day of August, 1999.


                                            NEW WORLD COFFEE-MANHATTAN
                                            BAGEL, INC.


                                        By: /s/ Jerold E. Novack
                                            --------------------
                                            Secretary






<PAGE>



                                   EXHIBIT "A"


                      RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
                                       OF
                     NEW WORLD COFFEE-MANHATTAN BAGEL, INC.


     FIRST:  The name of the  Corporation is New World  Coffee-Manhattan  Bagel,
Inc.

     SECOND: The address of its registered office in the State of Delaware is 25
Greystone  Manor,  Lewes,  DE  19958-9776,  County  of  Sussex.  The name of its
registered agent at such address is Harvard Business Services, Inc.

     THIRD:  The  purpose of the  Corporation  is to engage in any lawful act or
activity for which  corporations may be organized under the General  Corporation
Law of the State of Delaware.

     FOURTH:  The total  number  of shares  which  the  Corporation  shall  have
authority  to issue  is  Fifty-Two  Million  (52,000,000),  consisting  of Fifty
Million  (50,000,000) shares of common stock, and Two Million (2,000,000) shares
of preferred stock, all of par value of $.001) per share.

     A. Preferred Stock

     1. The preferred  stock of the  Corporation may be issued from time to time
in one or more  series of any  number of  shares,  provided  that the  aggregate
number of shares  issued and not  cancelled in any and all such series shall not
exceed the total number of shares of preferred stock hereinabove authorized.

     2.  Authority is hereby vested in the Board of Directors  from time to time
to  authorize  the  issuance  of one or more series of  preferred  stock and, in
connection with the creation of such series, to fix by resolution or resolutions
providing for the issuance of shares  thereof the  characteristics  of each such
series including, without limitation, the following:

          (a) the maximum number of shares to constitute such series,  which may
     subsequently  be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares
     of that series then  outstanding)  by resolution of the Board of Directors,
     the  distinctive  designation  thereof  and the  stated  value  thereof  if
     different than the par value thereof;

          (b) whether the shares of such series shall have voting  powers,  full
     or limited,  together  with any other series of  preferred  stock or common
     stock, or as a separate  class, or no voting powers,  and if any, the terms
     of such voting powers;

          (c) the  dividend  rate,  if any,  on the shares of such  series,  the
     conditions  and dates upon  which  such  dividends  shall be  payable,  the
     preference  or relation  which such  dividends  shall bear to the dividends
     payable on any other  class or  classes  or on any other  series of capital
     stock and whether such dividend shall be cumulative or noncumulative;

          (d) whether the shares of such series  shall be subject to  redemption
     by the Corporation,  and, if made subject to redemption,  the times, prices
     and  other  terms,   limitations,   restrictions   or  conditions  of  such
     redemption;

          (e) the relative  amounts,  and the relative rights or preference,  if
     any, of payment in respect of shares of such  series,  which the holders of
     shares of such series  shall be entitled to receive  upon the  liquidation,
     dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation;

          (f) whether or not the shares of such  series  shall be subject to the
     operation  of a  retirement  or sinking  fund and, if so, the extent to and
     manner in which any such retirement or sinking fund shall be applied to the
     purchase or  redemption  of the shares of such series for  retirement or to
     other  corporate  purposes  and the terms and  provisions  relative  to the
     operation thereof;

          (g)  whether or not the  shares of such  series  shall be  convertible
     into, or exchangeable for, shares of any other class, classes or series, or
     other  securities,  whether  or not  issued by the  Corporation,  and if so
     convertible  or  exchangeable,  the price or prices or the rate or rates of
     conversion or exchange and the method, if any, of adjusting same;

          (h) the  limitations and  restrictions,  if any, to be effective while
     any shares of such series are outstanding  upon the payment of dividends or
     the making of other distributions on, and upon the purchase,  redemption or
     other  acquisition  by the  Corporation  of, the Common  Stock (as  defined
     below) or any other  class or classes of stock of the  Corporation  ranking
     junior  to the  shares  of  such  series  either  as to  dividends  or upon
     liquidation, dissolution or winding-up;

          (i) the  conditions  or  restrictions,  if any,  upon the  creation of
     indebtedness  of the  Corporation  or upon the  issuance of any  additional
     stock (including additional shares of such series or of any other series or
     of any other class) ranking on a parity with or prior to the shares of such
     series  as to  dividends  or  distributions  of  assets  upon  liquidation,
     dissolution or winding-up; and

          (j) any other  preference  and  relative,  participating,  optional or
     other special rights, and the  qualifications,  limitations or restrictions
     thereof,  as shall not be inconsistent with law, this Article Fourth or any
     resolution of the Board of Directors pursuant hereto.

In  connection  with  the  above,  a  Certificate  of  Designation  of  Series B
Convertible  Preferred  Stock  filed on January 22,  1997 and a  Certificate  of
Designation of Series A Junior  Participating  Preferred Stock filed on June 16,
1999, are hereby confirmed.

     B. Common Stock

     1. The common stock of the  Corporation  may be issued from time to time in
any number of shares,  provided that the  aggregate  number of shares issued and
not  cancelled  shall  not  exceed  the total  number of shares of common  stock
hereinabove authorized ("Common Stock").

     2. Unless  expressly  provided by the Board of Directors of the Corporation
in fixing the voting rights of any series of Preferred Stock, the holders of the
outstanding  shares of Common Stock shall  exclusively  possess all voting power
for the election of directors and for all other purposes,  each holder of record
of shares of Common  Stock  being  entitled  to one vote for each  share of such
stock standing in his name on the books of the Corporation.

     3.  Subject to the prior  rights of the holders of  Preferred  Stock now or
hereafter granted pursuant to Article Fourth,  the holders of Common Stock shall
be entitled to receive,  when and as declared by the Board of Directors,  out of
funds  legally  available for that purpose,  dividends  payable  either in cash,
stock or otherwise.

     4. In the  event  of any  liquidation,  dissolution  or  winding-up  of the
Corporation,  either  voluntary or  involuntary,  after payment shall be made in
full to the  holders  of  Preferred  Stock of any  amounts  to which they may be
entitled,  the holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to the exclusion of the
holders of Preferred Stock of any and all series to share,  ratably according to
the number of shares of Common Stock held by them,  in all  remaining  assets of
the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders.


     5. Each share of Common Stock  outstanding  immediately prior to the filing
of this Restated  Certificate of  Incorporation  shall,  upon the filing of this
Restated Certificate of Incorporation,  represent one half (1/2) share of Common
Stock, such that the 20,485,047  shares of Common Stock outstanding  immediately
prior to the filing of this Restated  Certificate of Incorporation  shall,  upon
the filing of this  Amended  Certificate  of  Incorporation,  be  combined  into
10,242,523 shares of Common Stock .

     FIFTH: The Corporation is to have perpetual existence.

     SIXTH: The private property of the stockholders shall not be subject to the
payment of the Corporation's debts to any extent whatever.

     SEVENTH:  The following  provisions  are included for the management of the
business and for the conduct of the affairs of the  Corporation and for defining
and regulating the powers of the Corporation and its directors and  stockholders
and are in  furtherance  and not in limitation of the powers  conferred upon the
Corporation by statute:

     A. 1. The  business and affairs of the  Corporation  shall be managed by or
under  the  direction  of a Board of  Directors  consisting  of such  number  of
directors  as  is  determined  from  time  to  time  by  resolution  adopted  by
affirmative  vote of a majority  of the  entire  Board of  Directors;  provided,
however,  that in no event shall the number of  directors be less than three nor
more than nine. The directors  shall be divided into three  classes,  designated
Class I, Class II and Class III. Each class shall  consist,  as nearly as may be
possible,  of one-third (1/3) of the total number of directors  constituting the
entire  Board  of  Directors.  By  unanimous  written  consent  of the  Board of
Directors,  the initial  classes shall be elected as follows:  Class I directors
shall be elected for a one-year term, Class II directors for a two-year term and
Class III directors for a three-year term. At each succeeding  annual meeting of
stockholders,  successors to the class of directors  whose terms expires at that
annual meeting shall be elected for three-year terms. If the number of directors
is changed,  any increase or decrease shall be apportioned  among the classes so
as to  maintain  the  number  of  directors  in each  class as  nearly  equal as
possible,  and any  additional  director of any class  elected to fill a vacancy
resulting from an increase in such class shall hold office for a term that shall
coincide with the remaining  term of that class,  but in no case will a decrease
in the  number  of  directors  shorten  the term of any  incumbent  director.  A
director shall hold office until the annual meeting for the year in which his or
her term  expires  and until his or her  successor  shall be  elected  and shall
qualify,   subject,   however,   to  prior   death,   resignation,   retirement,
disqualification or removal from office as set forth herein. Except as otherwise
required by law,  any vacancy on the Board of  Directors  that  results  from an
increase in the number of directors and any other vacancy occurring in the Board
of Directors shall be filled only by a majority of the directors then in office,
even if less  than a  quorum,  or by a sole  remaining  director.  Any  director
elected  to fill a vacancy  not  resulting  from an  increase  in the  number of
directors shall have the same remaining term as that of his or her predecessor.

     2. Any  director,  or the entire  Board of  Directors,  may be removed from
office  only  for  cause  and  only by the  affirmative  vote of not  less  than
two-thirds  (2/3) of the votes  entitled to be cast by the holders of all of the
then  outstanding  shares of Voting Stock (as defined in Article Ninth,  Section
C),  voting  together  as one class;  provided,  however,  that if a proposal to
remove a director is made by or on behalf of an Interested Person (as defined in
Article Ninth,  Section C) or a director who is not an Independent  Director (as
defined in Article  Ninth,  Section C), then such removal shall also require the
affirmative  vote of not less than two-thirds  (2/3) of the votes entitled to be
cast by the  holders  of all of the then  outstanding  shares of  Voting  Stock,
voting together as one class,  excluding Voting Stock beneficially owned by such
Interested Person.

     3.  Notwithstanding the foregoing,  whenever the holders of any one or more
classes  or series of stock  issued by the  Corporation  shall  have the  right,
voting separately by class or series, to elect directors,  the election, term of
office,  filling of vacancies and other features of such directorships  shall be
governed by the terms of this Certificate of Incorporation  applicable  thereto,
and such  directors so elected  shall not be divided  into  classes  pursuant to
Article Seventh, Section A unless expressly provided by such terms.

     B. In furtherance  and not  limitation of the powers  conferred by statute,
the Board of Directors is expressly authorized:

     1. To make,  alter,  amend or repeal the  By-Laws of the  Corporation.  The
holders of shares of Voting Stock shall, to the extent such power is at the time
conferred on them by applicable law, also have the power to make,  alter,  amend
or repeal the By-Laws of the  Corporation,  provided  that any proposal by or on
behalf of an Interested Person or a director who is not an Independent  Director
to make,  alter,  amend or repeal the  By-Laws  shall  require  approval  by the
affirmative  vote described in Article Ninth,  Section A, unless either (a) such
action has been approved by a majority of the Board of Directors as  constituted
prior to such  Interested  Person first  becoming an Interested  Person;  or (b)
prior to such Interested Person first becoming an Interested  Person, a majority
of the Board of Directors shall have approved such Interested Person becoming an
Interested Person and, subsequently, a majority of the Independent Directors has
approved such action.

     2. To set apart out of any of the funds of the  Corporation  available  for
dividends a reserve or reserves  for any proper  purpose and to abolish any such
reserve in the manner in which it was created.

     3. By a majority of the whole Board of Directors,  to designate one or more
committees,  each  committee  to consist of one or more of the  directors of the
Corporation.  The Board of  Directors  may  designate  one or more  directors as
alternate  members of any committee,  who may replace any absent or disqualified
member at any meeting of the  committee.  The  By-Laws  may provide  that in the
absence or  disqualification  of a member of a committee,  the member or members
thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting,  whether or not
he or they constitute a quorum,  may  unanimously  appoint another member of the
Board of  Directors  to act at the  meeting  in the place of any such  absent or
disqualified  member.  Any  such  committee,  to  the  extent  provided  in  the
resolution  of the Board of  Directors,  or in the  By-Laws of the  Corporation,
shall  have and may  exercise  all the  powers  and  authority  of the  Board of
Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation,  and
may authorize the seal of the  Corporation to be affixed to all papers which may
require it; but no such committee shall have the power or authority in reference
to amending the  Certificate of  Incorporation  (except that a committee may, to
the  extent  authorized  in the  resolution  or  resolutions  providing  for the
issuance  of shares of stock  adopted by the Board of  Directors  as provided in
Article Fourth hereof, fix the designations and any of the preferences or rights
of such shares relating to dividends, redemption,  dissolution, any distribution
of assets of the  Corporation  or the  conversion  into, or the exchange of such
shares for, shares of any other class or classes or any other series of the same
or any other class or classes of stock of the  Corporation  or fix the number of
shares of any series of stock or  authorize  the  increase  or  decrease  of the
shares of any  series),  adopting  an  agreement  of  merger  or  consolidation,
recommending  to  the  stockholders  the  sale,  lease  or  exchange  of  all or
substantially all of the Corporation's property and assets,  recommending to the
stockholders a dissolution of the  Corporation or a revocation of a dissolution,
or amending  the  By-Laws of the  Corporation;  and,  unless the  resolution  or
By-Laws  expressly  so  provide,  no such  committee  shall  have  the  power or
authority to declare a dividend,  to authorize the issuance of stock or to adopt
a  certificate  of ownership  and merger  pursuant to Section 253 of the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

     4. When and as authorized by the  stockholders  in accordance with statute,
to sell, lease or exchange all or  substantially  all of the property and assets
of the Corporation,  including its goodwill and its corporate  franchises,  upon
such terms and conditions and for such consideration, which may consist in whole
or in part of money or  property  including  shares  of stock in,  and/or  other
securities of, any other corporation or corporations,  as the Board of Directors
shall deem expedient and for the best interests of the Corporation.

     5. To the full extent  permitted or not  prohibited by law, and without the
consent  of or  other  action  by  the  stockholders,  to  authorize  or  create
mortgages, pledges or other liens or encumbrances upon any or all of the assets,
real,   personal  or  mixed,  and  franchises  of  the  Corporation,   including
after-acquired property, and to exercise all of the powers of the Corporation in
connection therewith.

     C. In addition to any other considerations which the Board of Directors may
lawfully take into account,  in  determining  whether to take or to refrain from
taking  corporate  action on any matter,  including  proposing any matter to the
stockholders  of the  Corporation,  the Board of Directors may take into account
the long-term as well as the  short-term  interests of the  Corporation  and its
stockholders  (including the possibility that these interests may be best served
by the continued  independence  of the  Corporation),  customers,  employees and
other  constituencies  of the  Corporation and its  subsidiaries,  including the
effect  upon  communities  in which  the  Corporation  and its  subsidiaries  do
business. In so evaluating any such determination,  the Board of Directors shall
be deemed to be performing their duties and acting in good faith and in the best
interests  of the  Corporation  within the meaning of Section 145 of the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, or any successor provision.

     D.  Subject to the rights of holders of any class or series of stock having
a  preference  over  the  Common  Stock  as to  dividends  or upon  liquidation,
dissolution or winding-up, nominations for the election of directors may be made
by the Board of Directors or by any stockholder entitled to vote in the election
of  directors  generally.  However,  any  stockholder  entitled  to  vote in the
election of directors generally may nominate one or more persons for election as
directors at an annual meeting only pursuant to the Corporation's notice of such
meeting  or if  written  notice  of  such  stockholder's  intent  to  make  such
nomination or nominations  has been received by the Secretary of the Corporation
not less than sixty nor more than ninety days prior to the first  anniversary of
the preceding year's annual meeting;  provided,  however, that in the event that
the date of the annual  meeting is  advanced  by more than  thirty  (30) days or
delayed  by more than  sixty  (60) days  from  such  anniversary,  notice by the
stockholder  to be timely must be so received not earlier than the ninetieth day
prior to such  annual  meeting  and not later than the close of  business on the
later of (1) the sixtieth day prior to such annual meeting; or (2) the tenth day
following the day on which notice of the day of the annual meeting was mailed or
public disclosure  thereof was made by the Corporation,  whichever first occurs.
For purposes of calculating the first such notice period  following  adoption of
this  Certificate  of  Incorporation,  the first  anniversary of the 1999 annual
meeting  shall be deemed to be July 31, 2000.  Each such notice shall set forth:
(a) the name and address of the  stockholder  who intends to make the nomination
and of the  person or  person to be  nominated;  (b) a  representation  that the
stockholder is a holder of record of stock of the  Corporation  entitled to vote
at such  meeting  and  intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to
nominate the person or persons specified in the notice; (c) a description of all
arrangements or understandings  between the stockholder and each nominee and any
other  person or  persons  (naming  such  person  or  persons)  relating  to the
nomination or nominations; (d) the class and number of shares of the Corporation
which are beneficially  owned by such stockholder and the person to be nominated
as of the date of such stockholder's  notice and by any other stockholders known
by such  stockholder  to be  supporting  such  nominees  as of the  date of such
stockholder's notice; (e) such other information regarding each nominee proposed
by such  stockholder  as would be required  to be included in a proxy  statement
filed pursuant to the proxy rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission; and
(f) the consent of each nominee to serve as a director of the  Corporation if so
elected as evidenced by the signature of such nominee.

     In  addition,  in the event the  Corporation  calls a  special  meeting  of
stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors,  any stockholder
entitled to vote in the election of directors generally may nominate one or more
persons for  election as directors  at a special  meeting  only  pursuant to the
Corporation's  notice of  meeting  or if  written  notice of such  stockholder's
intent to make such nomination or nominations, setting forth the information and
complying with the form described in the immediately  preceding  paragraph,  has
been received by the Secretary of the Corporation not earlier than the ninetieth
day prior to such  special  meeting  and not later than the close of business on
the later of (i) the sixtieth day prior to such  meeting;  or (ii) the tenth day
following the day on which notice of the date of the special  meeting was mailed
or public disclosure thereof was made by the Corporation, whichever comes first.

     No person shall be eligible  for election as a director of the  Corporation
unless  nominated in accordance  with the  procedures  set forth in this Article
Seventh,  Section D. The presiding  officer of the meeting  shall,  if the facts
warrant,  determine and declare to the meeting that  nomination  was not made in
accordance with the procedures  prescribed by Article Eighth,  Section D, and if
he or she should so determine, the defective nomination shall be disregarded.

     Elections of directors  need not be by written ballot unless the By-Laws of
the Corporation shall so provide.

     EIGHTH:

     A. Meetings of the  stockholders may be held within or without the State of
Delaware,  as the By-Laws may  provide.  Any action  required or permitted to be
taken by the  stockholders of the Corporation  must be effected at a duly called
annual or special  meeting of such  stockholders  and shall not be effected by a
consent in writing by any such holders. Subject to the express rights of holders
of any class or series of stock  having  preference  over the Common Stock as to
dividends or upon  liquidation,  dissolution or winding-up,  special meetings of
the  stockholders  of the  Corporation  may be called  only by the  holders of a
majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock or by a majority of the Board
of Directors.

     Except  as   otherwise   required  by  law  or  by  this   Certificate   of
Incorporation,  the holders of not less than one-third  (1/3) in voting power of
the shares entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders, present in person or
by proxy, shall constitute a quorum, and the act of the holders of a majority in
voting power of the shares present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote on
the  subject  matter  shall be deemed the act of the  stockholders.  If a quorum
shall fail to attend any meeting,  the presiding officer may adjourn the meeting
to another place,  date or time. If a notice of any adjourned special meeting of
stockholders is sent to all stockholders entitled to vote thereat,  stating that
it will be held with one-quarter (1/4) in voting power of the shares entitled to
vote thereat  constituting a quorum,  then except as otherwise  required by law,
one-quarter  (1/4)  in  voting  power  of the  shares  entitled  to vote at such
adjourned  meeting,  present in person or by proxy,  shall  constitute a quorum,
and, except as otherwise  required by law or this Certificate of  Incorporation,
all matters  shall be determined by the holders of a majority in voting power of
the shares  present in person or by proxy and  entitled  to vote on the  subject
matter.

     B.  At any  meeting  of the  stockholders,  only  such  business  shall  be
conducted as shall have been properly bought before such meeting. To be properly
bought before an annual meeting, business must be (1) specified in the notice of
meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board of
Directors;  (2)  otherwise  properly  brought  before  the  meeting by or at the
direction of the Board of Directors;  or (3) otherwise  properly  brought before
the meeting by a  stockholder.  For  business to be properly  brought  before an
annual meeting by a stockholder,  the stockholders must have given timely notice
thereof  in  writing  to the  Secretary  of the  Corporation.  To be  timely,  a
stockholder's  notice  must be  received  not less than sixty (60) days nor more
than ninety (90) days prior to the first  anniversary  of the  preceding  year's
annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual
meeting is  advanced by more than thirty (30) days or delayed by more than sixty
(60) days from such anniversary,  notice by the stockholder to be timely must be
so received not earlier than the ninetieth day prior to such annual  meeting and
not later than the close of business on the later of (1) the  sixtieth day prior
to such annual meeting;  or (2) the tenth day following the date on which notice
of the date of the annual  meeting was mailed or public  disclosure  thereof was
made,  whichever first occurs. For purposes of calculating the first such notice
period  following  adoption  of this  Certificate  of  Incorporation,  the first
anniversary of the 1999 annual meeting shall be July 31, 2000.  Each such notice
shall set forth as to each matter the  stockholder  proposes to bring before the
annual meeting:  (a) a brief  description of the business  desired to be brought
before the annual  meeting and the reasons for  conducting  such business at the
meeting; (b) the name and address, as they appear on the Corporation's books, of
the  stockholder  proposing such business;  (c) the class,  series and number of
shares of the Corporation which are beneficially  owned by the stockholder;  and
(d) and material interest of the stockholder in such business.

     No business shall be conducted at any meeting of the stockholders except in
accordance  with the  procedures  set forth in  Article  Eighth,  Section B. The
presiding  officer of the meeting  shall,  if the facts  warrant,  determine and
declare to the meeting that business was not properly  bought before the meeting
and in accordance with the provisions of Article Eighth, Section B, and if he or
she should so  determine,  any such  business  not properly  brought  before the
meeting shall not be  transacted.  Nothing  herein shall be deemed to affect the
Corporation's  proxy  statement  pursuant  to  Section  14(a) of the  Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and Rule 14a-8 thereunder.

     The books of the  Corporation  may be kept outside of the State of Delaware
at such place or places as may be  designated  from time to time by the Board of
Directors or in the By-Laws of the Corporation.

     NINTH:

     A. In addition to any affirmative  vote required by law or this Certificate
of  Incorporation  or the By-Laws of the  Corporation,  and except as  otherwise
expressly  provided in Section B of this Article Ninth,  a Business  Transaction
(as  hereinafter  defined)  with, or proposed by or on behalf of, any Interested
Person (as hereinafter defined) or any Affiliate (as hereinafter defined) of any
Interested  Person or any person who  thereafter  would be an  Affiliate of such
Interested  Person shall require  approval by the  affirmative  vote of not less
than  two-thirds  (2/3) of the votes  entitled  to be cast by holders of all the
then outstanding  Voting Stock,  voting together as one class,  excluding Voting
Stock  beneficially  owned by such Interested  Person in accordance with Section
203 of the General  Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.  Such  affirmative
vote shall be required notwithstanding the fact that no vote may be required, or
that a lesser  percentage may be specified,  by law or in any agreement with any
national securities exchange or otherwise.

     B. The provisions of this Article Ninth, Section A, shall not be applicable
to any particular  Business  Transaction,  and such Business  Transaction  shall
require  only such  affirmative  vote,  if any,  as is required by law or by any
other  provision  of this  Certificate  of  Incorporation  or the By-Laws of the
Corporation,  or any agreement with any national securities exchange,  if either
(1) the Business Transaction shall have been approved by a majority of the Board
of Directors as constituted  prior to such  Interested  Person first becoming an
Interested  Person or (2) prior to such  Interested  Person  first  becoming  an
Interested Person, a majority of the Board of Directors shall have approved such
Interested Person becoming an Interested Person and, subsequently, a majority of
the  Independent  Directors  (as  hereinafter  defined)  shall have approved the
Business Transaction.

     C. The following definitions shall apply with respect to Article Tenth.

     1. The term  "Affiliate"  shall mean a person that directly,  or indirectly
through one or more intermediaries,  controls,  or is controlled by, or is under
common control with, a specified person.

     2. A person shall be a  "Beneficial  Owner" of any Capital  Stock (a) which
such person or any of its Affiliates  beneficially owns, directly or indirectly;
(b) which such person or any of its Affiliates has, directly or indirectly,  (i)
the right to acquire  (whether such right is exercisable  immediately or subject
only to the passage of time or the  occurrence of one or more events),  pursuant
to  any  agreement,  arrangement  or  understanding  or  upon  the  exercise  of
conversion rights,  exchange rights,  warrants or options, or otherwise, or (ii)
the right to vote  pursuant  to any  agreement,  arrangement  or  understanding;
provided, however, that a person shall not be deemed the beneficial owner of any
security if the agreement,  arrangement or  understanding  to vote such security
arises solely from a revocable  proxy or consent  solicitation  made pursuant to
and in  accordance  with the Exchange  Act, and is not also then  reportable  on
Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or a comparable  or successor  report);  or
(c) which is  beneficially  owned,  directly or indirectly,  by any other person
with which such person or any of its Affiliates  has any agreement,  arrangement
or understanding for the purpose of acquiring,  holding,  voting or disposing of
any shares of Capital  Stock  (except to the extent  permitted by the proviso of
clause (b)(ii)  above).  For the purposes of determining  whether a person is an
Interested  Person  pursuant to  paragraph  (7) of this Section C, the number of
shares of Capital Stock deemed to be  outstanding  shall  include  shares deemed
beneficially  owned by such person through  application of this paragraph (2) of
Section C, but shall not include any other  shares of Capital  Stock that may be
issuable  pursuant  to any  agreement,  arrangement  or  understanding,  or upon
exercise of conversion rights, warrants or options, or otherwise.

     3.  The  term  "Business  Transaction"  shall  mean  any of  the  following
transactions  when  entered  into  by the  Corporation  or a  subsidiary  of the
Corporation  with, or upon a proposal by or on behalf of, any Interested  Person
or any Affiliate of any Interested Person:

          (a) any merger or  consolidation  of the Corporation or any subsidiary
     with (i) any Interested  Person or (ii) any other  corporation which is, or
     after such merger or consolidation  would be, an Affiliate of an Interested
     Person;

          (b) any sale, lease,  exchange,  mortgage,  pledge,  transfer or other
     disposition  (in one  transaction  or a  series  of  transactions),  except
     proportionately  as a  stockholder  of  the  Corporation,  to or  with  the
     Interested  Person of assets of the  Corporation  (other than Capital Stock
     (as  hereinafter  defined)) or of any subsidiary of the  Corporation  which
     assets have an aggregate market value equal to ten percent (10%) or more of
     the aggregate market value of all the outstanding stock of the Corporation;

          (c) any  transaction  that  results in the  issuance  of shares or the
     transfer of treasury  shares by the Corporation or by any subsidiary of the
     Corporation of any Capital Stock or any capital stock of such subsidiary to
     the  Interested  Person,  except (i) pursuant to the exercise,  exchange or
     conversion of securities  exercisable for,  exchangeable for or convertible
     into stock of the Corporation or any such subsidiary  which securities were
     outstanding  prior to the time that the Interested Person became such, (ii)
     pursuant  to a dividend  or  distribution  paid or made,  or the  exercise,
     exchange or conversion of securities  exercisable for,  exchangeable for or
     convertible  into stock of the  Corporation  or any such  subsidiary  which
     security  is  distributed,  pro rata to all holders of a class or series of
     stock of the  Corporation  subsequent  to the time  the  Interested  Person
     became such,  (iii)  pursuant to an exchange  offer by the  Corporation  to
     purchase  stock made on the same terms to all holders of said  stock,  (iv)
     any issuance of shares or transfer of treasury  shares of Capital  Stock by
     the  Corporation,  provided,  however,  that in the case of each of clauses
     (ii) through (iv) above there shall be no increase of more than one percent
     (1%) in the Interested Person's proportionate share of the Capital Stock of
     any class or  series or of the  Voting  Stock or (v)  pursuant  to a public
     offering  or  private  placement  by the  Corporation  to an  Institutional
     Investor;

          (d) any  reclassification  of  securities,  recapitalization  or other
     transaction  involving the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation
     which  has the  effect,  directly  or  indirectly,  of (i)  increasing  the
     proportionate  share of the stock of any  class or  series,  or  securities
     convertible into the stock of any class or series, of the Corporation or of
     any such subsidiary  which is owned by the Interested  Person,  except as a
     result of immaterial  changes due to fractional  share  adjustments or as a
     result of any  purchase  or  redemption  of any shares of stock not caused,
     directly or  indirectly,  by the Interested  Person or (ii)  increasing the
     voting power,  whether or not then exercisable,  of an Interested Person in
     any class or series of stock of the  Corporation  or any  subsidiary of the
     Corporation;

          (e)  the  adoption  of any  plan or  proposal  by or on  behalf  of an
     Interested Person for the liquidation or dissolution of the Corporation; or

          (f) any receipt by the Interested  Person of the benefit,  directly or
     indirectly (except proportionately as a stockholder of the Corporation), of
     any loans, advances,  guarantees,  pledges, tax benefits or other financial
     benefits (other than those expressly permitted in subparagraphs (a) through
     (e) above) provided by or through the Corporation or any subsidiary.

     4. The term "Capital Stock" shall mean all capital stock of the Corporation
authorized  to be  issued  from  time  to  time  under  Article  Fourth  of this
Certificate of Incorporation.

     5. The term "Independent  Directors" shall mean the members of the Board of
Directors who are not Affiliates or  representatives  of, or associated with, an
Interested  Person and who were either directors of the Corporation prior to any
person becoming an Interested Person or were recommended for election or elected
to succeed such  directors by a vote which  includes the  affirmative  vote of a
majority of the Independent Directors.

     6. The  term  "Institutional  Investor"  shall  mean a person  that (a) has
acquired,  or will  acquire,  all of its  securities of the  Corporation  in the
ordinary  course of its business and not with the purpose nor with the effect of
changing or influencing the control of the  Corporation,  nor in connection with
or as a participant in any transaction having such purpose or effect,  including
any  transaction  subject to Section 13 of the  Exchange  Act and Rule  13d-3(b)
thereunder,  and (b) is a registered broker dealer; a bank as defined in Section
3(a)(6)  of the  Exchange  Act;  an  insurance  company  as  defined  in,  or an
investment  company  registered  under,  the Investment  Company Act of 1940; an
investment  advisor  registered  under the  Investment  Advisors Act of 1940; an
employee benefit plan or pension fund subject to the Employee  Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974 or an endowment  fund; a parent holding  company,  provided
that  the  aggregate  amount  held  directly  by the  parent  and  directly  and
indirectly by its subsidiaries  which are not persons specified in the foregoing
subclauses of this clause (b) does not exceed one percent (1%) of the securities
of the  subject  class;  or a group,  provided  that all the members are persons
specified in the foregoing subclauses of this clause (b).

     7. The term  "Interested  Person"  shall  mean any person  (other  than the
Corporation,  any subsidiary,  any  profit-sharing,  employee stock ownership or
other employee  benefit plan of the Corporation or any subsidiary or any trustee
of or fiduciary  with respect to any such plan when acting in such capacity) who
(a) is the beneficial  owner of Voting Stock  representing  ten percent (10%) or
more  of the  votes  entitled  to be  cast  by the  holders  of all of the  then
outstanding  shares  of Voting  Stock;  or (b) has  stated in a filing  with any
governmental  agency or press release or otherwise  publicly disclosed a plan or
intention to become or consider  becoming the  beneficial  owner of Voting Stock
representing  ten percent (10%) or more of the votes  entitled to be cast by the
holders of all then  outstanding  shares of Voting  Stock and has not  expressly
abandoned such plan, intention or consideration more than two years prior to the
date in  question;  or (c) is an Affiliate  of the  Corporation  and at any time
within the  two-year  period  immediately  prior to the date in question was the
beneficial  owner of Voting Stock  representing ten percent (10%) or more of the
votes  entitled to be cast by holders of all then  outstanding  shares of Voting
Stock.

     8. The term  "person"  shall  mean  individual,  corporation,  partnership,
unincorporated association, trust or other entity.

     9. The term  "subsidiary"  means any  company  of which a  majority  of the
voting securities are owned, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation.

     10. The term "Voting Stock" shall mean Capital Stock of any class or series
entitled to vote in the election of directors generally.

     D. A majority of the Independent Directors shall have the power and duty to
determine,  on the basis of information known to them after reasonable  inquiry,
for the purposes of (1) this Article Ninth, all questions  arising under Article
Ninth  including,  without  limitation  (a)  whether a person  is an  Interested
Person,  (b)  the  number  of  shares  of  Capital  Stock  or  other  securities
beneficially  owned by any person;  and (c) whether a person is an  Affiliate of
another;  and (2) this Certificate of  Incorporation,  the question of whether a
person is an Interested  Person. Any such determination made in good faith shall
be binding and conclusive on all parties.

     E. Nothing  contained  in this Article  Ninth shall be construed to relieve
any Interested Person from any fiduciary obligation imposed by law.

     TENTH:  Whenever a  compromise  or  arrangement  is  proposed  between  the
Corporation  and  its  creditors  or  any  class  of  them  and/or  between  the
Corporation  and its  stockholders  or any class of them, any court of equitable
jurisdiction  within the State of Delaware may, on the  application in a summary
way of the  Corporation  or of any  creditor  or  stockholder  thereof or on the
application of any receiver or receivers  appointed for this  corporation  under
the  provisions  of  Section  291 of  Title  8 of the  Delaware  Code  or on the
application of trustees in dissolution or of any receiver or receivers appointed
for the  Corporation  under  the  provisions  of  Section  279 of Title 8 of the
Delaware Code order a meeting of the creditors or class of creditors,  and/or of
the  stockholders or class of stockholders of the  Corporation,  as the case may
be, to be summoned in such  manner as the said court  directs.  If a majority in
number  representing  three  fourths  in  value  of the  creditors  or  class of
creditors,   and/or  of  the  stockholders  or  class  of  stockholders  of  the
Corporation,  as the case may be, agree to any compromise or arrangement  and to
any  reorganization  of the  Corporation as  consequence  of such  compromise or
arrangement,  the said  compromise or  arrangement  and the said  reorganization
shall,  if sanctioned by the court to which the said  application has been made,
be  binding  on all the  creditors  or class  of  creditors,  and/or  on all the
stockholders or class of stockholders,  of the Corporation,  as the case may be,
and also on the Corporation.

     ELEVENTH:  The Corporation  shall,  to the fullest extent  permitted by the
provisions  of  Section  145 of the  General  Corporation  Law of the  State  of
Delaware,  as the same may be amended and  supplemented,  indemnify  any and all
persons  whom it shall  have power to  indemnify  under  said  section  from and
against any and all of the expenses, liabilities or other matters referred to in
or covered by said section,  and the  indemnification  provided for herein shall
not be deemed  exclusive of any other rights to which those  indemnified  may be
entitled under any By-Law,  agreement,  vote of  stockholders  or  disinterested
directors or  otherwise,  both as to action in his  official  capacity and as to
action in another capacity while holding such office, and shall continue as to a
person who has ceased to be a director,  officer,  employee,  or agent and shall
inure to the  benefit  of the  heirs,  executors  and  administrators  of such a
person.

     The Board of Directors of the Corporation may, in its discretion, authorize
the  Corporation to purchase and maintain  insurance on behalf of any person who
is or was a director,  officer,  employee or agent of the Corporation,  or is or
was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director,  officer,  employee
or agent of another  corporation,  partnership,  joint  venture,  trust or other
enterprise  against any liabilities  asserted  against him or incurred by him in
any such  capacity,  or arising  out of his  status as such,  whether or not the
Corporation  would have the power to indemnity him against such liability  under
the foregoing paragraph of this Article Eleventh.

     TWELFTH:  No director of the Corporation  shall be personally liable to the
Corporation  or any  stockholder  of the  Corporation  for monetary  damages for
breach of fiduciary duty as a director, provided that this Article Twelfth shall
not  eliminate  or limit the  liability  of a director (i) for any breach of the
director's duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts
or omissions  not in good faith or which  involve  intentional  misconduct  or a
knowing  violation  of law,  (iii) under  Section 174 of Title 8 of the Delaware
Code, or (iv) for any  transaction  from which the director  derived an improper
personal  benefit.  No amendment to or repeal of this Article  Thirteenth  shall
apply to or have an effect on the liability or alleged liability of any director
of the Corporation for or with respect to any acts or omissions of such director
occurring prior to the effective date of such amendment or repeal.

     THIRTEENTH:  The Corporation  reserves the right to amend, alter, change or
repeal any provisions  contained in this  Certificate of  Incorporation,  in the
manner now or hereafter  prescribed by statute,  and all rights  conferred  upon
stockholders herein are granted subject to this reservation.

                       ----------------------------------


                                  Exhibit 10.16










           ----------------------------------------------------------

                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

                                      among

                                BANKBOSTON, N.A.,

                     NEW WORLD COFFEE-MANHATTAN BAGEL, INC.

                                       and

           its DIRECT AND INDIRECT Subsidiaries Who Are Parties HERETO


                           Dated as of August 31, 1999

           ----------------------------------------------------------


<PAGE>





                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


<S>     <C>                                                                                                      <C>
SECTION 1.  DEFINITIONS...........................................................................................1


SECTION 2.  THE CREDIT FACILITIES................................................................................16

2.1 THE LOANS AND NOTES..........................................................................................16
2.2 SCHEDULED PRINCIPAL REPAYMENTS ON THE LOANS..................................................................16
2.3 CLOSING FEE; COMMITMENT FEES; INTEREST; DEFAULT RATE.........................................................17
2.4 REQUESTS FOR LOANS...........................................................................................19
2.5 CONVERSION AND CONTINUANCE OF LOANS..........................................................................20
2.6 REDUCTION OR TERMINATION OF THE REVOLVER COMMITMENT..........................................................20
2.7 MANDATORY PAYMENTS AND PREPAYMENTS...........................................................................21
2.8 LETTERS OF CREDIT............................................................................................22
2.9 CHANGED CIRCUMSTANCES........................................................................................26
2.10 CAPITAL ADEQUACY............................................................................................29
2.11 PAYMENTS BEFORE END OF EURODOLLAR PERIOD....................................................................29
2.12 SECURITY....................................................................................................30
2.13 USE OF PROCEEDS.............................................................................................30
2.14 TIME AND METHOD OF PAYMENTS.................................................................................31

SECTION 3.  CONDITIONS OF CREDIT EXTENSIONS......................................................................31

3.1 CONDITIONS TO INITIAL CREDIT EXTENSION.......................................................................31
3.2 CONDITIONS TO ALL CREDIT EXTENSIONS..........................................................................33

SECTION 4.  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.......................................................................33

4.1 ORGANIZATION AND QUALIFICATION...............................................................................33
4.2 CORPORATE OR PARTNERSHIP AUTHORITY...........................................................................34
4.3 VALID OBLIGATIONS............................................................................................34
4.4 APPROVALS....................................................................................................34
4.5 TITLE TO PROPERTIES; ABSENCE OF LIENS........................................................................34
4.6 LICENSES, PATENTS, TRADEMARKS AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY......................................................35
4.7 COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS AND AGREEMENTS..........................................................................35
4.8 MATERIAL AGREEMENTS..........................................................................................35
4.9 ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS........................................................................................35
4.10 COMPLIANCE WITH ERISA.......................................................................................37
4.11 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS........................................................................................37
4.12 SOLVENCY....................................................................................................38
4.13 TAXES.......................................................................................................38
4.14 LITIGATION..................................................................................................38
4.15 MARGIN RULES................................................................................................38
4.16 RESTRICTIONS ON THE BORROWERS...............................................................................38
4.17 CAPITALIZATION..............................................................................................39
4.18 FULL DISCLOSURE.............................................................................................39
4.19 INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT......................................................................................39
4.20 LABOR DISPUTES; COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS; EMPLOYEE GRIEVANCES.......................................39
4.21 YEAR 2000 COMPLIANCE........................................................................................40

SECTION 5.  FINANCIAL COVENANTS..................................................................................40

5.1 MAXIMUM LEVERAGE RATIO.......................................................................................40
5.2 MINIMUM CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW RATIO.........................................................................40
5.3 MINIMUM INTEREST COVERAGE RATIO..............................................................................40
5.4 MAXIMUM CAPITAL EXPENDITURES.................................................................................41

SECTION 6.  AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS................................................................................42

6.1 FINANCIAL REPORTING..........................................................................................42
6.2 CONDUCT OF BUSINESS..........................................................................................44
6.3 MAINTENANCE AND INSURANCE....................................................................................44
6.4 TAXES........................................................................................................45
6.5 INSPECTION BY THE LENDER.....................................................................................45
6.6 ACCOUNTING SYSTEM............................................................................................45
6.7 FURTHER ASSURANCES...........................................................................................45
6.8 ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS...........................................................................................45
6.9 DEPOSITORY...................................................................................................45
6.10 INTEREST RATE PROTECTION....................................................................................46
6.11 WILLOUGHBY'S SELLER NOTE....................................................................................46
6.12 FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS........................................................................................46

SECTION 7.  NEGATIVE COVENANTS...................................................................................46

7.1 INDEBTEDNESS; CONTINGENT LIABILITIES.........................................................................46
7.2 SALE AND LEASEBACK...........................................................................................47
7.3 ENCUMBRANCES.................................................................................................47
7.4 DISPOSITION OF ASSETS, ETC...................................................................................48
7.5 AMENDMENT TO CHARTER OR PARTNERSHIP DOCUMENTS................................................................49
7.6 MERGERS; CONSOLIDATIONS; ISSUANCE OF SECURITIES; ETC.........................................................49
7.7 RESTRICTED PAYMENTS..........................................................................................49
7.8 INVESTMENTS, LOANS AND ACQUISITIONS..........................................................................50
7.9 ERISA........................................................................................................50
7.10 TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES................................................................................50
7.11 AMENDMENT OF CERTAIN AGREEMENTS.............................................................................51
7.12 NEGATIVE PLEDGES, ETC.......................................................................................51
7.13 NEW SUBSIDIARIES............................................................................................51

SECTION 8. DEFAULTS..............................................................................................51

8.1 EVENTS OF DEFAULT............................................................................................51
8.2 REMEDIES.....................................................................................................53
8.3 LETTERS OF CREDIT............................................................................................54

SECTION 9. MISCELLANEOUS.........................................................................................54

9.1 NOTICES......................................................................................................54
9.2 EXPENSES.....................................................................................................55
9.3 INDEMNIFICATION..............................................................................................55
9.4 TERM OF AGREEMENT............................................................................................56
9.5 NO WAIVERS...................................................................................................56
9.6 GOVERNING LAW................................................................................................56
9.7 ENTIRE AGREEMENT; AMENDMENTS.................................................................................56
9.8  ASSIGNMENTS; PARTICIPATIONS.................................................................................56
9.9 COUNTERPARTS; PARTIAL INVALIDITY.............................................................................57
9.10 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL........................................................................................57
9.11 CONSENT TO JURISDICTION.....................................................................................57
9.12 JOINT AND SEVERAL LIABILITY.................................................................................58
</TABLE>



<PAGE>


EXHIBITS

Exhibit 2.1(a)        Form of Revolving Note
Exhibit 2.1(b)        Form of Term Note
Exhibit 2.4           Form of Loan Request
Exhibit 2.5           Form of Interest Rate Option Notice
Exhibit 2.9           Exemption Certificate
Exhibit 6.1           Form of Covenant Compliance Report

SCHEDULES

Schedule 1            Quarterly Dates
Schedule 2.13         Sources and Uses of Funds
Schedule 4.1          Qualifications
Schedule 4.4          Approvals
Schedule 4.5          Title to Properties; Absence of Liens; Stores
Schedule 4.6          Intellectual Property; Trademarks, Etc.
Schedule 4.9          Environmental Matters
Schedule 4.14         Litigation
Schedule 4.17         Capitalization
Schedule 7.1          Indebtedness
Schedule 7.3          Encumbrances
Schedule 7.8          Investments


<PAGE>





                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

     THIS  CREDIT  AGREEMENT  is made as of  August  31,  1999,  among NEW WORLD
COFFEE-MANHATTAN  BAGEL,  INC., a Delaware  corporation (the "Parent"),  and its
Subsidiaries,   CBB   ACQUISITION   CORP.,  a  New  Jersey   corporation   ("CBB
Acquisition"),  WILLOUGHBY'S,  INC., a Connecticut corporation ("Willoughby's"),
MANHATTAN BAGEL COMPANY,  INC., a New Jersey  corporation  ("Bagel") and I. & J.
BAGEL, INC., a California corporation, wholly-owned by Bagel ("I&J") (the Parent
and such  Subsidiaries and such other  Subsidiaries who hereafter become parties
hereto being collectively referred to herein as the "Borrowers" and individually
as a "Borrower"),  and BANKBOSTON,  N.A., a national banking association, or any
successor thereto (the "Lender").

                                    RECITALS

     A. The  Borrowers  are in the  business  of owning and  franchising  retail
coffee bars and bagel  bakeries and  manufacturing  for sale through such coffee
bars and bagel bakeries  coffee,  bagels and cream cheese and the wholesale sale
and distribution of such products and related products.

     B. CBB Acquisition has entered into an Asset Purchase  Agreement dated July
26, 1999, as amended by a certain First  Amendment to Asset  Purchase  Agreement
dated as of August 27, 1999 (as amended,  the "Acquisition  Agreement") with AFC
Enterprises,  Inc. (the "Seller") to acquire all of the assets used  exclusively
in Seller's business of franchising  retail bagel stores (the "Acquired Assets")
under the name  "Chesapeake  Bagel Bakery" and all derivatives of such name (the
"Chesapeake Acquisition").

     C. The  Borrowers  have  requested  that the Lender  provide a term loan of
$12,000,000  and a revolving  line of credit of up to  $3,000,000 to be used for
payment  of the  purchase  price  and  closing  costs  in  connection  with  the
Chesapeake Acquisition,  repayment of certain existing indebtedness as disclosed
to Lender, working capital, letters of credit and general corporate purposes.

     D. The Lender is  willing,  subject to the terms and  conditions  set forth
herein, to provide such credit facilities to the Borrowers.

     NOW, THEREFORE,  in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements
herein contained, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

     SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS.  As used herein, the terms shall have the following
meanings:

     Accountants:   Arthur  Andersen  or  other  independent   certified  public
accountants acceptable to the Lender.

     Acquired Assets: See the Recitals.

     Acquisition:  The  acquisition  by  any  Borrower,  whether  by  way of the
purchase of assets or equity interests, by merger or consolidation or otherwise,
of  substantially  all of the  assets  of or  equity  interests  in any  Person,
including, without limitation,  specialty coffee retail or bagel bakery Store or
Stores. Acquisition Agreement: See the Recitals.

     Adjusted  Eurodollar Rate: As applied to any Interest Period,  the rate per
annum determined pursuant to the following formula:

                           AER = [     IOR    ]*
                                 --------------
                                  [1.00 - RP]

                           AER = Adjusted Eurodollar Rate
                           IOR = Interbank Offered Rate
                           RP = Reserve Percentage

     * The amount in brackets  shall be rounded  upwards,  if necessary,  to the
next higher 1/100th of 1%.

     Where:

     The  "Interbank  Offered Rate"  applicable to any  Eurodollar  Loan for any
Interest  Period means the rate of interest  determined  by the Lender to be the
prevailing  rate per annum at which deposits in U.S.  dollars are offered to the
Lender  by  first-class  banks in the  interbank  Eurodollar  market in which it
regularly  participates  on or about 10:00 a.m.  (Boston time) two Business Days
before the first day of such Interest Period in an amount approximately equal to
the principal  amount of the Eurodollar Loan to which such Interest Period is to
apply for a period of time approximately equal to such Interest Period; and

     The "Reserve  Percentage"  applicable to any Interest Period means the rate
(expressed as a decimal)  applicable  to the Lender during such Interest  Period
under  regulations  issued  from time to time by the Board of  Governors  of the
Federal  Reserve  System  for   determining  the  maximum  reserve   requirement
(including,  without limitation, any basic, supplemental,  emergency or marginal
reserve requirement) of the Lender with respect to "Eurocurrency liabilities" as
that term is defined under such regulations.

     The  Adjusted  Eurodollar  Rate shall be adjusted  automatically  as of the
effective date of any change in the Reserve Percentage.

     AFC Debt  Instruments:  The Promissory  Note (as defined in the Acquisition
Agreement) issued by CBB Acquisition to the Seller, the Security Agreement dated
on or about the date hereof from CBB Acquisition in favor of the Seller, the New
World Guaranty (as defined in the  Acquisition  Agreement) and all other related
documents.

     Affiliates:  As applied to any Person,  (a) if an  individual,  a spouse or
relative of such person;  (b) if a business  entity,  any partner,  shareholder,
member,  director,  officer or manager of such Person (except an equityholder of
not more than 10% of the  outstanding  stock of any company listed on a national
securities  exchange  or  actively  traded  in the  over-the-counter  securities
market); (c) any corporation,  association,  partnership, joint venture, firm or
other  entity  of  which  such  Person  is a  partner,  stockholder  (except  an
equityholder of not more than 10% of the outstanding stock of any company listed
on a national  securities  exchange or actively  traded in the  over-the-counter
securities market),  venturer, member, director, officer or manager; and (d) any
other Person directly or indirectly controlling,  controlled by, or under common
control with, such Person.

     Applicable Margin: See Section 2.3.

     Asset Sale:  Any sale,  lease,  assignment,  conveyance,  transfer or other
disposition  ("Disposition")  of  property  or a  series  of  any  such  related
Dispositions of property (excluding (i) any such Disposition permitted by clause
(a) of  Section  7.4;  and (ii) any  Equity  Issuances)  for which  any  Company
receives (valued at the initial principal amount thereof in the case of non-cash
proceeds consisting of notes or other debt, securities and valued at fair market
value in the case of other non-cash proceeds) $100,000 or more.

     Audited Financial Statements: See Section 2.3.

     Available Revolver Commitment: At any time, the Revolver Commitment,  minus
the Revolving Credit Outstandings.

     Bagel: See the Preamble.

     Base Rate:  The higher of (i) the annual  rate of interest  announced  from
time to time by the  Lender at its head  office as its Base  Rate,  and (ii) the
Federal Funds Effective Rate plus .50% per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary,
to the next .125%).  The Base Rate is not necessarily  intended to be the lowest
rate of interest  determined  by the Lender in  connection  with  extensions  of
credit.

     Base Rate Loan:  Any Loan bearing  interest  calculated by reference to the
Base Rate.

     Borrower; and Borrowers: See the Preamble.

     Business  Day:  (i) For all  purposes  other than as covered by clause (ii)
below, any day other than a Saturday,  Sunday or legal holiday on which banks in
Boston,  Massachusetts  are open for the  transaction  of a substantial  part of
their  commercial  banking  business;  and (ii) with  respect to all notices and
determinations  in connection  with,  and payments of principal and interest on,
Eurodollar  Loans,  any day that is a Business  Day  described in clause (i) and
that is also a day for trading by and between banks in the U.S.  Dollar deposits
in the interbank Eurodollar market.

     Capital  Expenditures:  As to any  Person  for any  period,  the sum of all
amounts which would, in accordance with GAAP consistently  applied,  be included
as additions to property, plant and equipment and other capital expenditures for
such Person for such period,  including without  limitation amounts with respect
to Capitalized Leases.

     Capital  Stock:  Any and all  shares,  interests,  participations  or other
equivalents (however designated) of capital stock of a corporation,  any and all
similar  ownership  interests in any Person which is not a corporation,  and any
and all warrants, options or other rights to acquire any of the foregoing.

     Capitalized  Leases:  Leases  under  which  any  Company  is the  lessee or
obligor,  the  discounted  future  rental  payment  obligations  under which are
required  to be  capitalized  on the  balance  sheet of the lessee or obligor in
accordance with GAAP.

     Casualty Event: Any loss or damages to, or any condemnation or other taking
of any  assets or  property  of the  Companies  for which any  Company  receives
insurance proceeds, proceeds of a condemnation award or other compensation.

     CBB Acquisition: See the Preamble.

     Change in  Control:  for any reason (a) any  "person"  or "group"  (as such
terms are used in Sections  13(d) and 14(d) of the  Exchange  Act) is or becomes
the  "beneficial  owner" (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange
Act, except that a Person shall be deemed to have "beneficial  ownership" of all
securities  that such  Person has the right to  acquire,  whether  such right is
exercisable  immediately  or only  after  the  passage  of  time),  directly  or
indirectly,  of more  than 35% of the  total  outstanding  Capital  Stock  (on a
fully-diluted  basis)  of  the  Parent  entitled  to  vote  in the  election  of
directors;  (b) any Borrower shall cease to own of record and beneficially  100%
of the issued and outstanding Capital Stock in each of its Subsidiaries  (unless
otherwise permitted hereunder); or (c) during any period of up to 24 consecutive
months,  commencing  after the date of this  Agreement,  individuals  who at the
beginning of such 24 month period were  directors of the Parent  (together  with
any new director  whose  election by its Board of Directors or whose  nomination
for election by its  shareholders  was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds
of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning
of such period or whose  election or nomination  for election was  previously so
approved)  cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the directors of the
Parent then in office.

     Chesapeake Acquisition: See the Recitals.

     Code:  The  Internal  Revenue  Code of 1986 and the rules  and  regulations
promulgated  thereunder,  collectively,  as the same  may  from  time to time be
supplemented or amended and remain in effect.

     Collateral:  Collectively, any and all collateral referred to herein and in
the Security Documents.

     Commitment Fee: See Section 2.3.

     Commitments: The Revolver Commitment and the Term Loan Commitment.

     Companies: The Borrowers and each of their Subsidiaries from time to time.

     Company Store: Any Store owned or controlled  directly or indirectly by any
Company.

     Company Store Sale Payment: See Section 2.7.

     Consolidated Cash Flow: For any period, without duplication, the sum of (a)
the Consolidated  EBITDA of the Companies for such period,  minus (b) cash taxes
in respect of income and profits for such period, minus (c) the aggregate amount
of  Capital  Expenditures  during  such  period;  in each case  determined  on a
consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

     Consolidated  EBITDA:  For any period determined on a consolidated basis in
accordance with GAAP, without  duplication,  the sum of (a) the Consolidated Net
Income of the Companies for such period, plus (b) taxes in respect of income and
profits,  if any,  paid or accrued by the  Companies  for such period,  plus (c)
Consolidated  Interest  Expense  of the  Companies  for  such  period,  plus (d)
consolidated  depreciation and  amortization  expenses of the Companies for such
period   (including   amortization   of  goodwill  and  other   intangibles  and
organizational  costs),  plus (e) other  consolidated  non-cash  charges  of the
Companies for such period,  plus (f)  consolidated  nonrecurring  charges of the
Companies for such period related to mergers and  acquisitions,  minus (g) other
consolidated non-cash credits of the Companies for such period; provided that if
during such Reference  Period an Acquisition  shall have occurred,  Consolidated
EBITDA for such  Reference  Period shall  exclude the  acquired  Stores or other
business for the period prior to the date of such Acquisition.

     Consolidated  Excess  Operating  Cash Flow:  For any fiscal  year,  without
duplication,  the sum of (a) the  Consolidated  Net Income of the  Companies for
such fiscal year, plus (b) consolidated  depreciation and amortization  expenses
of the Companies for such fiscal year  (including  amortization  of goodwill and
other intangibles and organizational  costs),  minus (c) Capital Expenditures of
the  Companies  made  during  such  fiscal  year which were not  financed by the
Companies by Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 7.1(a), below, minus (d)
cash taxes in respect of income and profits  paid by the  Companies  during such
period,  minus (e) all principal  payments which were required to be made by the
Companies  in respect of its  Indebtedness  during such fiscal  year,  minus (f)
voluntary  prepayments of the Term Loan made by the Companies during such fiscal
year.

     Consolidated  Financial  Obligations:  For any period, without duplication,
the sum of all scheduled payments (including without  limitation,  principal and
Consolidated  Interest  Expense)  on  Consolidated  Funded  Indebtedness  of the
Companies  (including  without  limitation  with respect to Capitalized  Leases)
which came due during such period,  in each case  determined  on a  consolidated
basis in accordance with GAAP.

     Consolidated Funded Indebtedness:  At any time, without duplication,  as to
any Company,  the sum of (a) all Indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money,
(b) all  obligations of such Person for the deferred  purchase price of property
or services  (other than trade payables  incurred in the ordinary course of such
Person's  business),  (c) all  obligations  of such Person  evidenced  by notes,
bonds,  debentures or other similar  instruments,  (d)  Indebtedness  created or
arising  under any  conditional  sale or other title  retention  agreement  with
respect to property acquired by such Person (even though the rights and remedies
of the seller or lender under such agreement in the event of default are limited
to  repossession  or sale of  such  property),  (e)  the  principal  portion  of
Capitalized  Leases  of  such  Person,  (f)  all  obligations  of  such  Person,
contingent or otherwise, as an account party under acceptance,  letter of credit
(as to the face amount thereof plus, without  duplication,  LC Draw Obligations)
or  similar  facilities,  (g)  all  Guarantees  of such  Person  in  respect  of
Indebtedness   of  another  Person  (other  than  another   Company),   (h)  all
Indebtedness  of  another  Person  secured  by (or for which the  holder of such
obligation has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any
Lien on property owned by such Person, whether or not such Person has assumed or
become liable for the payment of such  obligation,  (i) all  obligations of such
Person in respect of Interest Rate Protection Agreements, (j) all obligations of
such Person  under  take-or-pay  or similar  arrangements  or under  commodities
agreements,  (k) all preferred  Capital Stock issued by such Person and which by
the terms thereof could be (at the request of the holders  thereof or otherwise)
subject to mandatory  sinking fund  payments,  redemption or other  acceleration
(other than as a result of a Change of Control or an Asset Sale that does not in
fact result in a redemption of such preferred  Capital Stock) at any time during
the term of this Agreement, (l) the principal portion of all obligations of such
Person under  synthetic  leases,  (m) the  Indebtedness  of any  partnership  or
unincorporated  joint  venture  in which such  Person is a general  partner or a
joint venturer,  and (n) the outstanding  attributed  principal amount under any
securitization  transaction,  in each case determined on a consolidated basis in
accordance with GAAP.

     Consolidated Interest Expense: For any period, without duplication, the sum
of (a) interest  expense  (including  amortization or write-off of debt discount
and debt  issuance  costs) of the  Companies  for such period,  (b) the interest
component of all  Capitalized  Leases of the Companies for such period,  and (c)
all  commitment  fees,  Letter of Credit Fees,  fees  relating to Interest  Rate
Protection Agreements and other fees,  discounts,  commissions and other charges
incurred  or  payable  by  the   Companies   during  such  period   relating  to
Indebtedness; in each case determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with
GAAP;  provided,  however,  Consolidated  Interest  Expense  shall  exclude  any
amortization or write-off of debt discount and debt issuance costs in connection
with the repayment of the obligations of the Parent to BET Associates, L.P.

     Consolidated  Net Assets:  As of any date on which the amount thereof is to
be  determined,  the net book value of all assets of the Companies as determined
on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

     Consolidated  Net Income:  For any period,  the net income (or loss) of the
Companies,  excluding any extraordinary  income (or loss) for such period (taken
as a cumulative whole),  after deducting all operating expenses,  provisions for
all taxes and reserves  (including  reserves for deferred  income taxes) and all
other proper  deductions;  all determined on a consolidated  basis in accordance
with GAAP.

     Consolidated Net Worth: As of any date on which the amount thereof is to be
determined, the net worth of the Companies determined on a consolidated basis in
accordance with GAAP.

     Controlled  Group: All trades or businesses  (whether or not  incorporated)
under common control that, together with the Companies,  are treated as a single
employer under Section 414(b) or 414(c) of that Code or Section 4001 of ERISA.

     Credit Extensions: The Loans and the Letters of Credit.

     Debt Proceeds Payments: See Section 2.7.

     Debt   Issuance:   The  issuance  of   Consolidated   Funded   Indebtedness
subordinated  to the  obligations  of the  Borrowers  to  pay  principal  of and
interest on and other amounts due with respect to the Loans,  the Notes, the Fee
Letter  and other  Obligations  on terms of  subordination  satisfactory  to the
Lender,  and pursuant to  documentation  containing  other terms and  including,
without limitation, interest, amortization, mandatory prepayments, covenants and
events of default in form and substance satisfactory to the Lender.

     Default:  An Event of  Default  or event  or  condition  that,  but for the
requirement  that time elapse or notice be given, or both,  would  constitute an
Event of Default.

     Distribution:  As to any Person, any direct or indirect: (i) declaration or
payment of any  dividend  on or in respect of any  Capital  Stock of such Person
(except,  in the case of the  Parent,  a  dividend  payable  solely in shares of
Permitted  Capital  Stock);  (ii)  redemption,  purchase or other  retirement or
acquisition  of any Capital  Stock of such Person,  through a Subsidiary of such
Person  or  otherwise;  or  (iii)  return  of  capital  by  such  Person  to its
shareholders or other equityholders as such; or (iv) other distribution on or in
respect of any Capital Stock of such Person (except,  in the case of the Parent,
any distribution  made by the Parent solely in shares of Permitted Capital Stock
in connection with any stock split or reverse stock split).

     Encumbrances: See Section 7.3.

     Environmental  Laws: Any and all  applicable  foreign,  federal,  state and
local  environmental,  health  or safety  statutes,  laws,  regulations,  rules,
ordinances,  policies and rules or common law (whether now existing or hereafter
enacted or promulgated),  of all governmental  agencies,  bureaus or departments
which  may  now or  hereafter  have  jurisdiction  over  any  Borrower  and  all
applicable  judicial and  administrative and regulatory  decrees,  judgments and
orders, including common law rulings and determinations,  relating to injury to,
or the  protection  of,  real  or  personal  property  or  human  health  or the
environment,  including,  without  limitation,  all  requirements  pertaining to
reporting,  licensing,  permitting,  investigation,  remediation  and removal of
emissions,  discharges,  releases or threatened releases of Hazardous Materials,
chemical substances, pollutants or contaminants whether solid, liquid or gaseous
in nature,  into the  environment  or relating to the  manufacture,  processing,
distribution,  use, treatment,  storage, disposal, transport or handling of such
Hazardous Materials,  chemical substances,  pollutants or contaminants.  Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing,  the term shall  encompass each of the
following statutes and regulations  promulgated  thereunder,  and amendments and
successors to such statutes and  regulations,  as enacted and  promulgated  from
time to time: (a) the  Comprehensive  Environmental  Response,  Compensation and
Liability Act of 1980 (codified in scattered  sections of 26 U.S.C.;  33 U.S.C.;
42 U.S.C.  and 42 U.S.C.  ss.9601 et seq.);  (b) the Resource  Conservation  and
Recovery Act of 1976 (42 U.S.C.  ss.6901 et seq. ); (c) the Hazardous  Materials
Transportation Act (49 U.S.C. ss.1801 et seq.); (d) the Toxic Substances Control
Act (15 U.S.C.  ss.2601 et seq.); (e) the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C.  ss.1251 et
seq.); (f) the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C.  ss.7401 et seq.); (g) the Safe Drinking
Water Act (21 U.S.C.  ss.349;  42 U.S.C.  ss.201  and  ss.300 et seq.);  (h) the
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. ss.4321); (i) the Superfund
Amendment and  Reauthorization Act of 1986 (codified in scattered sections of 10
U.S.C.; 29 U.S.C.; 33 U.S.C. and 42 U.S.C.);  and (j) Title III of the Superfund
Amendment and Reauthorization Act (40 U.S.C. ss.1101 et seq.).

     Equity  Issuance:  Any  issuance  or sale by any  Company of (i) any of its
Capital  Stock,  (ii) any warrants or options  exercisable in respect of Capital
Stock,  or (iii) any other  security or instrument if  representing  any Capital
Stock (or the right to obtain any Capital  Stock) in any  Company,  specifically
excluding,  however,  any  issuance  by the Parent of its  Capital  Stock to the
Willoughby's  Sellers in connection with the  cancellation  of the  Willoughby's
Seller Note.

     Equity Proceeds Payment: See Section 2.7.

     ERISA:  The Employee  Retirement  Income Security Act of 1974 and the rules
and regulations thereunder,  collectively,  as the same may from time to time be
supplemented or amended and remain in effect.

     Eurodollar  Loan: Any Revolving Loan bearing  interest at a rate calculated
by reference to the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate.

     Event of Default: See Section 8.1.

     Excess Operating Cash Flow Payment: See Section 2.7.

     Expiration  Date:  December  31,  2002,  or such  earlier date on which the
Revolver  Commitment of the Lender shall  terminate in accordance with the terms
hereof.

     Federal Funds Effective Rate: For any day, a fluctuating  interest rate per
annum equal to the  weighted  average of the rates on  overnight  Federal  funds
transactions  with  members of the Federal  Reserve  System  arranged by Federal
funds brokers, as published for such day (or, if such day is not a Business Day,
for the next  preceding  Business Day) by the Federal  Reserve Bank of New York,
or, if such rate is not so  published  for any day that is a Business  Day,  the
average of the  quotations  for such day on such  transactions  received  by the
Lender from three Federal funds brokers of recognized  standing  selected by the
Lender.

     Fee Letter:  The Fee Letter among the Lender and the Borrowers  dated as of
August 30, 1999.

     Franchise  Agreements:  The franchise  agreements between the Borrowers and
their Franchisees in effect from time to time.

     Franchisees:  Each  of the  franchisees  which  is a party  to a  Franchise
Agreement with any Borrower pursuant to a Franchise Agreement from time to time.

     Franchised Stores: Any Store franchised to a Franchisee by any Company,  as
franchisor pursuant to a Franchise Agreement.

     FTC: The Federal Trade Commission, and any successor agency thereof.

     GAAP: For all purposes other than the financial statements  contemplated by
Sections  6.1(a),  (b) and (c) of this  agreement,  GAAP  shall  mean  generally
accepted  accounting  principles in effect as of December 27, 1998, applied on a
consistent  basis.  With respect to the  financial  statements  contemplated  by
Sections  6.1(a) and (b) of this Agreement,  GAAP shall mean generally  accepted
accounting  principles  in effect at the time of the  effective  dates  thereof,
applied on a consistent basis with past financial  statements  (unless otherwise
mutually agreed to in writing by the parties hereto).

     Guaranty  or  Guarantees:   All   guarantee(s),   endorsement(s)  or  other
contingent or surety obligation(s) of any Company with respect to obligations of
others,  whether or not reflected on its balance sheet, including any obligation
to furnish  funds,  directly or  indirectly  (whether  by virtue of  partnership
arrangements,  by agreement to keep-well or otherwise),  through the purchase of
goods, supplies or services, or by way of stock purchase,  capital contribution,
advance or loan, or to enter into a contract for any of the  foregoing,  for the
purpose of payment of obligations of any other Person.

     Hazardous Material: Any substance (a) the presence of which requires or may
hereafter   require   notification,   investigation  or  remediation  under  any
Environmental  Law;  (b) which is or  becomes  defined as a  "hazardous  waste",
"hazardous  material",  "hazardous material or oil" or "hazardous  substance" or
"controlled  industrial  waste" or  "pollutant"  or  "contaminant"  or "chemical
substance  or  mixture"  under  any  present  or  future  Environmental  Law  or
amendments   thereto   including,    without   limitation,   the   Comprehensive
Environmental  Response,  Compensation and Liability Act (43 U.S.C. Section 9601
et seq.) and any  applicable  local  statutes  and the  regulations  promulgated
thereunder;  (c) which is toxic, explosive,  corrosive,  flammable,  infectious,
radioactive,  carcinogenic,  mutagenic or otherwise  hazardous and is or becomes
regulated by any governmental authority, agency, department,  commission, board,
agency or  instrumentality  of any foreign country,  and the United States,  any
state of the United States, or any political  subdivision  thereof to the extent
any of the foregoing has or had jurisdiction over the Companies;  or (d) without
limitation,  which contains gasoline,  diesel fuel or other petroleum  products,
asbestos or polychlorinated biphenyls.

     Hedging  Agreement:  Any  commodity  swap or other  agreement  designed  to
protect against fluctuations in the price of coffee or coffee-related products.

     I&J: See the Preamble.

     Indebtedness:  As to any Person, all obligations,  contingent or otherwise,
that in accordance with GAAP should be classified on a Person's balance sheet as
liabilities, on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

     Initial Financial Statements: See Section 4.11.

     Insolvent  or  Insolvency:  As applied to any Person,  a Person as to which
there has occurred  one or more of the  following  events,  as  applicable:  (a)
dissolution  (except for  dissolution of  Subsidiaries  to the extent  permitted
hereunder); (b) termination of existence (except for mergers,  consolidations or
dissolutions  to the extent  permitted  hereunder);  (c)  insolvency  within the
meaning of the United States  Bankruptcy Code or other applicable  statute;  (d)
such  Person's  inability  to pay his or its  debts  as they  come  due;  or (e)
appointment  of a receiver of any part of the property of,  execution of a trust
mortgage or an  assignment  for the benefit of creditors  by, of the filing of a
petition  in  bankruptcy  or the  commencement  of  any  proceedings  under  any
bankruptcy  or  insolvency  laws, or any laws relating to the relief of debtors,
readjustment or indebtedness or reorganization of debtors,  or the offering of a
plan to  creditors  for  composition  or  extension,  except for an  involuntary
proceeding commenced against such Person which is dismissed within 90 days after
the  commencement  thereof  without  the  entry of an order  for  relief  or the
appointment of a trustee.

     Insurance  Proceeds:  With respect to any Casualty  Event,  any proceeds of
insurance, condemnation award or other compensation in respect thereof.

     Insurance Proceeds Payment: See Section 2.7.

     Intercompany Notes: See Section 7.1.

     Interest Adjustment Date: See Section 2.3.

     Interest  Period:  (a) With  respect to each  Eurodollar  Loan,  the period
commencing  on the date of the making or  continuation  of or conversion to such
Eurodollar  Loan and ending one,  two,  three or six months  thereafter,  as the
Borrowers  may elect in the  applicable  Loan  Request or  Interest  Rate Option
Notice;  and (b) with respect to each Base Rate Loan,  the period  commencing on
the date of the making or  continuation  of or conversion to such Base Rate Loan
and ending on each March 31, June 30,  September 30 and  December 31  thereafter
provided that, in each case:

     (i) any Interest Period (other than an Interest Period determined  pursuant
to clause (iv) below) that would  otherwise  end on a day that is not a Business
Day shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless, in the case of
Eurodollar  Loans,  such Business Day falls in the next calendar month, in which
case such Interest Period shall end on the immediately preceding Business Day;

     (ii) if the Borrowers shall fail to give notice as provided in Section 2.5,
the  Borrowers  shall be deemed to have  requested a conversion  of the affected
Eurodollar Loan to a Base Rate Loan on the last day of the then current Interest
Period with respect thereto;

     (iii) any Interest  Period relating to a Eurodollar Loan that begins on the
last  Business  Day of a  calendar  month  (or on a day for  which  there is not
numerically  corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest
Period) shall,  subject to clause (iv) below,  end on the last Business Day of a
calendar month;

     (iv) any Interest Period that would otherwise end after the Expiration Date
shall end on the Expiration Date; and

     (v)  notwithstanding  clause (iv) above,  no Interest  Period relating to a
Eurodollar Loan shall have a duration of less than one month.

     Interest Rate Option Notice: See Section 2.5.

     Interest Rate  Protection  Agreement:  Any interest rate swap  agreement or
other financial agreement or arrangement designed to protect any Company against
fluctuations in interest rate.

     LC Draw  Obligation:  The Borrowers'  obligation to reimburse the Lender on
account of any drawing under any Letter of Credit as provided in Section 2.8(c).

     LC Exposure Amount:  At any time, the sum of (i) the aggregate undrawn face
amount of all Letters of Credit outstanding at such time, and (ii) the aggregate
amount of all  drawings  under  Letters of Credit for which the Lender shall not
have been reimbursed by the Borrowers as provided in Section 2.8(c).

     Lease: Any Operating Lease or Capitalized Lease.

     Lender: See the Preamble.

     Letter of Credit: See Section 2.8(a).

     Letter of Credit Documents: See Section 2.8(a).

     Letter of Credit Fee: See Section 2.8(g).

     Loan Documents:  Collectively,  this Agreement,  the Fee Letter, the Notes,
the Letters of Credit,  the Letter of Credit Documents,  the Security  Documents
and any and all other  agreements,  instruments,  certificates,  Loan  Requests,
Interest Rate Option Notices or reports  executed or delivered from time to time
in connection  with this  Agreement,  in each case as may be amended or restated
from time to time.

     Loan Request: See Section 2.4.

     Loans: The Term Loan and the Revolving Loans.

     Margin Regulations: See Section 4.15.

     Margin Stock: See Section 4.15.

     Material  Adverse  Effect:  A material  adverse effect on (a) the business,
assets, property, operations,  condition (financial or otherwise) or liabilities
of the Borrowers  taken as a whole,  (b) the ability of the Borrowers taken as a
whole to perform any  material  obligation  under any of the Loan  Documents  to
which  they  are  bound,  or (c) the  validity  or  enforceability  of (i)  this
Agreement,  (ii) any of the  other  Transaction  Documents,  or (iii) any of the
rights or remedies of the Lender hereunder or thereunder.

     Net Company  Store Sale  Proceeds:  With respect to any sale of any Company
Store,  the  aggregate  amount of all cash  received  by any  Company in respect
thereof, net of reasonable, customary fees, commissions and expenses incurred by
the Companies for such sale and taxes paid or reasonably estimated to be payable
and for which reserves have been provided as a result thereof.

     Net Debt Proceeds:  In the case of any Debt Issuance,  the aggregate amount
of all cash  received  by any  Company in respect  thereof,  net of  reasonable,
customary fees,  discounts,  commissions and expenses  incurred by the Companies
for such Debt Issuance.

     Net Equity  Proceeds:  In the case of any Equity  Issuance  (other  than an
Equity Issuance  constituting an Asset Sale),  the aggregate  amount of all cash
received by any Company in respect thereof,  net of reasonable,  customary fees,
discounts,  commissions  and expenses  incurred by the Companies for such Equity
Issuance.

     Net Sale Proceeds:  With respect to any Asset Sale, the aggregate amount of
all  cash  received  by any  Company  in  respect  thereof,  net of  reasonable,
customary  fees,  commissions  and expenses  incurred by the  Companies for such
Asset Sale net of taxes paid or reasonably estimated to be payable and for which
reserves have been provided as a result thereof.

     Obligations:  Any and  all  obligations  (whether  payment  or  performance
related or otherwise)  of any Company to the Lender or any of its  affiliates of
every kind and description,  direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, primary
or secondary, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising, which may
arise under, out of, or in connection with, this Agreement (as may be amended or
restated  from time to time),  any other  Loan  Document  (as may be  amended or
restated  from time to time),  the Fee  Letter,  any  Interest  Rate  Protection
Agreement  entered  into with the Lender or any  affiliate  of the Lender or any
other  document  made,  delivered or given in connection  herewith or therewith,
whether on account of principal  (including  any increases  thereto),  interest,
reimbursement  obligations,  fees,  indemnities,  costs, expenses (including all
fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Lender that are required to be
paid by the  Borrowers  pursuant to any Loan  Document) or otherwise  (including
interest  accruing  after the  maturity of the Credit  Extensions  and  interest
accruing after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy,  or the commencement of
any  insolvency,  reorganization  or like  proceeding,  relating to any Company,
whether or not a claim for post-filing or  post-petition  interest is allowed in
such proceeding).

     Opening Balance Sheet: See Section 4.11.

     Operating Leases: Leases or other periodic payment arrangements for the use
of real or personal property, other than Capitalized Leases.

     Organizational Documents: See Section 4.2.

     Parent. See the Preamble.

     PBGC: The Pension Benefit Guaranty  Corporation or any entity succeeding to
any or all of its functions under ERISA

     Permitted Capital Stock:  Capital Stock of the Parent with respect to which
the Parent has no obligation to make any Distributions prior to the indefeasible
payment in full in cash of all Obligations.

     Permitted Encumbrances: See Section 7.3.

     Permitted Sale: See Section 7.4.

     Person: Any individual,  corporation,  partnership, joint venture, trust or
unincorporated  organization  or any  government  or  any  agency  or  political
subdivision thereof.

     Plan:  At any time,  an  employee  pension  or other  benefit  plan that is
subject to Title IV of ERISA or subject to the minimum  funding  standards under
Section  412 of the Code and is either  (a)  maintained  by any  Company  or any
member of the Controlled Group for employees of any Company or any member of the
Controlled  Group or (b) if such Plan is  established  maintained  pursuant to a
collective  bargaining  agreement or any other arrangement under which more than
one employer makes  contributions  and to which any Company or any member of the
Controlled Group is then making or accruing an obligation to make  contributions
or has within the preceding five Plan years made contributions.

     Projections: See Section 4.11.

     Qualified Investments: As applied to any Company, investments in (a) notes,
bonds or other obligations of the United States of America or any agency thereof
that  as  to  principal  and  interest  constitute  direct  obligations  or  are
guaranteed by the United States of America,  with maturities of one year or less
from the  date of  issuance,  (b)  certificates  of  deposit  or  other  deposit
instruments or accounts of banks or trust companies  organized under the laws of
the United States or any state thereof that have capital and surplus of at least
$500,000,000 and are members of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation,  with
maturities of one year or less from the date of issuance,  (c) commercial  paper
of the Lender or  commercial  paper of other issuers that is rated not less than
prime-one or A-1 or their  equivalents  by Moody's  Investors  Service,  Inc. or
Standard & Poor's  Corporation,  respectively,  or their successors or municipal
bonds with at least the equivalent rating, (d) any repurchase  agreement secured
by any one or more of the foregoing,  (e) securities with maturities of one year
or less from the date of  acquisition  issued or fully  guaranteed by any state,
commonwealth or territory of the United States, by any political  subdivision or
taxing authority of any such state,  commonwealth or territory or by any foreign
government,  the securities of which state, commonwealth,  territory,  political
subdivision,  taxing  authority or foreign  government  (as the case may be) are
rated at least A by S&P or A by Moody's;  (f) securities  with maturities of six
months or less from the date of acquisition backed by standard letters of credit
issued by the Lender or any  commercial  bank  satisfying  the  requirements  of
clause (b) of this  definition;  or (g) shares of money market mutual or similar
funds which invest  exclusively in assets satisfying the requirements of clauses
(a) through (f) of this  definition;  and (h) with the  Lender's  prior  written
consent,  any Subsidiary  provided such Company and such Subsidiary  comply with
the  provisions  of the  Loan  Documents  applicable  to it  (including  without
limitation Section 2.12 hereof).

     Quarterly  Dates:  The last day of each  fiscal  quarter of the  Borrowers,
using their  fiscal  year  accounting  as in effect with  respect to the Initial
Financial  Statements of the Parent. The Quarterly Dates for the period from the
date hereof through fiscal year end 2002 are listed on Schedule 1 hereto.

     Reference  Period:  Commencing with the period of four  consecutive  fiscal
quarters of the  Borrowers  ending on the  Quarterly  Date of December 26, 1999,
each period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ending on each Quarterly Date.

     Remedial Work:  All  activities,  including,  without  limitation,  cleanup
design  and  implementation,   removal  activities,   investigation,  field  and
laboratory  testing and  analysis,  monitoring  and other  remedial and response
actions,  taken or to be taken,  arising out of or in connection  with Hazardous
Materials,  including without limitation (a) all activities  included within the
meaning of the terms "removal,"  "remedial  action" or "response," as defined in
42 U.S.C.  Section  9601(23),  (24) and (25),  and (b) all  activities  included
within the  meaning  of the terms  "remedial  response  actions"  and  "Remedial
Response Implementation Plan (RRIP)," as defined in 310 CMR 40.

     Restricted  Payment:  With reference to any Company any (i) Distribution or
(ii) any  retirement,  repurchase,  defeasance or redemption of, any acquisition
for  value  of, or any  repayment  of,  any Debt  Issuance  (including,  without
limitation,  any Subordinated Debt) other than as expressly permitted in writing
by the Lender.

     Revolver Commitment: See Section 2.1.

     Revolving  Credit  Outstandings:  At any time, the sum of (i) the aggregate
principal  amount of Revolving Loans  outstanding at such time, plus (ii) the LC
Exposure Amount at such time.

     Revolving Loans: See Section 2.1.

     Revolving Note: See Section 2.1.

     Sale Leaseback: See Section 7.2.

     Sale Proceeds Payment: See Section 2.7.

     SEC:  The  Securities  and Exchange  Commission,  or any  successor  agency
thereto.

     SEC Reports:  The Companies'  quarterly  reports filed with the SEC on Form
10-Q,  annual  reports  filed  with the SEC on Form 10-K and all such  other SEC
public filings made by the Companies  pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, and the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

     Security Documents:  Collectively,  the agreements and instruments referred
to in Section 2.12 and any and all other  agreements,  documents and instruments
executed  by any  Company  or other  Affiliates,  to  secure,  or  otherwise  in
connection with, the Obligations, all as amended from time to time.

     Seller: See the Recitals.

     Shareholder  Rights  Agreement:  That certain Rights  Agreement dated as of
June 7, 1999 between the Parent and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company.

     Store(s): Collectively, the Company Stores and the Franchised Stores.

     Subordinated  Debt:  (a) The  Consolidated  Funded  Indebtedness  under the
Subordinated   Loan   Agreements  and  (b)  any  hereafter   arising   unsecured
Consolidated Funded  Indebtedness of any of the Borrowers,  the principal amount
of, the interest  rate on and all other terms of which shall have been  approved
in writing by the Lender, in its sole and absolute  discretion prior to the date
of incurrence thereof; all of which Consolidated Indebtedness shall in each case
be  subordinated to the Obligations in right of payment and exercise of remedies
upon  terms  satisfactory  to the  Lender in its sole and  absolute  discretion,
pursuant to the applicable Subordination Agreement(s).

     Subordinated  Loan Agreements:  The Promissory Note issued by the Borrowers
dated as of December 23, 1998 to NJEDA, the Subordination  Agreement dated as of
December 23, 1998 from NJEDA and all related documents.

     Subordination Agreements:  Written subordination agreements satisfactory to
the  Lender  in form  and  substance,  providing  for the  subordination  to the
Obligations of  Subordinated  Debt of one or more of the  Borrowers,  including,
without  limitation,  Indebtedness  owed to  Affiliates  of any Borrower and the
Seller.

     Subsidiary: (a) Any corporation, association, joint stock company, business
trust or other similar  organization of which 50% or more of the ordinary voting
power for the election of a majority of the members of the board of directors or
other  governing  body of such entity is held or controlled by any Borrower or a
Subsidiary of any Borrower;  (b) any other such  organization  the management of
which is directly or  indirectly  controlled  by any Borrower or a Subsidiary of
any Borrower through the exercise of voting power or otherwise; or (c) any joint
venture,  association,  partnership or other entity in which any Borrower or any
Subsidiary thereof has a 50% or greater equity interest.

     Term Loan: See Section 2.1.

     Term Loan Commitment: See Section 2.1.

     Term Loan Maturity  Date:  December 31, 2002, or such earlier date on which
all the  Commitments of the Lender shall  terminate in accordance with the terms
hereof.

     Term Note: See Section 2.1.

     Transaction Documents: See Section 4.2.

     Willoughby's. See the Recitals.

     Willoughby's Seller Note. See Section 2.12.

     Willoughby's Sellers. See Section 2.12.

     SECTION 2. THE CREDIT FACILITY.

     2.1 The Loans and Notes.

     (a)  Revolving  Loans.  The  Lender  agrees,  subject  to the terms of this
Agreement,  to make  revolving  credit  loans  (the  "Revolving  Loans")  to the
Borrower  from time to time from and after the date hereof until the  Expiration
Date in an aggregate  principal  amount at any time  outstanding  up to, but not
exceeding, $3,000,000 (the "Revolver Commitment"),  minus the LC Exposure Amount
at such time.  Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement,  from time
to time from and after the date hereof until the Expiration  Date, the Borrowers
may borrow,  repay and reborrow  Revolving  Loans.  The Revolving Loans shall be
evidenced by a promissory note in the form of Exhibit 2.1(a) hereto delivered to
the Lender on the date  hereof (as the same may be amended,  restated,  renewed,
substituted or replaced from time to time, the "Revolving Note").

     (b) Term Loan. The Lender agrees,  subject to the terms of this  Agreement,
to make a term loan (the  "Term  Loan")  to the  Borrowers  on or about the date
hereof  in the  principal  amount of  $12,000,000.  The  Borrowers  shall not be
entitled to  reborrow  all or any part of the  principal  of the Term Loan which
shall be paid or prepaid at any time in accordance with the terms and conditions
of this Agreement.  The Term Loan shall be evidenced by a promissory note in the
form of Exhibit 2.1(b) hereto delivered to the Lender on the date hereof (as the
same may be amended,  restated,  renewed,  substituted  or replaced from time to
time, the "Term Note").

     (c) Notations on Notes. The Borrowers  irrevocably  authorize the Lender to
make an  appropriate  notation on the applicable  Note  reflecting the making of
each Loan and each  payment on the Loans.  The  outstanding  amount of the Loans
entered in the computer  records of the Lender shall be prima facie  evidence of
the principal amount thereof owing and unpaid to the Lender,  but the failure to
enter, or any error in so entering, any such amount shall not limit or otherwise
affect the  obligations  of the  Borrowers  hereunder or under the Notes to make
payments of principal, interest and other amounts due thereunder.

     2.2 Scheduled Principal Repayments on the Loans.

     (a) Revolving  Loans.  The Borrowers shall pay jointly and severally to the
Lender on the Expiration  Date all then  outstanding  principal on the Revolving
Loans.

     (b) Term Loan. The Borrowers  shall pay jointly and severally to the Lender
the principal of the Term Loan in 10 consecutive quarterly installments, payable
on each date set forth below in the amounts set forth below opposite such date:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                           Date                                                      Amount
                           ----                                                      ------
<S>                                                                                <C>
                      September 30, 2000                                           $ 1,000,000
                      December 31, 2000                                              1,000,000
                      March 31, 2001                                                 1,000,000
                      June 30, 2001                                                  1,000,000
                      September 30, 2001                                             1,000,000
                      December 31, 2001                                              1,000,000
                      March 31, 2002                                                 1,500,000
                      June 30, 2002                                                  1,500,000
                      September 30, 2002                                             1,500,000
                      December 31, 2002                                              1,500,000
</TABLE>

     2.3 Closing Fee; Commitment Fees; Interest; Default Rate.

     (a) Fee Letter. The Borrowers shall pay jointly and severally to the Lender
a fully-earned  nonrefundable closing fee on the date hereof as set forth in the
Fee Letter.  The  Borrowers  shall pay jointly and severally all other fees when
due pursuant to the Fee Letter.

     (b) Commitment  Fees. The Borrowers  shall pay jointly and severally to the
Lender a commitment  fee (the  "Commitment  Fee") on the daily unused portion of
the Revolver Commitment (taking into account the LC Exposure Amount as usage) at
a per annum rate equal to .50%.

     (c) Interest  Rate.  The Borrowers may elect an interest rate for each Loan
(or  one or  more  portions  thereof)  based  on  either  the  Base  Rate or the
applicable Adjusted Eurodollar Rate and determined as follows:  (i) the rate for
any Base Rate Loan shall be the Base Rate plus the Applicable  Margin;  and (ii)
the rate for any  Eurodollar  Loan shall be the applicable  Adjusted  Eurodollar
Rate plus the Applicable Margin.

     (d) Applicable Margin. For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Applicable
Margin" shall mean:

     (i) from and after the date hereof until the first Interest Adjustment Date
identified below, the Applicable Margins shall be based on Level V below; and

     (ii) from and after the tenth day after each date the Lender  receives  the
quarterly  financial  statements  required  by Section  6.1(b) and the  covenant
compliance  certificate required by Section 6.1(c) (beginning with the financial
statements  for the fiscal quarter ending on the Quarterly Date of September 30,
1999) (each,  an  "Interest  Adjustment  Date"),  subject to the  provisions  of
paragraph  (iii)  below,  the  Applicable  Margin shall be  determined  from the
following  table  based  upon the  Leverage  Ratio (as  defined  below)  for the
Reference  Period  ending  on the  Quarterly  Date  immediately  preceding  such
Interest Adjustment Date:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                Applicable Margin
                 Level               Leverage Ratio                             -----------------
                 -----               --------------                    Base                      Eurodollar
                                                                       ----                      ----------

<S>                                                                    <C>                          <C>
                   I               Less than 1.00:1.00                 0.50%                        2.00%

                  II            Greater than or equal to               1.00%                        2.50%
                                 1.00:1.00 but less than
                                        1.50:1.00

                  III           Greater than or equal to               1.50%                        3.00%
                              1.50:1.00 but less than 2.00
                                          :1.00

                  IV            Greater than or equal to               2.00%                        3.50%
                                 2.00:1.00 but less than
                                        2.50:1.00

                   V             Greater than 2.50:1.00                2.50%                        4.00%

</TABLE>

     (iii) As used herein, "Leverage Ratio" shall mean the ratio of Consolidated
Funded  Indebtedness  as of the last day of the most  recently  ended  Reference
Period prior to the Interest  Adjustment  Date to  Consolidated  EBITDA for such
Reference Period.  Notwithstanding the foregoing,  no downward adjustment of the
Applicable  Margin  hereunder shall be permitted  unless (A) all of the required
financial  statements for the relevant  Reference  Period have been delivered to
the Lender as required in Section  6.1;  and (B) there shall exist no Default at
the time of such proposed downward adjustment.

     (iv)  The  determination  of  the  Applicable  Margin  hereunder  as of any
Quarterly Date shall be based on unaudited  quarterly  financial  statements for
the  relevant  Reference  Period;  provided,  however,  that in the event of any
discrepancy  between  computations based upon any unaudited  quarterly financial
statements and the related audited financial  statements  furnished  pursuant to
Section 6.1(a) (the "Audited Financial  Statements") in favor of the Lender, the
computation   based  upon  the  Audited   Financial   Statements   shall  govern
(retroactive  to the  relevant  Interest  Adjustment  Date),  and the  amount of
interest  thereby  overdue  and  payable by the  Borrowers  shall be paid to the
Lender within three Business Days after demand therefor.

     (e) Interest and Commitment Fees Payment Dates. Interest on Base Rate Loans
shall be due and payable, without setoff,  deduction or counterclaim,  quarterly
in arrears on each March 31, June 30,  September 30 and December 31,  commencing
on September 30, 1999, and when such Base Rate Loan is due (whether at maturity,
by reason of acceleration or otherwise). The rate of interest on Base Rate Loans
shall change on the date of any change in the applicable Base Rate.  Interest on
each   Eurodollar  Loan  shall  be  payable,   without   setoff,   deduction  or
counterclaim,  for the related  Interest Period on the last day thereof and when
such Eurodollar  Loan is due (whether at maturity,  by reason of acceleration or
otherwise)  and,  if such  Interest  Period  is longer  than  three  months,  at
intervals  of  three  months  after  the  first  day of  such  Interest  Period.
Commitment  Fees shall be due and  payable in arrears on each March 31, June 30,
September 30 and December 31 and on the Expiration Date.

     (f) Default Rate;  Late Fee.  During the existence of any Event of Default,
the  outstanding  principal  under the Notes  and,  to the extent  permitted  by
applicable  law,  any  interest  (under this  Section 2.3) and fees or any other
amounts due and payable hereunder  (including without  limitation  overadvances)
shall bear interest,  from and including the date such Event of Default occurred
at a rate  per  annum  equal  to the  sum of (x)  the  Base  Rate  plus  (y) the
Applicable  Margin for Base Rate Loans plus (z) 2.00%,  which  interest shall be
compounded daily and payable on demand. If any payment of principal, interest or
other amount due hereunder (other than principal,  interest or other amounts due
at maturity of the Loans (by reason of  acceleration  or otherwise)) is not paid
in full within 10 days after the same is due, the  Borrowers  shall also jointly
and  severally  pay to the Lender a late fee in the amount of 5.0% of the amount
not paid when due.  Nothing in this  Section  2.3(f)  shall  affect the Lender's
right to exercise any of its rights or  remedies,  including  those  provided in
Section 8.2 and in the Security  Documents,  arising upon the  occurrence  of an
Event of Default.

     (g)  Computations.  Interest on the Loans and on fees and expenses shall be
computed on the basis of the actual  number of days elapsed over a 360-day year.
Except as otherwise  provided in the  definition of the term  "Interest  Period"
with  respect to the  Eurodollar  Loans,  if any payment  hereunder or under the
Notes  shall be due and  payable  on a day  which is not a  Business  Day,  such
payment  shall be deemed due on the next  following  Business  Day and  interest
shall be payable at the applicable rate specified  herein through such extension
period.

     2.4 Requests for Loans. The Parent shall give the Lender  telephonic notice
confirmed in writing in the form of Exhibit 2.4 of each Loan requested hereunder
(a "Loan  Request") no later than (a) 1:00 PM (Boston time) on the same Business
Day as the proposed  date of any Base Rate Loan and (b) 1:00 PM (Boston time) on
the third Business Day prior to the proposed date of any Eurodollar  Loan.  Each
such notice shall specify (i) the principal amount thereof requested and the use
or uses thereof,  (ii) the proposed date of such Loan, (iii) the Interest Period
for such Loan, if a Eurodollar  Loan, and (iv) whether such Loan shall be a Base
Rate Loan or a Eurodollar  Loan.  Each Loan  Request  shall be  irrevocable  and
binding on the  Borrowers  and shall  obligate the  Borrowers to accept the Loan
requested on the proposed date.  Each Loan Request for a Base Rate Loan shall be
in a minimum amount of $50,000 (and integrals thereof) and each Loan Request for
a  Eurodollar  Loan  shall be in a minimum  amount of  $250,000  (and  integrals
thereof);  provided,  that at no time shall  there be more than five  Eurodollar
Loans outstanding. The Lender shall disburse Revolving Loans to the Borrowers by
depositing them in a joint account of the Borrowers with the Lender.

     2.5 Conversion and Continuance of Loans.

     (a)  Conversion to a Different  Type of Loan.  The Borrowers may elect from
time to time to convert any  outstanding  Loan to a Base Rate Loan or Eurodollar
Loan, as the case may, be provided that (i) with respect to any such  conversion
of a  Eurodollar  Loan to a Base Rate Loan,  the  Borrowers  shall  provide  the
appropriate  Interest  Rate Option  Notice in the form of Exhibit 2.5 hereto (an
"Interest  Rate Option  Notice")  to the Lender by 1:00 PM (Boston  time) on the
date of such proposed conversion;  (ii) with respect to any such conversion of a
Base Rate Loan to a  Eurodollar  Rate Loan,  the  Borrowers  shall  provide  the
appropriate  Interest  Rate Option Notice to the Lender by 1:00 PM (Boston time)
at least three  Business  Days' prior to the date of such  proposed  conversion;
(iii) with respect to any such  conversion of a Eurodollar Loan into a Base Rate
Loan, such conversion shall only be made on the last day of the related Interest
Period;  (iv) no Loans may be converted into a Eurodollar  Loan when any Default
has  occurred  and is  continuing;  (v) at no time shall there be more than five
Eurodollar  Loans  outstanding;  and (vi) any conversion of less than all of the
outstanding  Loans of either  type into  Loans of the other  type  shall be in a
minimum principal amount of $250,000, provided that a conversion of a Eurodollar
Loan to a Base Rate Loan shall be in a minimum principal amount of $50,000.

     (b) Continuance of an Interest Rate Option.  The Borrowers may continue any
Loan of  either  type as a Loan of the  same  type  upon the  expiration  of the
related  Interest  Period by  providing  an Interest  Rate Option  Notice to the
Lender in compliance  with the notice  provisions  set forth in Section  2.5(a);
provided that no  Eurodollar  Loan may be continued as such when any Default has
occurred and is continuing,  but shall be automatically converted to a Base Rate
Loan on the last day of the first  applicable  Interest Period which ends during
the continuance of such Default;  provided further that if the Borrowers fail to
give  a  timely  Interest  Rate  Option  Notice,  the  affected  Loan  shall  be
automatically  converted  to a Base Rate Loan on the last day of the  applicable
Interest Period.

     2.6 Reduction or Termination of the Revolver Commitment.

     (a) At any time prior to the Expiration  Date,  upon at least 10 days prior
written notice,  the Borrowers may permanently  terminate or permanently  reduce
the Revolver  Commitment.  Any such reduction  shall be in an amount of not less
than  $250,000  (or  multiples  thereof)  or such  lesser  amount as equals  the
Available  Revolver  Commitment.  Simultaneously  with any such  termination  or
reduction  of  the  Revolver  Commitment,  the  Borrowers  shall  (i)  make  any
prepayments  of principal  required  under  Section  2.7(a),  together  with any
payments required under Section 2.11 and (ii) pay to the Lender any then accrued
unpaid Commitment Fees and interest on the terminated  Revolver Commitment or on
the portion of the  Revolver  Commitment  terminated  pursuant to any  reduction
thereof.

     (b) The Revolver  Commitment shall be automatically and permanently reduced
to -0- on the Expiration Date, when all outstanding principal,  accrued interest
and other amounts due on the Revolving Note shall be due and payable in full.

     2.7 Mandatory Payments and Prepayments.

     (a) Overdraws.  If at any time the Revolving Credit Outstandings exceed the
sum of the Revolver Commitment (including,  without limitation, as a result of a
reduction of the Revolver  Commitment  pursuant to Section  2.6),  the Borrowers
shall  immediately  pay to the Lender the amount of such  excess,  which  excess
shall be first applied to any unpaid LC Draw  Obligations  or, if a Default then
exists and is continuing, applied at the Lender's sole and absolute discretion.

     (b) Mandatory  Excess  Operating  Cash Flow Payments.  Commencing  with the
fiscal year ending  December 31, 2000,  the Borrowers  shall,  not later than 15
days  following the date their Audited  Financial  Statements are required to be
delivered to the Lender  under  Section 6.1, pay to the Lender 50% of the amount
of  Consolidated  Excess  Operating  Cash Flow for the fiscal year most recently
ended (each such  payment to the Lender  being  referred to herein as an "Excess
Operating Cash Flow  Payment").  Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  payment by the
Borrowers  of the Excess  Operating  Cash Flow  Payment is hereby  waived by the
Lender  so long as the  Leverage  Ratio as of both the end of the most  recently
ended  fiscal  year and the most  recently  ended  fiscal  quarter  is less than
2.00:1.00.

     (c) Mandatory  Payments in Connection with Prepayment Events. The Borrowers
shall,  not  later  than 30 days  following  each  day  any  Net  Sale  Proceeds
(excluding  any Net Company Store Sale Proceeds) are received by any Borrower or
any of its  Subsidiaries  in excess of $100,000 in the aggregate as to all Asset
Sales occurring after the date hereof,  pay to the Lender the amount of such Net
Sale  Proceeds  (each such payment to the Lender  being  referred to herein as a
"Sale  Proceeds  Payment").   Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  payment  by  the
Borrowers of the Sale Proceeds Payment is hereby waived by the Lender so long as
the Leverage Ratio as of both the end of the most recently ended fiscal year and
the most recently ended fiscal quarter is less than 2.00:1.00.

     (d)  Mandatory  Payments  in  Connection  with  Company  Store  Sales.  The
Borrowers  shall,  within twelve months following the date any Net Company Store
Sale Proceeds are received by any Borrower or any of it Subsidiaries, pay to the
Lender an amount  equal to the excess of Net  Company  Store Sale  Proceeds  not
theretofore expended as a Capital Expenditure; provided, however, that Borrowers
shall pay to the Lender the full amount of such Net Company  Store Sale Proceeds
if Borrowers are not, or after giving effect to this  provision  will not be, in
compliance  with  Section  5.4  hereof  (each such  payment to the Lender  being
referred to herein as a "Company Store Sale Payment").


     (e) Mandatory  Payments in Connection  with Debt  Issuances.  The Borrowers
shall,  not later  than 30 days  following  each day any Net Debt  Proceeds  are
received  by any  Borrower  or any of its  Subsidiaries,  pay to the  Lender the
amount of such Net Debt Proceeds (each such payment to the Lender being referred
to herein as a "Debt Proceeds Payment").

     (f) Mandatory  Payments in Connection with Equity Issuances.  The Borrowers
shall,  not later than 30 days  following  each day any Net Equity  Proceeds are
received by any  Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries,  pay to the Lender 50% of
the amount of such Net Equity  Proceeds  (each such  payment to the Lender being
referred  to  herein  as an  "Equity  Proceeds  Payment").  Notwithstanding  the
foregoing,  payment by the  Borrowers of the Equity  Proceeds  Payment is hereby
waived  by the  Lender so long as the  Leverage  Ratio as of both the end of the
most recently  ended fiscal year and the most recently  ended fiscal  quarter is
less than 2.00:1.00.

     (g) Mandatory Payments in Connection with Insurance Proceeds. The Borrowers
shall,  within  twelve  months  following  the date any  Insurance  Proceeds are
received by any Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries  in respect of any Casualty
Event,  pay to the Lender an amount equal to the excess  Insurance  Proceeds not
theretofore expended as a Capital Expenditure; provided, however, that Borrowers
shall pay to the Lender the full amount of the  Insurance  Proceeds if Borrowers
have not applied such Insurance  Proceeds  within such twelve month period (each
such  payment to the Lender being  referred to herein as a  "Insurance  Proceeds
Payment").

     (h) Voluntary  Prepayments.  Subject to the  provisions  hereof,  including
without limitation the provisions of Section 2.11, the Borrowers may at any time
voluntarily prepay the Loans in whole or in part from time to time upon not less
than the one  Business  Day's prior notice by 1:00 PM to the Lender with respect
to Base Rate  Loans  and three  Business  Days'  prior  notice by 1:00 PM to the
Lender with respect to Eurodollar Loans; provided,  however, that (i) Eurodollar
Loans may be repaid only on the last day of an Interest  Period  therefor,  (ii)
such repayments  shall be in minimum amount of $250,000 and (iii) all repayments
of Loans or any  portion  thereof  shall be made  together  with  payment of all
interest accrued on the amount repaid and other amounts due with respect thereto
through the date of such repayment.

     (i) Application of Payments.

     (i) If no Default then exists  hereunder,  all Excess  Operating  Cash Flow
Payments,  Sale Proceeds Payments,  Company Store Sale Proceeds  Payments,  Debt
Proceeds  Payments,  Equity Proceeds  Payments and Insurance  Proceeds  Payments
shall be applied to principal of the Term Loan in inverse  order of maturity and
then  (after  all  principal  of the  Term  Loan  has  been  paid in  full),  to
automatically and permanently reduce the Revolver Commitment.

     (ii) Except as set forth in subparagraph  (i) above (or if a Default exists
in which case all payments and prepayments may be applied as the Lender elects),
all payments and  repayments  made pursuant to the terms hereof shall be applied
(A) first to all (if any) amounts (except principal,  interest and fees) due and
payable under this  Agreement at such time,  (B) then to payment of all fees due
and payable at such time, (C) then to interest due and payable at such time, (D)
then to accrued interest,  (E) then to principal of Base Rate Loans, (F) then to
principal of Eurodollar Loans, and (G) finally, to all other Obligations.

     2.8 Letters of Credit.

     (a) Letter of Credit  Commitment.  Subject to the execution and delivery by
the Borrowers of a letter of credit  application and any other related documents
on the Lender's customary forms in effect from time to time  (collectively,  the
"Letter of Credit  Documents")  and in  reliance  upon the  representations  and
warranties of the  Borrowers  contained  herein,  the Lender agrees from time to
time until the Expiration Date to issue, extend and renew for the account of any
Borrower one or more standby letters of credit (each individually,  a "Letter of
Credit"),  in such form as may be requested  from time to time by the  Borrowers
and agreed to by the Lender.  In the event and to the extent that any  provision
of any Letter of Credit  Document  shall be  inconsistent  with any provision of
this Agreement, then the provisions of this Agreement shall govern.



<PAGE>


     (b) Conditions to Issuance of Letters of Credit; Etc.

     (i) The  obligation  of the Lender to issue,  extend or renew any Letter of
Credit  hereunder  shall be  subject  to the  conditions  for Loans set forth in
Section 3 and to the following conditions:

     (A) Such Letter of Credit  shall  provide  for payment in U.S.  Dollars and
shall  expire by its  terms no later  than the  earlier  to occur of (A) 30 days
prior to the Expiration Date and (b) one year from the date of its issuance;

     (B) After giving  effect to such  issuance,  extension or renewal,  (1) the
aggregate  outstanding  principal amount of the Revolving Loans shall not exceed
the Available Revolver  Commitment and (2) the sums of the aggregate LC Exposure
Amount shall not exceed $1,000,000;

     (C) The form and terms of each Letter of Credit and the  related  Letter of
Credit Documents shall be acceptable to the Lender; and

     (D) Each Letter of Credit shall be issued to support  obligations of one or
more of the Borrowers incurred in the ordinary course of its or their business.

     (ii)  Whenever  the  Borrowers  desire to have a Letter  of Credit  issued,
extended  or  renewed,  the  Borrowers  will  furnish  to the  Lender a  written
application  therefor  which  shall (A) be  received by the Lender not less than
three Business Days prior to the proposed date of issuance, extension or renewal
and (B) specify (1) such proposed date (which must be a Business  Day),  (2) the
expiration  date of such  Letter  of  Credit,  (3) the name and  address  of the
beneficiary  of the Letter of Credit,  (4) the amount of such  Letter of Credit,
and (5) the purpose and proposed  form of such Letter of Credit.  Each Letter of
Credit shall be subject to the  International  Standby  Practices (1998) and, to
the extent not inconsistent therewith, the laws of the State of New York.

     (c) LC Draw Obligations of the Borrowers.  In order to induce the Lender to
issue,  extend and renew each Letter of Credit, the Borrowers hereby jointly and
severally agree to reimburse or pay to the Lender:

     (i) except as otherwise  expressly provided in paragraph (ii) below, on the
Business Day immediately following each date that any draft presented under such
Letter of Credit is  honored  by the  Lender  or the  Lender  otherwise  makes a
payment with respect thereto, as indicated in the notice thereof from the Lender
to the Borrowers (A) the amount paid by the Lender under or with respect to such
Letter of  Credit,  and (B) the  amount of any  taxes,  fees,  charges  or other
reasonable  costs and expenses  whatsoever  incurred by the Lender in connection
with any  payment  made by the Lender  under or with  respect to such  Letter of
Credit; and

     (ii) upon the termination or reduction of the Revolver  Commitment,  or the
acceleration  of the LC Draw  Obligations  in  accordance  with  Section 8.1, an
amount  equal to the LC Exposure  Amount (or with  respect to a  reduction,  the
excess thereof over the reduced Revolver Commitment), which amount shall be held
by the Lender as cash collateral for all LC Draw Obligations.

     Interest  shall  accrue  on any and all  amounts  remaining  unpaid  by the
Borrowers  under  this  Section  2.8 from the date of any draw under a Letter of
Credit  until  the  Business  Day  immediately  following  such draw at the rate
specified in Section 2.3 for principal on the Revolving  Loans and,  thereafter,
until payment in full (whether before or after judgment) at the default rate set
forth in Section 2.3, and shall be payable to the Lender on demand.

     (d) Revolving Loans to Satisfy LC Draw Obligations. The Borrowers may elect
to satisfy any LC Draw Obligation arising under paragraph (c)(i) of this Section
by  borrowing a Base Rate Loan in the amount  thereof and  applying the proceeds
thereto,  provided that (i) all  conditions to such  Revolving Loan set forth in
Section 3 shall have been satisfied in full and (ii) after giving effect to such
Revolving Loan and the  application of proceeds  thereof,  the Revolving  Credit
Outstandings will not exceed the Revolver Commitment.

     (e)  Borrowers'  Obligations  Absolute.  The Borrowers  assume all risks in
connection  with the Letters of Credit.  The Borrowers'  obligations  under this
Section 2.8 shall be absolute and unconditional  under any and all circumstances
and  irrespective  of the  occurrence of any Default or any condition  precedent
whatsoever or any setoff,  counterclaim or defense to payment which any Borrower
may have or have had  against  the  Lender  or any  beneficiary  of a Letter  of
Credit.  The Borrowers also agree that the Lender shall not be responsible  for,
and the  Borrowers'  LC Draw  Obligations  shall not be affected by, among other
things,  (i) the validity,  genuineness or enforceability of documents or of any
endorsements  thereon,  even if such documents should in fact prove to be in any
or all respects  invalid,  insufficient  (provided all such documents conform on
their  face),  fraudulent  or forged,  or (ii) any dispute  between or among any
Borrower,  any of its  Subsidiaries,  the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit or
any  financing  institution  or other party to which any Letter of Credit may be
transferred  or any claims or defenses  whatsoever of any Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries  against  the  beneficiary  of any  Letter  of  Credit  or any such
transferee. The Lender shall not be liable for any error, omission, interruption
or delay in transmission, dispatch or delivery of any message or advice, however
transmitted,  in connection with any Letter of Credit.  The Borrowers agree that
any action  taken or omitted  to be taken by the Lender  under or in  connection
with each Letter of Credit and the related drafts and documents, if done in good
faith without gross negligence or willful misconduct,  shall be binding upon the
Borrowers and shall not subject the Lender to any liability.

     (f) Reliance by Lender.  The Lender shall be entitled to rely, and shall be
fully  protected  in  relying  upon,  any  Letter  of  Credit,  draft,  writing,
resolution, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, telegram, telecopy,
telex or teletype message,  statement, order or other document believed by it to
be  genuine  and  correct  and to have been  signed,  sent or made by the proper
Person and upon advice and statements of legal counsel,  independent accountants
and other experts selected by the Lender.

     (g) Letter of Credit  Fee.  In order to induce the Lender to issue,  extend
and renew  each  Letter of  Credit,  the  Borrowers  hereby  agree  jointly  and
severally to pay to the Lender  quarterly in arrears on the Quarterly Dates with
respect to each such  issuance,  extension  and  renewal a fee (in each case,  a
"Letter of Credit Fee") on the stated  amount of such Letter of Credit at a rate
per  annum  equal  to the  Applicable  Margin  for  Eurodollar  Loans as of such
Quarterly  Date. In addition,  the Borrowers shall pay to the Lender any and all
standard  charges  customarily  made  by the  Lender  in  connection  with  such
issuance, extension or renewal.

     2.9 Changed Circumstances.

     (a) Eurodollar Loans. In the event that:

     (i) on any date on which the Adjusted  Eurodollar  Rate would  otherwise be
set, the Lender shall have determined in good faith (which  determination  shall
be final  and  conclusive)  that  adequate  and  fair  means  do not  exist  for
ascertaining the Interbank Offered Rate, or

     (ii) at any time the Lender  shall  have  determined  in good faith  (which
determination shall be final and conclusive) that:

     (A) the making or continuation  of, or conversion of any Base Rate Loan to,
a Eurodollar Loan has been made  impracticable or unlawful by (1) the occurrence
of a contingency that materially and adversely affects the interbank  Eurodollar
market or (2)  compliance by the Lender in good faith with any applicable law or
governmental regulation,  guideline or order or interpretation or change thereof
by any governmental  authority charged with the interpretation or administration
thereof or with any  request or  directive  of any such  governmental  authority
(whether or not having the force of law); or

     (B) the Adjusted  Eurodollar  Rate shall no longer  represent the effective
cost to the Lender for U.S. dollar deposits in the interbank  Eurodollar  market
for deposits in which they regularly  participate;  then, and in any such event,
the Lender shall notify the Borrowers.  Until the Lender  notifies the Borrowers
that  the  circumstances  giving  rise to  such  notice  no  longer  apply,  the
obligation of the Lender to allow selection by the Borrowers of Eurodollar Loans
shall be  suspended.  If at the time the Lender so notifies the  Borrowers,  the
Borrowers  have  previously  given the Lender a Loan  Request or  Interest  Rate
Option  Notice  with  respect to one or more  Eurodollar  Loans but such Loan or
Loans have not yet gone into effect, such notification by the Borrowers shall be
deemed to be void and the Loan or Loans  shall  bear  interest  at the rate then
applicable  to Base Rate Loans.  Upon such date as the Lender  shall  specify in
such notice (which shall be the last day of applicable  Interest  Period,  if an
earlier date is not required),  the Borrowers  shall be deemed to have converted
all  outstanding  Eurodollar  Loans to Base Rate Loans in  accordance  with this
Agreement.  In the event that the Lender  determines  at any time  following the
giving of notice  pursuant to this clause that it may lawfully  make  Eurodollar
Loans,   the  Lender  shall  give  notice  thereof  to  the  Borrowers  of  such
determination,  whereupon  the  Borrowers'  right to request,  and the  Lender's
obligation to make, Eurodollar Loans shall be restored.

     (b) All Credit Extensions. After the date hereof, in case any change in any
existing  or any new  law,  regulation,  treaty  or  official  directive  or the
interpretation  or  application  thereof  by any  court  or by any  governmental
authority  charged with the  administration  thereof or the compliance  with any
guideline  or  request  of any  central  bank or  other  governmental  authority
(whether or not having the force of law):

     (i) subject to (c) below,  subjects  the Lender to any tax with  respect to
payments of principal or interest or any other amounts payable  hereunder by any
Borrower or  otherwise  with  respect to the  transactions  contemplated  hereby
(except  for taxes on the  overall  net  income of such  Persons  imposed by the
United States of America or any political subdivision thereof), or

     (ii) imposes, modifies or deems applicable any deposit insurance,  reserve,
special deposit or similar requirement against assets held by, or deposits in or
for the  account of, or Loans or Letters of Credit  issued by the Lender  (other
than such  requirements  as are  already  included in the  determination  of the
Adjusted Eurodollar Rate), or

     (iii) imposes upon the Lender any other condition with respect to the Loans
or the Letters of Credit or otherwise with respect to its performance under this
Agreement, and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost to the
Lender,  reduce the income  receivable  by the Lender or impose any expense with
respect to any Loan or Letter of Credit  (in each case  without  duplication  of
amounts  described in Section  2.10),  the Lender shall so notify the Borrowers.
The  Borrowers  agree to pay to the Lender the amount of such  increase in cost,
reduction in income or  additional  expense as and when such cost,  reduction or
expense is incurred or determined,  upon demand after presentation by the Lender
of a statement in the amount and setting forth the Lender's calculation thereof,
which statement shall be deemed true and correct absent manifest error.

     (c) All payments made by the Borrowers  under the Loan  Documents  shall be
made free and clear of, and without  deduction or withholding  for or on account
of, any present or future income, stamp or other taxes, levies, imposts, duties,
charges,  fees,  deductions or withholdings,  now or hereafter imposed,  levied,
collected,  withheld or assessed by any  governmental  authority,  excluding net
income taxes and franchise  taxes  (imposed in lieu of net income taxes) imposed
on the Lender as a result of a present or former  connection  between the Lender
and the  jurisdiction  of the  governmental  authority  imposing such tax or any
political  subdivision  or taxing  authority  thereof or therein (other than any
such  connection  arising solely from the Lender having  executed,  delivered or
performed its  obligations  or received a payment under,  or enforced,  any Loan
Document).  If any such non-excluded taxes, levies,  imposts,  duties,  charges,
fees,  deductions  or  withholdings  ("Non-Excluded  Taxes")  or other  stamp or
documentary taxes or excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies arising
from any payment made hereunder or from the  execution,  delivery or enforcement
of, or  otherwise  with respect to, this  Agreement  or any other Loan  Document
("Other  Amounts") are required to be withheld  from any amounts  payable to the
Lender hereunder, the amounts so payable to the Lender shall be increased to the
extent necessary to yield to the Lender (after payment of all Non-Excluded Taxes
and Other Amounts)  interest or any such other amounts payable  hereunder at the
rates or in the amounts specified in this Agreement or such other Loan Document,
provided, however, that the Borrowers shall not be required to increase any such
amounts  payable to the Lender with respect to any  Non-Excluded  Taxes (i) that
are  attributable  to the Lender's  failure to comply with the  requirements  of
paragraph (e) or (f) of this Section or (ii) that are United States  withholding
taxes imposed on amounts  payable to the Lender at the time the Lender becomes a
party to this  Agreement,  except to the extent that the  Lender's  assignor (if
any) was entitled, at the time of assignment, to receive additional amounts from
the Borrowers with respect to such Non-Excluded  Taxes pursuant to this Section.
In  addition,  the  Borrowers  shall  pay  any  Other  Amounts  to the  relevant
governmental authority in accordance with applicable law.

     (d) Whenever  any  Non-Excluded  Taxes or Other  Amounts are payable by the
Borrowers,  as promptly as possible  thereafter the Borrowers  shall send to the
Lender  a  certified  copy  of an  original  official  receipt  received  by the
Borrowers showing payment thereof. If the Borrowers fail to pay any Non-Excluded
Taxes or Other Amounts when due to the appropriate  taxing authority or fails to
remit  to the  Lender  the  required  receipts  or  other  required  documentary
evidence,  the Borrowers hereby indemnify the Lender for any incremental  taxes,
interest or penalties  that may become  payable by the Lender as a result of any
such failure.

     (e) The Lender or any  participant  or  successor or assignee of the Lender
that  is  not a  citizen  or  resident  of  the  United  States  of  America,  a
corporation,  partnership  or other entity  created or organized in or under the
laws of the  United  States of America  (or any  jurisdiction  thereof),  or any
estate or trust that is subject to federal  income  taxation  regardless  of the
source of its income (a "Non-U.S.  Lender")  shall deliver to the Borrowers (or,
in the case of a participant,  to the Lender) two copies of either U.S. Internal
Revenue  Service  Form 1001 or Form 4224,  or, in the case of a Non-U.S.  Lender
claiming exemption from U.S. federal  withholding tax under Section 871(h) or 88
1 (c) of the Code with respect to payments of "portfolio interest",  a statement
substantially in the form of Exhibit 2.9 (an "Exemption Certificate") and a Form
W-8,  or  any  subsequent  versions  thereof  or  successors  thereto,  properly
completed and duly executed by such Non-U.S.  Lender claiming complete exemption
from, or a reduced rate of, U.S. federal  withholding tax on all payments by the
Borrowers under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Such forms shall be
delivered  by each  Non-U.S.  Lender on or before the date it becomes a party to
this Agreement (or, in the case of any  participant,  on or before the date such
participant  purchases the related  participation).  In addition,  each Non-U.S.
Lender shall deliver such forms promptly upon the  obsolescence or invalidity of
any form  previously  delivered by such Non-U.S.  Lender.  Each Non-U.S.  Lender
shall  promptly  notify the  Borrowers at any time it  determines  that it is no
longer in a position  to provide any  previously  delivered  certificate  to the
Borrowers  (or any  other  form of  certification  adopted  by the  U.S.  taxing
authorities  for such  purpose).  Notwithstanding  any other  provision  of this
Section, a Non-U.S. Lender shall not be required to deliver any form pursuant to
this Section that such Non-U.S. Lender is not legally able to deliver.

     (f) The Lender or any  participant  or  successor or assignee of the Lender
that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of non-U.S.  withholding  tax
under the law of the  jurisdiction  in which any  Borrower  is  located,  or any
treaty to which such  jurisdiction  is a party,  with respect to payments  under
this Agreement  shall deliver to the Borrowers  (with a copy to the Lender),  at
the time or times  prescribed by applicable  law or reasonably  requested by the
Borrowers,  such  properly  completed and executed  documentation  prescribed by
applicable law as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at
a reduced  rate,  provided  that such Person is legally  entitled  to  complete,
execute  and deliver  such  documentation  and in such  Person's  judgment  such
completion,  execution or submission  would not  materially  prejudice its legal
position.

     (g) If the Lender  determines that it has recovered or used as a credit any
amount withheld on its account pursuant to this section,  it shall reimburse the
Borrowers to the extent of such amount so determined  to have been  recovered or
used as a credit,  provided that nothing  contained in this  paragraph (g) shall
require the Lender to make  available its tax returns (or any other  information
relating to its taxes which it deems to be confidential).

     (h) The  agreements in this Section shall survive the  termination  of this
Agreement and the payment of the Obligations.

     2.10 Capital Adequacy.  The Lender shall notify the Borrowers if, after the
date  hereof,  the Lender  determines  that (a) the adoption of or change in any
law, rule,  regulation or guideline regarding capital  requirements for banks or
bank  holding  companies,  or any change in the  interpretation  or  application
thereof by any governmental  authority charged with the administration  thereof,
or (b) compliance by any such Person or its parent bank holding company with any
guideline,  request or directive of any such entity  regarding  capital adequacy
(whether or not having the force of law),  has the effect of reducing the return
on such  Person's or such holding  company's  capital as a  consequence  of such
Person's  commitment  to make Loans or issue  Letters of Credit  hereunder  to a
level below that which such Person or such holding  company  could have achieved
but for such  adoption,  change or compliance  (taking into  consideration  such
Person's or such  holding  company's  then  existing  policies  with  respect to
capital  adequacy and assuming the full utilization of such entity's capital and
excluding any such reduction  resulting from a decline in such Person's  capital
or  capital  ratios)  by any  amount  reasonably  deemed  by such  Person  to be
material.  The Borrowers agree to pay to the Lender the amount of such reduction
of return  of  capital  within 30 days  after  presentation  by the  Lender of a
statement  in the amount and setting  forth the  Lender's  calculation  thereof,
which  statement  shall be deemed true and correct  absent  manifest  error.  In
determining  such  amount,  the  Lender  may use any  reasonable  averaging  and
attribution methods used in similar circumstances.

     2.11  Payments  Before End of  Eurodollar  Period.  If any Borrower for any
reason  makes any payment or  prepayment  (whether  voluntary or  mandatory)  of
principal with respect to any Eurodollar Loan on any day other than the last day
of the applicable Interest Period, or fails to borrow,  continue or convert to a
Eurodollar  Loan after  giving a Loan  Request or Interest  Rate  Option  Notice
pursuant  to  Section  2.4 or 2.5,  or if any  Eurodollar  Loan  is  accelerated
pursuant  to Section  8.1,  the  Borrowers  shall pay to the Lender a  makewhole
payment pursuant to the following formula:

                           L = (R - T) x P x D
                                --------------
                                      360

     L = amount payable to the Lender

     R = interest rate on such Loan

     T = effective  interest rate per annum at which any readily marketable bond
or  other  obligation  of the  United  States,  selected  at the  Lender's  sole
discretion,  maturing  on or near the last day of the then  applicable  Interest
Period and in approximately the same amount as such Loan can be purchased by the
Lender on the day of such payment of principal or failure to borrow, continue or
convert P = the amount of principal  prepaid or the amount of the requested Loan
D = the number of days  remaining in the Interest  Period as of the date of such
payment or the number of days of the requested Interest Period

     The Borrowers  shall pay such amount upon demand upon  presentation  by the
Lender of a  statement  setting  forth the amount and the  Lender's  calculation
thereof pursuant hereto, which statement shall be deemed true and correct absent
manifest error.

     2.12 Security.  The Obligations,  whether under this Agreement,  the Notes,
the Fee Letter,  the Letter of Credit  Documents,  the other Loan  Documents  or
otherwise, shall be secured at all times by:

     (a) a first priority perfected security interest in all presently owned and
hereafter acquired tangible and intangible personal property and fixtures of the
Borrowers and their Subsidiaries  (including without limitation all Intercompany
Notes and trademarks and service marks and licenses),  subject only to Permitted
Encumbrances,  together with any landlord  waivers with respect to the locations
of such personal property and fixtures  (provided that landlord waivers will not
be  required  for  individual  Stores)  and,  after an Event of Default has been
declared by the Lender,  lock box or agency account  agreements  with respect to
cash receipts; and

     (b) except as set forth in the next succeeding paragraph,  a first priority
perfected pledge of all of the issued and outstanding shares of Capital Stock of
all of the Borrowers other than the Parent.

     (c) The  Lender  acknowledges  and  agrees  that as of the date  hereof the
Parent  has  pledged  _________  shares  of  Capital  Stock of  Willoughby's  to
______________ and _____________  (collectively,  the "Willoughby's Sellers") as
security for the promissory notes described on Schedule 7.1  (collectively,  the
"Willoughby's  Seller  Note").  On or before  October 20, 1999, the Parent shall
cause the Lender to have a first priority  perfected pledge of all of the issued
and outstanding shares of Capital Stock of Willoughby's.

     The Borrowers agree to take such actions (and to cause their  Subsidiaries,
if any, to take such actions) as the Lender may reasonably  request from time to
time in order to cause the  Lender to be secured  at all times as  described  in
this Section.

         2.13 Use of Proceeds. Each of the Borrowers hereby covenants,  warrants
and represents  that proceeds of the Term Loan and the Revolving  Loans shall be
used  for the  payment  of the  purchase  price  in  respect  of the  Chesapeake
Acquisition, closing costs, the repayment of certain outstanding indebtedness as
disclosed  to the Lender and as  described  on  Schedule  2.13  hereto,  working
capital and general corporate  purposes  (excluding  Acquisitions).  Attached as
Schedule  2.13  hereto  is the  Borrowers'  current  projection,  as of the date
hereof, of its sources and uses of funds.

     2.14 Time and Method of Payments. All payments of principal, interest, fees
and other amounts  (including  indemnities)  payable by the Borrowers  hereunder
shall  be  made  in  U.S.  Dollars,  in  immediately  available  funds,  without
deduction, setoff or counterclaim,  to the Lender at its principal office on the
date on which such payment shall become due; provided, however, that any payment
not received by the Lender by 3:00 PM,  (Boston  time) on the date made shall be
deemed received on the next Business Day (but no Default shall be deemed to have
occurred as a result thereof under Section 8.1 if payment is received after 3:00
PM (Boston  time) but prior to 5:00 PM  (Boston  time) on the date on which such
payment shall become due).  The Lender may, but shall not be obligated to, debit
the  amount of any such  payment  which is not made by such time to any  deposit
account of any of the Borrowers with the Lender. Except as otherwise provided in
the  definition  of the term  "Interest  Period" with respect to the  Eurodollar
Loans, if any payment of principal or interest becomes due on a day other than a
Business Day, such payment may be made on the next succeeding  Business Day, and
such extension  shall be included in computing  interest in connection with such
payment. All payments hereunder and under the Notes shall be made without setoff
or counterclaim.

     SECTION 3. CONDITIONS OF CREDIT EXTENSIONS.

     3.1 Conditions to Initial Credit  Extension.  The obligations of the Lender
to make the initial Credit  Extensions  hereunder are subject to the fulfillment
of the following conditions precedent:

     (a) The Lender and its counsel  shall have  completed  their due  diligence
review with respect to the  Chesapeake  Acquisition  and shall be satisfied with
the results of such review.

     (b)  Receipt by the Lender of the  following  documents,  certificates  and
opinions in form and  substance  satisfactory  to the Lender,  duly executed and
delivered as follows:

     (i) This Agreement, executed and delivered by all Borrowers;

     (ii) The Notes executed and delivered by all Borrowers;

     (iii) The Security  Documents  executed and  delivered by all Borrowers and
such stock certificates, stock powers, assignments,  consents, landlord waivers,
UCC financing statements and other instruments and documents as the Lender shall
deem  necessary  to satisfy  the  requirements  of Section  2.12,  provided  the
Borrowers need use only best efforts in obtaining such landlord waivers;

     (iv) An  officer's  certificate  executed by the  President  of each of the
Borrowers in the form provided by the Lender, including all attachments thereto;

     (v) Certificates of insurance or insurance  binders  evidencing  compliance
with Section 6.3 (including the required lender's loss payable endorsements);

     (vi) The Opening Balance Sheet, accompanied by a certificate from the Chief
Financial Officer of the Parent  demonstrating  compliance by the Companies on a
pro forma basis with Sections 5.1-5.6 hereof.

     (vii) A favorable legal opinion  satisfactory  to the Lender,  addressed to
the Lender and its  counsel,  from Ruskin,  Moscou,  Evans &  Faltischek,  P.C.,
general counsel to the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries; and

     (viii) A favorable legal opinion  satisfactory to the Lender,  addressed to
the Lender and its counsel, from Buchanan Ingersoll Professional Corporation and
Lerner,  David,  Littenberg,  Krumholz  &  Mentlik,  trademark  counsel  to  the
Borrowers and their Subsidiaries.

     (c) The  Borrowers  shall have paid the  initial  fee  required  by the Fee
Letter  and the other  fees  required  to be paid as of the date of such  Credit
Extension and all reasonable  fees and expenses of the Lender's  counsel through
the date of such Credit Extension.

     (d) The Borrowers  shall have provided the Lender with such payoff letters,
payment instructions and other additional  instruments,  certificates,  opinions
and other documents as the Lender or its counsel shall reasonably request.

     (e) The Lender shall have  received  evidence that (i) the principal of and
interest  on, and all other  amounts  owing in respect of,  Consolidated  Funded
Indebtedness  indicated on Schedule  2.13, if any,  which is to be repaid on the
date of the initial Credit  Extensions shall have been (or shall  simultaneously
be) paid in full in cash,  (ii) any  commitments  to  extend  credit  under  the
agreements related to such Consolidated Funded Indebtedness have been terminated
or canceled and (iii) all Guarantees in respect of, and liens securing, any such
Consolidated  Funded  Indebtedness  have been released (or arrangements for such
releases have been made to the  reasonable  satisfaction  to the Lender),  which
requirement  shall  include  receipt by the Lender of all such  executed  payoff
letters,  UCC Termination  Statements and other  instruments as the Lender shall
have requested to release and terminate of record any Encumbrances.

     (f) The closing of the  Chesapeake  Acquisition  (including  all conditions
precedent  thereto) shall have been  consummated in accordance with the terms of
the Acquisition  Agreement  (except for that portion of the purchase price being
repaid with  proceeds of the Term Loan) and the Parent  shall have  furnished to
the Lender a certificate, signed by the President or the Chief Financial Officer
of the Parent, to the effect that the closing of the Chesapeake  Acquisition has
occurred under the Acquisition Agreement.

     (g) All governmental or other third party approvals  necessary or advisable
for this Agreement, the Chesapeake Acquisition or any transactions  contemplated
thereby  shall have been  obtained  and be in full  force and effect  (including
without limitation any consent of the shareholders of the Parent and Seller, the
FTC and the U.S. Department of Justice).

     (h) The  Lender  shall be  satisfied  that no  litigation  or  other  legal
proceeding  exists  which could  reasonably  be expected to result in a Material
Adverse  Effect  or  which  restrains  or  attempts  to  restrain  or  undo  the
consummation of the Chesapeake Acquisition or any portion thereof.

     (i) All corporate,  partnership and other  proceedings,  and all documents,
instruments and other legal,  diligence and financial matters in connection with
the  transactions  contemplated  by  the  Loan  Documents  shall  be  reasonably
satisfactory in form and substance to the Lender and its counsel.

     3.2  Conditions to All Credit  Extensions.  The obligation of the Lender to
make any Credit  Extension  (including  the initial  Credit  Extension)  is also
subject to the following additional conditions:

     (a) All  representations  and  warranties  contained  in this  Agreement or
otherwise  made in  writing  by or on behalf of any of the  Borrowers  or any of
their Subsidiaries in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby shall
be true and  correct in all  material  respects  at the time of each such Credit
Extension  (except  to the  extent  such  representations  and  warranties  were
expressly  made only as of a specific date and except to the extent  affected by
transactions occurring after the date hereof and permitted hereunder),  with and
without giving effect to the Credit  Extension at such time and the  application
of the proceeds thereof.

     (b) At the time of each such Credit  Extension  (i) the Borrowers and their
Subsidiaries  shall have  performed and complied with all covenants  required in
this  Agreement to be  performed  or complied  with by it prior to the making of
such Credit Extension,  (ii) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing or
would result from such Credit  Extension,  and (iii) no event or condition shall
have  occurred  which  could  reasonably  be likely to have a  Material  Adverse
Effect.

     (c) As to any such  Credit  Extension,  the Lender  shall  have  received a
properly completed Loan Request or Letter of Credit Documents, as appropriate.

     (d) The Lender shall have  received  such other  supporting  documents  and
certificates as it may reasonably request.

     The Borrowers' request for the initial Credit Extensions shall be deemed to
constitute the Borrowers'  representation and warranty that all of the foregoing
conditions in Sections 3.1 and 3.2 have been satisfied in full. Each request for
a Credit Extension (other than the initial Credit Extensions) shall be deemed to
constitute the Borrowers'  representation and warranty that all of the foregoing
conditions in Section 3.2 have been satisfied in full.

     SECTION 4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. In order to induce the Lender to
enter into this Agreement and make the Credit Extensions hereunder,  each of the
Borrowers  hereby confirms the  representations  and warranties set forth in the
Security  Documents (which are incorporated by reference  herein) and,  further,
represents and warrants (all of which  representations and warranties assume the
making of the initial Credit Extensions hereunder) as follows:

     4.1  Organization  and  Qualification.  Each  of  the  Companies  (a)  is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws
of its state of formation (as designated on Schedule 4.1); (b) has all requisite
corporate  power and  authority  to own its property and conduct its business as
now conducted and as presently  contemplated;  and (c) is duly  qualified and in
good  standing in each  jurisdiction  where the nature of its  properties or its
business  requires such  qualification,  as specified in Schedule 4.1, except to
the extent that the failure to be so qualified  could not reasonably be expected
to have a  Material  Adverse  Effect.  Schedule  4.1 also sets forth each of the
Organizational Documents to which any Company is a party.

     4.2 Corporate Authority. The execution, delivery and performance of each of
the Loan  Documents  and the  Acquisition  Agreement  and each of the  documents
contemplated  thereby  (together  with  the  Loan  Documents,  the  "Transaction
Documents")  and  the  transactions   contemplated  thereby  (including  without
limitation the granting of security interests thereunder in favor of the Lender)
are  within  the  corporate  authority  of  each  of the  Companies,  have  been
authorized by all  necessary  corporate  proceedings  on the part of each of the
Companies,  and do not and will not  contravene  any provision of law (including
without  limitation  the rules and provision of law or the charter  documents or
by-laws (collectively,  "Organizational Documents")) of any of the Companies, or
contravene  any  provisions  of, or constitute a Default  hereunder or a default
under any  other  material  agreement  (including  any  Lease,  any  shareholder
agreement,  any  license  agreement  or  any  supplier  contracts),  instrument,
judgment,  order,  decree,  permit,  license  or  undertaking  binding  upon  or
applicable  to any of the Companies or any of its  properties,  or result in the
creation,  other than in favor of the Lender, of any Encumbrance upon any of the
properties of any of the Companies.

     4.3 Valid  Obligations.  Each of the  Transaction  Documents and all of its
terms and provisions (including the security interests granted thereunder to the
Lender) are legal,  valid and binding  obligations  of each of the Companies who
are named as parties  thereto,  enforceable  in accordance  with its  respective
terms.

     4.4 Approvals.  The execution,  delivery and performance of the Transaction
Documents and the transactions  contemplated thereby do not require any approval
or consent of, or filing or registration  with, any governmental or other agency
or authority or any other Person, except as disclosed on Schedule 4.4 and all of
such  approvals or consents and filings or  registrations  have been obtained or
completed,  as applicable,  as of the date hereof to the extent  material to the
business of any of the Companies.

     4.5 Title to  Properties;  Absence of Liens.  Schedule 4.5 (as updated from
time to time as  required  hereunder)  lists  all of the  Stores  of each of the
Companies,  including the owner thereof,  the address thereof,  and whether such
Store is a Company Store or a Franchised Store.  Except as set forth in Schedule
4.5 (as updated from time to time as required hereunder), as of the date of this
Agreement  and after  giving  effect to the  application  of the proceeds of the
Loans as provided  in Section  2.13,  or as of the date of the latest  quarterly
financial  statements as required under Section 6.1, as applicable,  each of the
Companies  has good and  marketable  title to all of its material  properties of
every  name and  nature  now  purported  to be owned  by it,  including  without
limitation all material  assets of the Company Stores listed on Schedule 4.5 (as
updated from time to time as required  hereunder),  all rights under each of the
Franchise  Agreements  to  which  any  Company  is a  party  (including  without
limitation  all rights to  development  and royalty  payments  thereunder),  the
Collateral and the properties reflected in the Initial Financial Statements,  in
each  case  free  from  all   Encumbrances   whatsoever   except  for  Permitted
Encumbrances.

     4.6 Licenses,  Patents,  Trademarks and  Intellectual  Property.  Except as
otherwise  described in Schedule  4.6,  each of the  Companies has all necessary
permits,   approvals,   authorizations,   consents,  license  (including  liquor
licenses),  franchises,  registrations,  patents,  trademarks,  trade  names and
copyrights,  recipes  and other  rights  and  privileges  to allow it to own and
operate its respective business and to operate or franchise, as applicable,  the
Stores  listed  on  Schedule  4.5 (as  updated  from  time  to time as  required
hereunder) without any violation of law or the rights of others. All trademarks,
service marks, trade names, patents and patent applications in which any Company
has an ownership or licensee interest,  and all United States, state and foreign
registrations  thereof and applications therefor in the name of any Company, are
listed on Schedule 4.6 (as updated from time to time as required hereunder), and
the Parent is and will at all times hereafter be the owner thereof,  free of all
Encumbrances  except  in  favor  of the  Lender.  No  interest  in  any of  such
intellectual  property  has been  licensed or  sublicensed  to any other  Person
except to Franchisees pursuant to the Franchise Agreements.

     4.7 Compliance with Laws and Agreements.  No Company is in violation of any
material  provision  of  its  Organizational  Documents  and  no  Company  is in
violation of any material  provision  of any  material  indenture,  agreement or
instrument  to which it is a party  or by which it is bound  (including  without
limitation  any material  lease) or of any provision of law  (including  without
limitation,  ERISA, Environmental Laws, SEC and FTC Laws, and franchising laws),
the violation of which could  reasonably be expected to have a Material  Adverse
Effect  or any  order,  judgment  or  decree  of any  court or other  agency  of
government.  Without  limiting  the scope of the  foregoing,  each Company is in
compliance  in all  material  respects  with  all  federal  and  state  laws and
regulations,  the  violation  of which  could  reasonably  be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect. To Borrowers' knowledge,  third parties to any material
agreements are not in violation of any material  provision thereof to the extent
that such violations in the aggregate could  reasonably be expected to result in
a Material Adverse Effect.

     4.8  Material  Agreements.  As of the  date  hereof,  each of the  material
agreements  to which any  Company  is a party is in full  force and  effect  and
constitutes the legally valid and binding  obligation of the Company  identified
with it  thereon  and,  to  Borrowers'  knowledge,  the other  parties  thereto,
enforceable  against each of them in accordance with its respective  terms. None
of the Franchise Agreements under which any Company is a franchisor prohibit the
granting of a security interest by such Company therein to the Lender, including
without  limitation a security interest in all development  fees,  royalties and
other amounts payable thereunder.

     4.9 Environmental Matters. Except as specified in Schedule 4.9:

     (a) Each  Company has obtained  all  material  permits,  licenses and other
authorizations  which are required under all  Environmental  Laws, except to the
extent  failure  to have any such  permit,  license or  authorization  could not
reasonably  be likely  to have a  Material  Adverse  Effect.  To the  Borrowers'
knowledge,  each Company is in compliance  with the terms and  conditions of all
such permits,  licenses and  authorizations,  and is also in material compliance
with all other limitations,  restrictions,  conditions, standards, prohibitions,
requirements,  obligations, schedules and timetables contained in any applicable
Environmental  Law or in any regulation,  code, plan, order,  decree,  judgment,
injunction,  notice or demand letter  issued,  entered,  promulgated or approved
thereunder,  except to the extent  failure  to comply  would not have a Material
Adverse Effect.

     (b) No notice,  notification,  demand,  request for information,  citation,
summons or order has been issued,  no complaint  has been filed,  no penalty has
been assessed and to the Borrowers'  knowledge,  no  investigation  or review is
pending or  threatened by any  governmental  or other entity with respect to any
alleged  failure  by any  Company  to  have  any  material  permit,  license  or
authorization  required in  connection  with the conduct of its business or with
respect to any Environmental Laws, including, without limitation,  Environmental
Laws relating to the generation, treatment, storage, recycling,  transportation,
disposal or release of any Hazardous  Materials,  except to the extent that such
notice, complaint, penalty or investigation did not result in the remediation of
any property  costing in excess of $250,000 in the aggregate in each fiscal year
prior to the date of this Agreement and, for any periods after such date, except
for matters that  individually  and in the  aggregate  could not  reasonably  be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

     (c) To the Borrowers' knowledge no material oral or written notification of
a release of a Hazardous  Material has been filed by or on behalf of any Company
and no property now or previously owned, leased or used by any Company is listed
or proposed for listing on the National  Priorities List under the Comprehensive
Environmental  Response,  Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, or
on any similar state list of sites requiring investigation or clean-up.

     (d) To the Borrowers'  knowledge there are no Encumbrances arising under or
pursuant to any Environmental Laws on any of the material real properties owned,
leased or used by any Company,  and no  governmental  actions have been taken or
are in process  which could subject any of such  properties to any  Encumbrances
or, as a result of which any  Company  would be  required to place any notice or
restriction  relating to the  presence of  Hazardous  Materials  at any property
owned by it or in any deed to such property.

     (e) To the Borrowers'  knowledge no Company has (i) engaged in or permitted
any operations or activities upon or any use or occupancy of any property owned,
leased or used by it, or any portion  thereof,  for the purpose of or in any way
involving  the  handling,  manufacture,   treatment,  storage,  use  generation,
release,  discharge,  refining,  dumping or disposal  (whether legal or illegal,
accidental or  intentional)  of any Hazardous  Materials on, under,  in or about
such property,  except to the extent  commonly used in day-to-day  operations of
such property and in such case only in compliance with all  Environmental  Laws,
or (ii)  transported  any  Hazardous  Materials to, from or across such property
except to the extent  commonly  used in  day-to-day  operations of such property
and, in such case,  in  compliance  with,  all  Environmental  Laws;  nor to the
knowledge of any of the  Borrowers  have any Hazardous  Materials  migrated from
other  properties  upon,  about or beneath such property,  nor are any Hazardous
Materials  presently  constructed,  deposited,  stored or otherwise  located on,
under,  in or  about  such  property  except  to the  extent  commonly  used  in
day-to-day operations,  and, in such case, in compliance with, all Environmental
Laws.

     4.10  Compliance  with ERISA.  Each of the Companies and each member of the
Controlled  Group have fulfilled  their  obligations  under the minimum  funding
standards of ERISA and the Code with respect to each Plan and are in  compliance
in all material  respects with the applicable  provisions of ERISA and the Code,
and have not incurred  any material  liability to the PBGC or a Plan under Title
IV of ERISA;  and no "prohibited  transaction"  or  "reportable  event" (as such
terms are defined in ERISA and other than  reportable  events as to which the 30
day notice period is waived) has occurred with respect to any Plan.

     4.11 Financial  Statements.  (a) The Parent has furnished to the Lender (i)
its  consolidated  audited  balance sheet as of December 27, 1998 audited by the
Accountants and its related  consolidated  audited  statements of operations and
cash flow for the fiscal year then ended,  and related  consolidating  financial
statement,  and  (ii) its  management-prepared  consolidated  and  consolidating
balance sheet as of June 27, 1999 and related  statements of operations and cash
flows for the six-month period then ended (collectively,  the "Initial Financial
Statements"). Such Initial Financial Statements were prepared in accordance with
GAAP and as to such  fiscal year  statements  audited by the  Accountants.  Such
Initial  Financial  Statements  fairly  present  the  financial  position of the
respective  Companies  as at such dates and the results of  operations  for such
periods covered thereby.

     (b) The Parent has furnished to the Lender the Parent's  estimated  balance
sheet as of the date hereof (the "Opening Balance Sheet"),  showing the Parent's
pro forma financial condition based on reasonable good faith estimates after the
consummation  of the Chesapeake  Acquisition.  The Opening  Balance Sheet fairly
presents the pro forma financial position of the Parent at such date.

     (c) The Borrowers have reviewed the  projections  for the future results of
operations of the Companies dated May 1999 for the period commencing  January 1,
1999 and ending  December 31, 2003 (the  "Projections"),  after giving effect to
the Chesapeake Acquisition,  and the Borrowers hereby certify to the Lender that
the Projections are based upon good faith estimates and assumptions  believed by
management of the Parent to be reasonable at the time made, it being  recognized
by the Lender that such financial  information as it relates to future events is
not to be viewed as fact and that  actual  results  during the  periods  covered
thereby may differ from the  projected  results set forth  therein by a material
amount.

     (d) Except as reflected  in the Initial  Financial  Statements  and the SEC
Reports, as of the date hereof none of the Companies has any material contingent
obligations,  liabilities for taxes or unusual forward or long-term commitments.
Since the effective date of the latest  audited  Initial  Financial  Statements,
there have been no  changes in the  assets,  liabilities,  financial  condition,
business or prospects of any Company,  the effect of which has,  individually or
in the aggregate, could reasonably be likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

     (e) The Parent has also  furnished to the Lender the Seller's (i) statement
of cash flows for sales and royalties collected,  all on a store by store basis,
for the  Acquired  Assets,  for the  fiscal  years  ending  December,  1997  and
December, 1998 and for six four week periods ending in June, 1998 and June, 1999
and (ii) other  financial  information  comprising the Financial  Statements (as
defined in the Acquisition  Agreement) for the Acquired  Assets.  Such Financial
Statements, to any Borrower's knowledge, solely based on Seller's representation
to the  Borrowers,  correctly  and  completely  reflect the  Seller's  books and
records  relating to the  Acquired  Assets,  and were  represented  by Seller to
Borrowers  as accurate  and  complete in all  material  respects for the periods
indicated.

     4.12 Solvency.  The Borrowers  have assets (both  tangible and  intangible)
having a fair salable value in excess of the amount required to pay the probable
liability  on its  respective  existing  debts  (whether  matured or  unmatured,
liquidated or unliquidated,  fixed or contingent);  the Borrowers have access to
adequate capital for the conduct of its respective  business for the foreseeable
future and the discharge of its debts  incurred in connection  therewith as such
debts mature;  the Borrowers are not  Insolvent  and,  immediately  prior to the
consummation of the Term Loan hereunder,  the Borrowers were not Insolvent;  and
the  Borrowers  do not intend to or believe  that they will  collectively  incur
debts beyond their ability to pay them at their maturity.

     4.13 Taxes.  Each of the Companies  has filed all federal,  state and other
material tax returns required to be filed (or has filed extensions therefor) and
has paid or made adequate  provision  for the payment of all taxes,  assessments
and other such  governmental  charges  due have been fully paid  (other than any
taxes the amount or  validity of which are  currently  being  contested  in good
faith  by  appropriate  proceedings  and  with  respect  to  which  reserves  in
conformity with GAAP have been provided for on the books of the  Companies).  No
Company  has  executed  any waiver that would have the effect of  extending  the
applicable  statute of limitations in respect of tax liabilities (other than any
taxes the amount or  validity of which are  currently  being  contested  in good
faith  by  appropriate  proceedings  and  with  respect  to  which  reserves  in
conformity with GAAP have been provided for on the books of the Companies).

     4.14 Litigation.  Except as otherwise  described in Schedule 4.14, there is
no  litigation,  proceeding or  governmental  investigation,  administrative  or
judicial, pending or, to any of the Borrowers' knowledge,  threatened against or
affecting any Company or its  properties  which could  reasonably be expected to
result in a Material Adverse Effect.

     4.15 Margin Rules.  None of the Borrowers or any of their  Subsidiaries  is
engaged principally,  or as one of its important activities,  in the business of
extending  credit  for the  purposes  of  purchasing  or  carrying  any  "margin
security"  or  "margin  stock"  ("Margin  Stock")  as  such  terms  are  used in
Regulations U or X (the "Margin  Regulations")  of the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System.  The value of all Margin Stock held by the Borrowers and
their  Subsidiaries  constitutes  less than 25% of the value,  as  determined in
accordance with the Margin Regulations, of all assets of the Borrowers and their
Subsidiaries.

     4.16  Restrictions  on the Borrowers.  No Company is a party to or bound by
any  contract,  agreement  or  instrument,  nor  subject to any charter or other
corporate  restriction,  that  has or could  reasonably  be  expected  to have a
Material Adverse Effect.

     4.17  Capitalization.  All of the Subsidiaries of each of the Companies are
listed on Schedule  4.17 and a Borrower  owns all of the issued and  outstanding
Capital Stock thereof as noted  thereon.  The Borrowers have supplied the Lender
with true and  complete  copies  of their  Organizational  Documents.  Except as
otherwise  set forth in  Schedule  4.17:  (a) no  Capital  Stock of any  Company
carries preemptive rights; (b) there are no outstanding subscriptions,  warrants
or options to purchase any Capital  Stock of the Parent as of the date hereof or
of any other Company; (c) no Company is obligated to redeem or repurchase any of
its Capital  Stock;  and (d) there is no other  agreement,  arrangement  or plan
which could directly or indirectly  affect the equity  structure of any Company.
All  Capital  Stock of each  Subsidiary  is  validly  issued  and fully paid and
non-assessable,  free of any Encumbrance, except for Encumbrances on the Capital
Stock granted to the Lender and otherwise  permitted  herein and restrictions on
transfer indicated on the certificates evidencing such Capital Stock pursuant to
applicable  Federal or state securities  regulations.  There are no restrictions
upon the voting rights of any Capital Stock of the Subsidiaries of the Companies
(other than as may be imposed by any state or local  governmental  authorities).
No Company  owns any  minority  interest in any  Person,  except as set forth in
Schedule 4.17.

     4.18  Full  Disclosure.  No  statement  of fact made by or on behalf of any
Company or any Principal in this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents or
in any  certificate  or  schedule  furnished  to the Lender  pursuant  hereto or
thereto in light of all information  provided to the Lender, as of the date such
statement,  certificate  or  schedule  was  so  furnished  contains  any  untrue
statement of a material fact or omits,  when considered as a whole, to state any
material  fact  necessary  to make  statements  contained  therein or herein not
misleading  as of the  date  such  statement,  certificate  or  schedule  was so
furnished.  As of the date hereof,  there is no fact known to any Borrower which
has not been disclosed to the Lender in writing which could reasonably be likely
to have a Material Adverse Effect.

     4.19 Investment  Company Act. No Company is an "investment  company" within
the meaning of the  Investment  Company Act of 1940,  as amended,  or a "holding
company," or a "subsidiary company" of a "holding company," or an "affiliate" of
a "holding company," or of a "subsidiary company" of a "holding company," within
the meaning of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended.

     4.20 Labor Disputes; Collective Bargaining Agreements; Employee Grievances.
Except for matters that  individually  and in the aggregate could not reasonably
be  expected  to have a  Material  Adverse  Effect  (a) there are no  collective
bargaining agreements or other organized labor contracts covering any Company or
any  Company  Store;  (b) no union or other  labor  organization  is  seeking to
organize,  or to be recognized as  bargaining  representative  for, a bargaining
unit of employees of any Company or any Company Store;  (c) there is no material
labor  dispute  pending or  threatened  against or affecting  any Company or any
Company Store; (d) there has not been,  during the five year period prior to the
date hereof,  any material labor dispute against or affecting any Company or any
Company Store, other than employee  grievances arising in the ordinary course of
business  which  are  not,  in the  aggregate,  material;  and  (e)  each of the
Companies  and each Company  Store has complied  with (or  corrected in full any
prior  noncompliance) and is in compliance with the provisions of the Fair Labor
Standards Act and regulations thereunder.

     4.21 Year 2000 Compliance. The Borrowers have (a) reviewed the areas within
their  business and operations  which could be adversely  affected by failure to
become  "Year  2000  Compliant"  (that is that  computer  application,  imbedded
microchips  and other  systems used by the  Borrowers  will be able  properly to
recognize and perform date sensitive  functions involving certain dates prior to
and any date after  December  31,  1999);  (b)  developed  a  detailed  plan and
timetable to become Year 2000  Compliant in a timely  manner;  and (c) committed
adequate resources to support its Year 2000 plan. Based on such review and plan,
the Borrowers  reasonably believe that they will become Year 2000 Compliant on a
timely  basis except to the extent that a failure to do so is not likely to have
a Material Adverse Effect.

     SECTION 5. FINANCIAL COVENANTS.  Each of the Borrowers covenants and agrees
that,  until all Commitments  have been  terminated,  all Letters of Credit have
terminated or expired,  and all Obligations have been  indefeasibly paid in full
in cash, the Borrowers will not cause or permit:

     5.1 Maximum Leverage Ratio. The ratio of Consolidated  Funded  Indebtedness
of the Companies as of the last day of each Reference  Period set forth below to
Consolidated  EBITDA  for such  Reference  Period to be  greater  than the ratio
specified below opposite such Reference Period:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

- ----------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------
                 Reference Period Ending                                     Maximum Leverage Ratio
                 -----------------------                                     ----------------------
- ----------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                                                <C>
12/26/99 and 3/26/00                                                               4.00:1.00
- ----------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------
6/25/00 and 9/24/00                                                                3.00:1.00
- ----------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------
12/24/00, 3/25/01, 6/24/01 and 9/30/01                                             2.25:1.00
- ----------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------
12/30/01 and all Reference                                                         1.50:1.00
Periods ending thereafter
- ----------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

     5.2 Minimum Consolidated Cash Flow Ratio. Commencing December 26, 1999, the
ratio  of  Consolidated  Cash  Flow for any  Reference  Period  to  Consolidated
Financial Obligations for such Reference Period to be less than 1.25:1.00.

     5.3 Minimum Interest  Coverage Ratio.  The ratio of Consolidated  EBITDA of
the Companies as of the last day of each Reference  Period as set forth below to
Consolidated  Interest  Expense,  for such Reference  Period to be less than the
ratio specified below opposite such Reference Period:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

           ----------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------
                         Reference Period Ending                                  Ratio
                         -----------------------                                  -----

<S>        <C>                                                                  <C>
           12/26/99 and 3/26/00                                                 3.00:1.00
           6/25/00 and 9/24/00                                                  3.50:1.00
           12/24/00 and all Reference                                           4.00:1.00
           Periods thereafter
           ----------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------
</TABLE>

     5.4  Maximum  Capital  Expenditures.  Make or agree to make,  or incur  any
obligations  with  respect  to,  any  Capital  Expenditures  (x)  in  excess  of
$2,000,000  in the  aggregate  during  any  fiscal  year  and (y) in  excess  of
$5,000,000  in the  aggregate  during  the  term  of this  Agreement;  provided,
however,  any Insurance  Proceeds applied to Capital  Expenditures  shall not be
counted against the limitations in clauses (x) and (y), above.

     5.5  Maximum  Liabilities  Ratio.  The  ratio of the  Companies'  aggregate
Indebtedness  on the  last  day of each  Reference  Period  set  forth  below to
Consolidated  EBITDA  for such  Reference  Period to be  greater  than the ratio
specified below opposite such Reference Period:


<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>



                 Reference Period Ending                                             Ratio
- ----------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------

<S>                                                                                <C>
12/26/99 and 3/26/00                                                               6.00:1.00
- ----------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------
6/25/00 and  9/24/00                                                               5.00:1.00
- ----------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------
12/24/00, 12/26/99 and 3/26/003/25/01, 6/24/01 and 9/30/01                         4.00:1.00
- ----------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------
12/31/01 and all Reference Periods ending thereafter                               3:00:1.00
</TABLE>

     5.6 Consolidated  Net Worth.  The Companies'  Consolidated Net Worth at any
time to be  less  than  the sum of (a) an  amount  equal  to (i) the  Companies'
Consolidated  Net Worth on the Closing Date as set forth in the Opening  Balance
Sheet,  minus (ii)  $500,000,  plus (b) on a cumulative  basis,  50% of positive
Consolidated  Net  Income  for each  fiscal  quarter  beginning  with the fiscal
quarter ended  September 26, 1999,  plus (c) the Net  Debt/Equity  Proceeds with
respect to any Equity Issuance after the date hereof.

     SECTION 6.  AFFIRMATIVE  COVENANTS.  Each of the  Borrowers  covenants  and
agrees that, until all Commitments  have been terminated,  all Letters of Credit
have terminated or expired,  and all Obligations have been  indefeasibly paid in
full in cash:

     6.1 Financial Reporting. The Borrowers will furnish to the Lender:

     (a) as soon as available, but in any event within 90 days after each fiscal
year-end,  the Parent's consolidated balance sheet as at the end of, and related
consolidated  statements of operations and cash flow for, such year, prepared in
accordance with GAAP  consistently  applied and audited by the Accountants;  and
concurrently with such financial statements,  consolidating financial statements
and a written  statement by the Accountants that, in conducting such audit, they
have  obtained no  knowledge  of any Default or Event of Default (or, if such an
event  exists,  a  statement  as to its nature and  status),  provided  that the
Accountants shall not be liable to the Lender for failure to obtain knowledge of
any Default or Event of Default;

     (b) as soon as available,  but in any event within 45 days after the end of
each fiscal quarter, the Parent's  consolidated and consolidating  balance sheet
as at the end of, and  related  consolidated  and  consolidating  statements  of
operations  and cash flow for, the portion of the year then ended and the fiscal
quarter then ended, prepared in accordance with GAAP, together with a comparison
of such results to budgeted results and to the results for the comparable period
in the prior fiscal year, prepared on a consolidated and consolidating basis, in
each case  certified  by the Parent's  chief  financial  officer or  controller;
together with updated Schedules 4.1, 4.5 and 4.6 hereto, if any changes thereto;

     (c) as soon as available,  but in any event within 45 days after the end of
each fiscal quarter,  a covenant  compliance report in substantially the form of
Exhibit 6.1, signed by the Parent's chief financial  officer or controller,  and
updated Schedules 4.1, 4.5 and 4.6 if any changes thereto;

     (d) as soon as available,  but in any event within 30 days after the end of
each month, the Parent's  consolidated and consolidating balance sheet as at the
end of, and related consolidated and consolidating  statements of operations and
cash flow for, the month then ended and year-to-date period then ended, prepared
in accordance with GAAP;

     (e) promptly as they become available, a copy of each report (including any
so-called  management  letters)  submitted to any Company by the  Accountants in
connection with each annual, interim or special audit of its books;

     (f)  promptly  as they  become  available,  copies  of all  such  financial
statements,  proxy  material  and  reports  as any  Company  shall  send or make
available to its  stockholders and copies of all material reports filed with the
FTC or state or local franchising authorities and all SEC Reports;

     (g) promptly  following the date on which approval by the Parent's Board of
Directors is granted with respect thereto or, within 45 days after the beginning
of each fiscal year, whichever shall occur sooner, pro forma projections for the
Companies for such fiscal year,  prepared on a quarterly basis,  consisting of a
projected  balance  sheet,   projected  statements  of  income,  cash  flow  and
projections of Capital Expenditures, all prepared on a basis consistent with the
financial statements required by Section 6.1(a);

     (h) no more than five  Business Days after any Company gives or is required
to give notice to the PBGC of any "Reportable Event" (as defined in Section 4043
of  ERISA)  with  respect  to any  Plan  that  might  constitute  grounds  for a
termination  of such Plan under  Title IV of ERISA,  or knows that any member of
the  Controlled  Group or the  plan  administrator  of any Plan has  given or is
required to give notice of any such  Reportable  Event,  a copy of the notice of
such Reportable Event given or required to be given to the PBGC;

     (i) promptly upon becoming aware of the existence of any condition or event
that  constitutes an Event of Default or would reasonably be likely to result in
a Material  Adverse  Effect,  written notice  thereof  specifying the nature and
duration  thereof  and the action  being or  proposed  to be taken with  respect
thereto;

     (j) no more than five Business Days after  becoming aware of any litigation
or of any  investigative  proceedings  by a  governmental  agency  or  authority
commenced  or  threatened  against  any  Company,  the  outcome  of which  could
reasonably be likely to have a Material  Adverse Effect,  written notice thereof
and of the action being or proposed to be taken with respect thereto;

     (k)  no  more  than  five  Business  Days  after   becoming  aware  of  any
investigative  proceedings  by a governmental  agency or authority  commenced or
threatened   against  any  Company   regarding   any   potential   violation  of
Environmental Laws, any spill,  release,  discharge or disposal of any Hazardous
Material  or any  other  material  event  required  to be  reported  to any such
governmental  agency or authority in respect of Environmental  Laws or Hazardous
Material,  written  notice  thereof and of the action being proposed to be taken
with respect thereto;

     (l) Prior to the  consummation  of any Asset Sale, if the Net Sale Proceeds
of all Asset Sales  received by the Companies  during the term of this Agreement
are equal to or in excess of $1,000,000,  written notice thereof, specifying the
purchase price, payment terms and closing date thereof;

     (m) At the same time as written notice,  if any, is required to be given to
the Lender concerning an Asset Sale,  updated Schedules 4.1, 4.5 and 4.6 to this
Agreement, giving effect to such Permitted Sale; and

     (n) as soon as  reasonably  possible  and in any event within 10 days after
request  therefor,  such other  information  regarding the  operations,  assets,
business,  affairs and  financial  condition  of any Company or any Store as the
Lender may reasonably request.

     6.2 Conduct of Business.  Each of the  Companies  will (a) duly observe and
comply  in all  material  respects  with its  Organizational  Documents  and all
applicable laws and all requirements of any governmental authorities relative to
its corporate existence,  rights and franchises,  to the conduct of its business
and to its property and assets  (including  without  limitation  all  applicable
health laws,  restaurant licensing laws, FTC laws, SEC laws,  Environmental Laws
and ERISA);  (b)  maintain  and keep in full force and effect all  licenses  and
permits  necessary  to the  proper  conduct of its  business;  (c) comply in all
material respects with all material  agreements  (including  without  limitation
material leases and supplier contracts) to which it is a party; (d) maintain its
corporate  existence  except  for  mergers  and  consolidations  to  the  extent
permitted  hereunder;  and (e)  remain or engage in the  business  of owning and
franchising  coffee and bagel  retail  Stores  and  manufacturing,  selling  and
distribution of specialty  coffees,  bagels,  cream cheese and related  products
wholesale,  and in no other  business.  No Company  will engage in any  business
unless it is a Borrower hereunder.

     6.3 Maintenance and Insurance. Each of the Companies will maintain and keep
its  properties in good repair,  working order and  condition,  and from time to
time make all needful and proper repairs, renewals, replacements,  additions and
improvements  thereto so that its business  may be properly  and  advantageously
conducted at all times.  Each of the  Companies  and each  Company  Store at all
times will maintain,  or cause to be maintained,  insurance  covering it and its
tangible property in such amounts (including, without limitation, so-called "all
perils"  coverage at replacement  value,  "broad form" liability  coverage,  and
fidelity  and  business  interruption  insurance),   against  such  hazards  and
liabilities  and for such purposes as is customary in the industry for companies
of established  reputation  engaged in the same or similar businesses and owning
or  operating  similar  properties.  The  Lender  shall be  named as loss  payee
(pursuant  to a  standard  "lender's  loss  payable"  endorsement)  on  property
insurance  policies and additional  insured on liability  insurance policies and
shall be given at least 30 days' advance notice of any  cancellation,  change in
form or renewal of insurance.  Such insurance shall insure the Lender's interest
regardless of any breach or violation of the underlying  policies by any Company
or any other Person. Each of the Companies shall insure, or cause to be insured,
its assets in amounts  sufficient to prevent the application of any co-insurance
provisions.  The Borrowers shall evidence their  compliance with this Section by
delivering  a  certificate  with  respect to each policy  concurrently  with the
execution  hereof,  annually  thereafter  and  at any  time  upon  the  Lender's
reasonable request. If any Company fails to provide or cause to be provided such
insurance,  the Lender,  in its sole discretion,  may provide such insurance and
charge the cost to any of the Borrowers' deposit accounts with the Lender.

     6.4 Taxes.  Each of the  Companies  will pay or cause to be paid all taxes,
assessments or governmental  charges on or against it or its properties prior to
such taxes becoming delinquent;  except for any tax, assessment or charge (other
than  any  charge  for  required  environmental  cleanup  costs)  which is being
contested in good faith by appropriate legal or other proceedings or actions and
with respect to which  adequate  reserves  have been  established  and are being
maintained in accordance  with GAAP, if no Encumbrance  shall have been filed to
secure such tax, assessment or charge.

     6.5 Inspection by the Lender.  Each of the Companies will at all reasonable
times (and upon reasonable notice if no Event of Default exists),  during normal
business  hours permit the Lender or its  designees,  provided  that it does not
interfere with the normal business operation of the Borrowers,  to (a) visit and
inspect the Company Stores and other properties of the Companies and (b) examine
and make  copies  of and take  abstracts  from the  Companies'  and the  Company
Stores'  books and  records.  Without  limiting  the  foregoing,  the Lender may
conduct as many commercial credit  examinations of the Companies and the Company
Stores as it reasonably  deems necessary (but not more than one such examination
per  calendar  year if no Event of Default  exists),  whether or not an Event of
Default exists, and the Borrowers will reimburse the Lender the reasonable costs
of all such credit examinations.

     6.6 Accounting  System.  The Companies will maintain an accurate  system of
accounting in accordance  with GAAP, will at all times be part of a consolidated
group for accounting purposes,  and, without the Lender's prior written consent,
will not change (i) their  fiscal year from the last  Sunday in December  fiscal
year end used in the  preparation of the Initial  Financial  Statements and (ii)
the Quarterly Dates set forth on Schedule 1 hereto.

     6.7 Further  Assurances.  From time to time  hereafter,  the Companies will
execute and deliver,  or cause to be executed  and  delivered,  such  additional
instruments,  certificates  and  documents,  and take all such  actions,  as the
Lender shall reasonably  request for the purpose of implementing or effectuating
the  provisions  of this  Agreement,  the Notes,  the Fee Letter,  the Letter of
Credit  Documents  or the other Loan  Documents,  and upon the  exercise  by the
Lender of any power, right, privilege or remedy pursuant to this Agreement,  the
Notes,  the Fee  Letter,  the  Letter of  Credit  Documents  or the  other  Loan
Documents which requires any consent, approval,  registration,  qualification or
authorization of any  governmental  authority or  instrumentality,  exercise and
deliver all  applications,  certifications,  instruments and other documents and
papers that the Lender may be so required to obtain.

     6.8  Environmental  Laws. Each of the Companies will comply in all material
respects  with,  and perform or cause to be performed  any and all Remedial Work
necessary under, all Environmental  Laws applicable (now or in the future) to it
or to its business.

     6.9  Depository.  The  Borrowers  shall  maintain a  depository  account or
accounts with the Lender to facilitate  borrowings and payments hereunder.  Each
of the  Companies  hereby  irrevocably  authorizes  the  Lender  to  debit  such
depository  account  or  accounts  in order to  effect  the  making  of any such
payments not paid when due.

     6.10 Interest Rate  Protection  Within 15 days after the Closing Date,  the
Borrowers shall procure Interest Rate Protection  Agreements with respect to the
Term Loan, in form and substance  satisfactory  to the Lender  providing for the
rates of interest applicable to the Loans to be capped at a rate satisfactory to
the  Lender.   The  Borrowers  shall  maintain  such  Interest  Rate  Protection
Agreements in full force and effect during the term of this  Agreement and shall
not,  without the prior  written  consent of the Lender,  modify,  terminate  or
transfer such arrangements.

     6.11  Willoughby's  Seller Note. On or before October 20, 1999,  either (x)
the  Parent  shall have  repaid in full the  Willoughby's  Seller  Note and have
obtained a discharge of the related pledge or (y) the  Willoughby's  Seller Note
shall have been cancelled in consideration  of an Equity  Issuance,  and in each
case,  the Parent shall have complied  with the  provisions of Section 2.12 with
respect to the Capital Stock of Willoughby's.

     6.12.  Franchise  Agreements.  Each Company will include in every Franchise
Agreement  entered  into after the date  hereof a provision  which shall  permit
(without  the need for any  franchisee's  consent)  such Company to grant to the
Lender a  security  interest  in or the  collateral  assignment  of any  general
intangibles,  rights or remedies of such Company under such Franchise Agreement,
including,  without limitation, the right to collect development fees, royalties
and other payments thereunder.

     SECTION 7. NEGATIVE  COVENANTS.  Each of the Borrowers covenants and agrees
that,  until all Commitments  have been  terminated,  all Letters of Credit have
terminated or expired,  and all Obligations have been  indefeasibly paid in full
in cash:

     7.1 Indebtedness;  Contingent  Liabilities.  No Company will create, incur,
assume, guarantee or be or remain liable with respect to any Consolidated Funded
Indebtedness except:

     (a) Indebtedness of the Companies to the Lender;

     (b)  Indebtedness  not  constituting  Capitalized  Leases or purchase money
Indebtedness  in the  amounts  existing  on the date  hereof  and  described  in
Schedule 7.1 (but no  refinancings,  renewals or extensions  thereof without the
Lender's prior written consent);

     (c) Guarantees in respect of  endorsements  of negotiable  instruments  for
collections in the ordinary  course of business (and  refinancings,  renewals or
extensions thereof);

     (d)  Capitalized  Leases and purchase  money  Indebtedness  which relate to
outstanding  Indebtedness in the aggregate not exceeding  $1,000,000 at any time
secured by Permitted Encumbrances under Section 7.3(f);

     (e) unsecured Indebtedness of any Borrower to any other Borrower hereunder,
evidenced by promissory  notes  pledged and delivered to the Lender  pursuant to
the Security Documents (the "Intercompany Notes");

     (f)  Guarantees  incurred  by  the  Parent  (1) of  Indebtedness  otherwise
permitted  hereunder  of any other  Borrower  and (2) of real  estate  Leases of
Franchisees of the Borrowers in the ordinary course of business;

     (g) Indebtedness in respect of Hedging  Arrangements not exceeding $200,000
in aggregate  net exposure at any one time  outstanding,  provided  such Hedging
Arrangements  are entered into for legitimate  business  purposes related to the
business of the Companies and not for speculative purposes;

     (h) unsecured Indebtedness in respect of contractual commitments related to
future purchases of inventory;

     (i)  provided  no Default  then exists or could  reasonably  be expected to
result therefrom,  Debt Issuance,  provided the Net Debt Proceeds  therefrom are
paid to the Lender to the extent required hereunder;

     (j) Indebtedness in respect of the AFC Debt Instruments; and

     (k) Subordinated Debt.

     7.2 Sale and Leaseback. No Company will enter into any arrangement (a "Sale
Leaseback"),  directly or indirectly  whereby any of them shall sell or transfer
any of its  property  acquired  prior to the date of this  Agreement in order to
lease such property or lease other property that any Company  intends to use for
substantially the same purpose as such property being sold or transferred.

     7.3 Encumbrances.  No Company will create, incur, assume or suffer to exist
any mortgage,  pledge,  security interest,  lien or other charge or encumbrance,
including the lien or retained  security  title of a conditional  vendor upon or
with  respect to any of its  property or assets  ("Encumbrances"),  or assign or
otherwise convey any right to receive income,  including the sale or discount of
accounts receivable with or without recourse,  except the following  ("Permitted
Encumbrances"):

     (a) Encumbrances in favor of the Lender under the Loan Documents;

     (b) Encumbrances existing as of the date of this Agreement and disclosed in
Schedule 7.3;

     (c) liens for taxes, fees,  assessments and other  governmental  charges to
the extent  that  payment of the same may be  postponed  or is not  required  in
accordance with the provisions of Section 6.4;

     (d)  landlord's  and  lessors'  liens in  respect of rent not in default or
liens  in  respect  of  pledges  or  deposits   under   worker's   compensation,
unemployment insurance, social security laws, or similar legislation (other than
ERISA) or in connection with appeal and similar bonds  incidental to litigation;
mechanics',  laborers' and  materialmen's  and similar liens, if the obligations
secured by such liens are not then  delinquent  or are  released by  appropriate
statutory  release  bonds;  liens  securing the  performance  of bids,  tenders,
contracts  (other  than for the  payment of money);  and  statutory  obligations
incidental  to the  conduct  of its  business  and that do not in the  aggregate
materially  detract from the value of its property or materially  impair the use
thereof in the operation of its business;

     (e) judgment  liens that shall not have been in  existence  for a period of
longer than 30 days after the creation  thereof or, if a stay of execution shall
have been  obtained,  for a period  longer than 30 days after the  expiration of
such stay;

     (f)   Encumbrances   in  respect  of  Capital  Leases  and  purchase  money
obligations  incurred  within 120 days of purchase which in the aggregate do not
secure  Indebtedness  in excess of  $1,000,000  as provided  in Section  7.1(d),
provided that any such Encumbrances  shall not extend to property and assets not
financed by such  Capitalized  Lease or purchase money  obligation and shall not
secure Indebtedness  greater than the lesser of the cost or fair market value of
such tangible personal property so acquired;

     (g) easements,  rights of way,  restrictions and other similar Encumbrances
relating  to real  property  and not  interfering  in a  material  way  with the
ordinary conduct of its business;

     (h) Encumbrances granted by CBB Acquisition in the Acquired Assets pursuant
to the AFC Debt Instruments; and

     (i) Encumbrances granted pursuant to the Subordinated Loan Agreements.

     7.4  Disposition of Assets,  Etc. No Company will make a Disposition of any
of its properties,  assets, rights, licenses or franchises to any Person, except
the following:

     (a)  Dispositions  of inventory in the ordinary  course of business  (which
dispositions may be made free from the Encumbrances of the Loan Documents);

     (b)  the   Disposition  in  the  ordinary   course  of  business,   without
replacement,  of equipment  which is obsolete or no longer needed in the conduct
of its business;

     (c) the  Disposition  and replacement in the ordinary course of business of
equipment or other tangible  personal  property with other equipment of at least
equal  utility and value  (provided  that,  except for purchase  money  security
interests  and  rights of lessors  of  equipment  if  permitted  hereunder,  the
Lender's lien upon such newly acquired equipment shall have the same priority as
the Lender's lien upon the replaced equipment);

     (d) so long as no Default exists or could  reasonably be expected to result
therefrom,  any other sale of  tangible  assets  (other  than the sale of all or
substantially  all  of  the  assets  of  any  Company  and  other  than,  in any
four-quarter  period,  the sale of greater than 5% of the value of  Consolidated
Net  Assets  as of any date  therein)  for not less than the fair  market  value
thereof  (each such  permitted  sale being  referred to as a "Permitted  Sale"),
provided that prior notice thereof is given to the Lender, if required, pursuant
to Section 6.1(l) and the Sale Proceeds Payment with respect thereto is made, if
and to the extent required, pursuant to Section 2.7 of this Agreement; and

     (e) so long as no Default exists or could  reasonably be expected to result
therefrom, except as otherwise provided in Section 7.4(d) above, Dispositions of
any Company Stores (which Dispositions may be made free from the Encumbrances of
the Loan Documents).

     7.5 Amendment to Charter or  Partnership  Documents.  Except for mergers or
consolidations to the extent permitted hereunder, each of the Companies will not
permit or suffer any material amendment of its Organizational  Documents without
the Lender's  prior written  consent,  which  consent shall not be  unreasonably
withheld.   Without   limiting  the   foregoing,   no  Company  will  amend  any
Organizational  Document in any manner which could  materially  adversely affect
its financial  condition or adversely affect (in light of the entire transaction
in which it is a part) the  rights  of the  Lender  hereunder  or under the Loan
Documents   (it  being   expressly   agreed  that  the  inclusion  in  any  such
Organizational  Documents of any provision similar to those set forth in Section
102(b)(2) of Title 8 of the Delaware General Corporation Law is prohibited under
this Section).

     7.6 Mergers; Consolidations; Issuance of Securities; Etc. Without receiving
the consent of the Lender,  which consent shall be provided in the Lender's sole
discretion,  no Company will dissolve,  liquidate,  merge or consolidate into or
with any other  Person;  provided  that any  Borrower  may merge  with any other
Borrower (so long as the Parent is the  surviving  entity of any merger to which
it is a party). Without receiving the consent of the Lender, which consent shall
be provided in the Lender's  sole  discretion,  no Company other than the Parent
will issue any additional shares of Capital Stock or any securities  convertible
thereto.

     7.7  Restricted  Payments.  No Company  will make any  Restricted  Payment;
provided,  that (a) so long as no Default  or Event of  Default  exists or could
reasonably be likely to result therefrom,  the Parent may make  Distributions to
the extent  required for any  repurchase,  redemption or other  acquisition  for
value of any  Capital  Stock of the Parent  held by any  member of the  Parent's
management  pursuant to any management  equity  subscription  agreement or stock
option agreement or similar agreement upon their death,  disability,  retirement
or  termination  of employment  or departure  from the Board of Directors of the
Parent  (provided  that the  aggregate  price  paid  for all  such  repurchased,
redeemed,  acquired or retired  Capital  Stock  shall not exceed  $50,000 in any
twelve-month   period),   (b)  the   Subsidiaries  of  the  Borrowers  may  make
Distributions  to the Borrowers,  and the  Subsidiaries  of the Borrowers  shall
declare and pay cash  distributions  to the  Borrowers,  if the same comply with
applicable law, to the extent required to ensure that the Borrowers at all times
pay and perform when due their  Obligations  under the Loan  Documents,  (c) the
Borrowers  may make  regularly  scheduled  payments of principal and interest on
Subordinated  Debt or other Debt Issuance to the extent  expressly  permitted by
the applicable terms of the applicable  Subordination  Agreement and (d) so long
as no Default or Event of Default exists or could reasonably be likely to result
therefrom,  the  Parent  may  make  Distributions  to the  extent  required  for
redemption  pursuant to Section 23(a) of the Shareholder Rights Agreement of the
then outstanding Rights (as defined in the Shareholder Rights Agreement).

     7.8 Investments,  Loans and  Acquisitions.  No Company will (a) purchase or
acquire  any  share  of  capital  stock,   partnership  interest,   evidence  of
Indebtedness  or  other  equity  security  of any  other  Person,  (b)  make any
Acquisition,  (c)  make  any  loan,  advance  or  extension  of  credit  to,  or
contribution  to the  capital  of,  any  other  Person  other  than (i) loans to
employees not to exceed $100,000 in the aggregate at any time outstanding,  (ii)
advances pursuant to customary  indemnification  provisions in favor of officers
and directors of the Borrowers, (iii) extensions of trade credit in the ordinary
course of business consistent with past practices, (iv) Interest Rate Protection
Agreements  permitted  under  Section 7.1 and (v) notes  received as part of the
settlement of litigation  or  satisfaction  of debts owed by any other Person in
the  ordinary  course of  business,  (d)  purchase  any real  estate for sale or
investment,  (e)  purchase  any  commodities  futures  contracts  other  than in
connection  with  bona  fide  hedging  transactions  in the  ordinary  course of
business,  (f)  make  any  other  investment  in any  Person,  or (g)  make  any
commitment or acquisition of any option or enter into any other  arrangement for
the purpose of making any of the foregoing  investments,  loans or acquisitions,
except the following:

     (i) the Chesapeake Acquisition;

     (ii) Qualified Investments;

     (iii) Loans permitted pursuant to Section 7.1(e); and

     (iv) Capital contributions from any Borrower to its Subsidiaries; and

     (v) the existing investments referred to in Schedule 7.8 hereto.

     7.9 ERISA.  No Company nor any member of the Controlled  Group shall permit
any Plan  maintained  by it to (a) engage in any  "prohibited  transaction"  (as
defined  in  Section  4975 of the  Code),  (b)  incur any  "accumulated  funding
deficiency"  (as defined in Section 302 of ERISA) whether or not waived,  or (c)
terminate any Plan in a manner that could result in the  imposition of a lien or
encumbrance on the assets of any Company pursuant to Section 4068 of ERISA.

     7.10 Transactions with Affiliates.  Except as otherwise expressly permitted
by this  Agreement,  no  Company  will  directly  or  indirectly  (i)  make  any
Investment in any Affiliate, (ii) sell, lease or otherwise dispose of any assets
or services to, or purchase,  lease or otherwise  acquire any Assets or services
from,  any  Affiliate,  or (iii)  directly  or  indirectly  engage  in any other
transaction  with or for the benefit of, or make any payment or distribution to,
any  Affiliate;  provided,  that (x) any  employee  (or former  employee) of any
Company  owning any  Capital  Stock of the Parent  may serve as an  employee  or
director  of the Parent and receive  reasonable  compensation  (including  stock
options and other customary incentive  compensation) and customary  indemnities,
and (y) any Borrower may enter into any transaction with any Affiliate providing
for the  rendering  or receipt of  services  or the  purchase,  sale or lease of
assets  in  the  ordinary  course  of  business  if  the  monetary  or  business
consideration  arising therefrom would be as advantageous to the Borrowers taken
as a whole as the monetary or business  consideration which it would obtain in a
comparable  arm's length  transaction  with a Person not an Affiliate,  and such
transaction is accurately reflected on the books of the Borrowers.

     7.11 Amendment of Certain  Agreements.  No Company will amend or modify any
of its  material  agreements  if the same  would be  likely  to have a  Material
Adverse Effect.

     7.12  Negative  Pledges,  Etc.  No Company  will enter into any  agreement,
amendment or arrangement  (excluding  this Agreement or any other Loan Document)
prohibiting  or  restricting  (a) it from amending or otherwise  modifying  this
Agreement  or any other Loan  Document,  (b) the creation or  assumption  of any
Encumbrances  upon its  properties,  revenues  or assets,  whether  now owned or
hereafter  acquired,  except  as set  forth  herein  or (c) the  ability  of any
Subsidiary to make any payment or distribution,  directly or indirectly,  to the
Parent;  provided  that this Section 7.12 shall not apply to (i) purchase  money
obligations or Capitalized  Leases (or refinancings  thereof that impose no more
restrictive   restrictions   than  those  applicable  to  the  obligation  being
refinanced)  for property  acquired in  accordance  with Section 7.1 that impose
restrictions  solely on the property so acquired which are in effect at the time
of  acquisition  of such  property  and (ii)  restrictions  arising by reason of
customary  non-assignment or no-subletting  clauses in leases or other contracts
entered into in the ordinary course of business.

     7.13 New Subsidiaries . No Company will form any new Subsidiary  unless, on
the  date  of such  formation,  the  Loan  Documents  are  revised  pursuant  to
amendments  satisfactory in form and substance to the Lender  providing for such
Subsidiary to become a "Borrower" hereunder.


     SECTION 8. DEFAULTS.

     8.1 Events of Default.  There shall be an Event of Default hereunder if any
of the following events occurs:


     (a) any Borrower  shall fail to pay when due (whether on the date fixed for
such payment,  mandatory prepayment, by acceleration or otherwise) any amount of
principal  of any Loan,  any LC Draw  Obligation  or any  principal on any other
Obligation  or to pay within five Business Days of when due (whether on the date
fixed for such payment,  mandatory prepayment, by acceleration or otherwise) any
interest thereon, or fees or expenses constituting any Obligation; or

     (b) any  Company  shall fail to perform  any term,  covenant  or  agreement
contained in Section 5, Section 6.1 (other than  Section  6.1(m)),  or Section 7
hereof;

     (c) any  Company  shall fail to perform  any term,  covenant  or  agreement
contained  in this  Agreement  or any  default  shall  occur  on the part of any
Company under any other Loan Document,  other than those referred to in Sections
8.1(a) and (b) above,  and such  default  shall  continue  for 30 days after the
earlier of (i) written notice thereof from the Lender to the Borrowers,  or (ii)
actual knowledge thereof by any executive officer of any Company; or

     (d) any  representation  or warranty by or on behalf of any Company made in
this  Agreement  or any other Loan  Document  or in any report,  certificate  or
financial  statement  delivered  hereunder shall prove to have been false in any
material respect upon the date when made or deemed to have been made; or

     (e) any Company  shall fail to pay at  maturity,  or within any  applicable
period of grace, any obligations which, together with all other such obligations
of the Companies, exceed $500,000 in the aggregate, or any Company shall fail to
observe or perform any term,  covenant or agreement  evidencing or securing such
obligations,  the result of which  failure is to permit the holder or holders of
such obligations to cause the indebtedness  relating thereto to become due prior
to its stated maturity upon delivery of required notice, if any; or

     (f) any Company  shall (i) apply for or consent to the  appointment  of, or
the taking of  possession  by, a receiver,  custodian,  trustee,  liquidator  or
similar official of itself or of all or a substantial part of its property, (ii)
be generally not paying its debts as such debts become due, (iii) make a general
assignment  for the benefit of its  creditors,  (iv)  commence a voluntary  case
under the Federal Bankruptcy Code (as now or hereafter in effect),  (v) take any
action or commence any case or proceeding  under any law relating to bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, winding-up or composition or adjustment of debts, or
any other law  providing  for the relief of  debtors,  (vi) fail to contest in a
timely or  appropriate  manner,  or acquiesce in writing to, any petition  filed
against it in an  involuntary  case under the Federal  Bankruptcy  Code or other
law, (vii) take any action under the laws of its  jurisdiction of  incorporation
or organization  similar to any of the foregoing,  or (viii) take any action for
the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing; or

     (g) a proceeding  or case shall be  commenced  with respect to any Company,
without  the   application  or  consent  of  such  in  any  court  of  competent
jurisdiction, seeking (i) the liquidation, reorganization,  dissolution, winding
up, or  composition  or  readjustment  of its debts,  (ii) the  appointment of a
trustee,  receiver,  custodian,  liquidator  or the  like of it or of all or any
substantial part of its assets,  or (iii) similar relief in respect of it, under
any law  relating  to  bankruptcy,  insolvency,  reorganization,  winding-up  or
composition  or adjustment of debts or any other law providing for the relief of
debtors, and such proceeding or case shall continue undismissed, or unstayed and
in effect,  for a period of 90 days;  or an order for relief shall be entered in
an involuntary case under the Federal Bankruptcy Code,  against any Company;  or
action under the laws of the  jurisdiction of  incorporation  or organization of
any Company  similar to any of the foregoing  shall be taken with respect to any
Company and shall continue unstayed and in effect for any period of 90 days; or

     (h) a judgment or order for the  payment of money shall be entered  against
any Company by any court,  or a warrant of  attachment  or  execution or similar
process  shall be  issued or  levied  against  property  of any  Company,  that,
together  with all other such  judgments and  attachments  against the Companies
exceeds  $250,000  (exclusive  of  amounts  covered  by  insurance  or  actually
contributed in cash by third party  obligors with respect to such  judgments) in
the  aggregate  in value and such  judgment,  order,  warrant or  process  shall
continue  undischarged,  unstayed  or not bonded  over in full for 30 days,  any
action  shall be legally  taken by a judgment  creditor  to levy upon  assets or
properties of any Company to enforce any such judgment; or

     (i) any  Company or any member of the  Controlled  Group  shall fail to pay
when due an amount or amount that it shall have become liable to pay to the PBGC
or to a Plan under Title IV of ERISA and which,  together with all such amounts,
exceeds  $500,000 in the  aggregate;  or notice of intent to terminate a Plan or
Plans shall be filed under Title IV of ERISA by any  Company,  any member of the
Controlled Group, any plan administrator or any combination of the foregoing and
such action could reasonably be expected to have a Material  Adverse Effect;  or
the PBGC shall institute  proceedings under Title IV of ERISA to terminate or to
cause a  trustee  to be  appointed  to  administer  any such  Plan or Plans or a
proceeding  shall be instituted by a fiduciary of any such Plan or Plans against
any Company and such  proceedings  shall not have been dismissed  within 30 days
thereafter;  or a  condition  shall  exist by reason of which the PBGC  would be
entitled  to obtain a decree  adjudicating  that any such Plan or Plans  must be
terminated  and such  action  could  reasonably  be  expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect; or

     (j) for any reason, there shall have occurred a Change in Control; or

     (k) for any reason,  any Security  Documents  shall not be in full force or
effect in all material respects, or any party thereto shall contest the validity
thereof or disaffirm its  obligations  thereunder or default with respect to any
of its material obligations thereunder.

     8.2  Remedies.  Upon the  occurrence  of an Event of Default  described  in
Section 8.1(f) or (g),  immediately and  automatically,  and upon the occurrence
and continuance of any other Event of Default, or if on any date that a draft is
presented under a Letter of Credit or any date that a Letter of Credit is sought
to be issued,  extended or renewed,  the  conditions  precedent to the issuance,
extension  or renewal of Letters of Credit are not  satisfied,  at the  Lender's
option and upon the Lender's declaration by written notice to the Borrowers: (a)
the Commitments  and any obligation to issue,  extend or renew Letters of Credit
shall terminate; and (b) the unpaid principal amount of the Loans, together with
accrued interest, all LC Draw Obligations and all other Obligations shall become
immediately  due and payable  without  presentment,  demand,  protest or further
notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly  waived.  Upon termination
of the  Commitments and  acceleration of the Loans and the LC Draw  Obligations,
the Lender may  exercise  any and all  rights it has under this  Agreement,  the
Security  Documents  or any other Loan  Documents,  or at law or in equity,  and
proceed to protect  and  enforce  the  Lender's  rights by any action at law, in
equity or other appropriate proceeding. In the event that the Lender shall apply
for the appointment  of, or the taking of possession by, a trustee,  receiver or
liquidator of any Company or of any other similar  official to hold or liquidate
all or any substantial part of the properties or assets of any Company following
the  occurrence  of a default  in  payment  of any  amount  owed  hereunder  and
following any  applicable  notice or cure period,  each of the Companies  hereby
consents to such  appointment and taking of possession and agrees to execute and
deliver any and all documents  requested by the Lender relating thereto (whether
by  joining in a petition  for the  voluntary  appointment  of, or  entering  no
contest to a petition for the appointment of, such an official or otherwise,  as
appropriate under applicable law).

     8.3 Letters of Credit.  If any one or more  Events of Default  shall at any
time occur, the Lender may also, by written notice to the Borrowers, take any or
all of the following actions, at the same or different times:

     (a) The Lender may send notices to all or any of the  beneficiaries  of the
Letters of Credit advising such beneficiaries of the intention and desire of the
Lender to effect the termination,  cancellation and surrender of such Letters of
Credit in 30 days;  provided,  however,  that the Lender shall not send any such
notice to any  beneficiary  unless the Lender has  requested  that the Borrowers
deliver cash  collateral  to the Lender  pursuant to paragraph (b) below and the
Borrowers  have failed to deliver such cash  collateral  to the Lender within 10
days after such request; and

     (b) The Lender may require that the  Borrowers  deliver to the Lender first
priority  perfected cash collateral in an amount equal to the face amount of all
Letters of Credit which remain outstanding.

     SECTION 9. MISCELLANEOUS.

     9.1  Notices.  All  notices,  requests,  demands  and other  communications
provided for hereunder  (including without limitation Loan Requests) shall be in
writing (including telecopied communication) and mailed, telecopied or delivered
to the applicable party at its respective address indicated below:

     (a) If to the Borrowers:

                           New World Coffee - Manhattan Bagel, Inc.
                           246 Industrial Way West
                           Eatontown, NJ 07724
                           Attention:  R. Ramin Kamfar, CEO
                           Telecopier No.:  (732) 544-4503

                           with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

                           Stuart M. Sieger, Esq.
                           Ruskin, Moscou, Evans & Faltischek, P.C.
                           170 Old Country Road
                           Mineola, NY 11501
                           Telecopier No.:  (516) 663-6447

                  (c)      If to the Lender:

                           BankBoston, N.A.
                           100 Federal Street
                           Mail Stop:  01-09-05
                           Boston, MA  02110
                           Attention:  Thomas F. Farley, Jr., Managing Director
                           Telecopier No.:  (617) 434-0637

                           with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

                           James I. Rubens, Esq.
                           Edwards & Angell, LLP
                           101 Federal Street, 23rd Floor
                           Boston, MA  02110
                           Telecopier No.:  (617) 439-4170

or to any other  address  specified  by such party in writing,  complying  as to
delivery with the terms of this Section. All such notices, requests, demands and
other communication shall be deemed given upon receipt by the party to whom such
notice is directed.

     9.2 Expenses.  The  Borrowers  will pay jointly and severally on demand all
reasonable expenses of the Lender in connection with the preparation,  waiver or
amendment  of this  Agreement  or any other  Loan  Documents  or the  default or
collection of the Loans,  the LC Draw  Obligations or any other Obligation or in
connection with the Lender's exercise, preservation or enforcement of any of its
rights,  remedies  or  options  thereunder,  including  without  limitation  the
reasonable  fees and expenses of outside legal counsel or the allocated costs of
in-house  legal  counsel,  accounting,  consulting,  brokerage or other  similar
professionals  and any reasonable fees or expense  associated with any travel or
other costs relating to any appraisals or credit or other examinations conducted
in connection with the Obligations or any Collateral therefor, and the amount of
all such  expenses  shall,  unless  paid  within  30 days  after  submission  of
statements  therefor to the  Borrowers,  thereafter  bear interest until paid in
full at the highest  rate  applicable  to  principal  hereunder  (including  any
default  rate).  All such  expenses may be charged  against any deposit  account
maintained by any Borrower with the Lender.

     9.3   Indemnification.   Each  of  the  Borrowers   shall   absolutely  and
unconditionally  indemnify  and hold the  Lender  harmless  against  any and all
claims,  demands,  suits,  actions,  causes of  action,  expenses  and all other
liabilities whatsoever which shall at any time or times be incurred or sustained
by  it  or  by  any  of  its  shareholders,   directors,   officers,  employees,
subsidiaries,  affiliates  or agents  (except any of the  foregoing  incurred or
sustained  as a result of the gross  negligence  or willful  misconduct  of such
Person) on account of, or in relation to, or in any way in connection  with, any
of  the  arrangements  or  transactions  contemplated  by,  associated  with  or
ancillary  to  any of  the  Loan  Documents,  whether  or not  all or any of the
transactions  contemplated by, associated with or ancillary to this Agreement or
any of such documents are ultimately consummated.

     9.4 Term of Agreement.  This  Agreement  shall continue in force and effect
until all  Commitments  have been  terminated,  all  Letters of Credit have been
terminated or expired,  and all Obligations have been  indefeasibly paid in full
in cash.

     9.5 No Waivers.  No failure or delay by the Lender in exercising any right,
power or privilege hereunder or under any other documents or agreements executed
in connection  herewith shall operate as a waiver thereof;  nor shall any single
or partial  exercise  thereof  preclude any other or further exercise thereof or
the exercise of any other  right,  power or  privilege.  The rights and remedies
herein,  in the Notes and in the other Loan  Documents  are  cumulative  and not
exclusive of any rights or remedies otherwise provided by agreement or law.

     9.6  Governing  Law. This  Agreement  shall be deemed to be a contract made
under seal and shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of
the State of New York (without giving effect to any conflicts of laws provisions
contained therein).

     9.7 Entire Agreement;  Amendments.  This Agreement, the Notes and the other
Loan  Documents  constitute  the  final  agreement  of the  parties  hereto  and
supersede any prior agreement or understanding, written or oral, with respect to
the matters  contained  herein and  therein.  No  modification  or waiver of any
provision hereof or of the Notes or any other Loan Document,  nor consent to the
departure  by  any  Borrower  or any of its  Subsidiaries  therefrom,  shall  be
effective  unless the same is in writing,  and then such waiver or consent shall
be effective  only in the  specific  instance,  and for the  purpose,  for which
given. The Lender's  failure to insist upon the strict  performance of any term,
condition or other provision of this  Agreement,  the Notes, or any of the other
Loan  Documents,  or to exercise any right or remedy  hereunder  or  thereunder,
shall not constitute a waiver by the Lender of any such term, condition or other
provision or Default or Event of Default in  connection  therewith,  nor shall a
single or partial  exercise  of any such right or remedy  preclude  any other or
future exercise, or the exercise of any other right or remedy; and any waiver of
any such term  condition  or other  provision or of any such Default or Event of
Default shall not affect or alter this Agreement,  the Notes or any of the other
Loan Documents,  and each and every term,  condition and other provision of this
Agreement, the Notes and the other Loan Documents shall, in such event, continue
in full force and effect and shall be  operative  with respect to any other then
existing or subsequent Default or Event of Default in connection  therewith.  An
Event of  Default  hereunder  and a Default  under the Notes or under any of the
other Loan Documents shall be deemed to be continuing  unless and until cured to
the Lender's reasonable satisfaction or waived in writing by the Lenders.

     9.8 Assignments;  Participations.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of the Borrowers and their successors and to the benefit of
the Lender and their  respective  successors  and  assigns.  Except  pursuant to
mergers  in which a Borrower  is the  surviving  entity to the extent  permitted
hereunder,  the rights and  obligations  of the Borrowers  under this  Agreement
shall not be assigned or  delegated  without  the prior  written  consent of the
Lender, and any purported assignment or delegation without such consent shall be
void. The Lender may, with the consent of the Parent (which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld or delayed and which consent shall not be required for any
proposed  participation  or assignment  made after the occurrence of an Event of
Default and during the continuance  thereof),  assign or grant participations in
the Loans and Commitments to one or more banks or other financial  institutions,
provided that each such assignment or  participation  shall be in an amount that
is a minimum amount of $2,500,000.  Each of the Borrowers  authorizes the Lender
to disclose  to any  participant  or assignee  any  prospective  participant  or
assignee of any and all  information in the Lender's  possession  concerning the
Companies  which  has  been  delivered  to the  Lender  by or on  behalf  of the
Companies  pursuant to this Agreement or which has been delivered to such Lender
by or on  behalf  of the  Companies  in  connection  with  the  Lender's  credit
evaluation  prior to  becoming a party to this  Agreement  and such  assignee or
participant shall treat such information as confidential.  The Lender may at any
time  pledge or assign all or any  portion of such  Lender's  rights  under this
Agreement  and the other Loan  Documents to a Federal  Reserve  bank;  provided,
however,  that no such pledge or  assignment  shall release such Lender from its
obligations hereunder or any other Loan Document.

     9.9 Counterparts;  Partial Invalidity.  This Agreement may be signed in any
number of  counterparts  with the same  effect as if the  signatures  hereto and
thereto were upon the same instrument. The invalidity or unenforceability of any
one or more phrases,  clauses or sections of this Agreement shall not affect the
validity or enforceability of the remaining portions of it.

     9.10 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.  EACH OF  BORROWERS  AND THE LENDER  AGREES THAT
NEITHER  IT NOR ANY  ASSIGNEE  OR  SUCCESSOR  SHALL (A) SEEK A JURY TRIAL IN ANY
LAWSUIT, PROCEEDING, COUNTERCLAIM OR ANY OTHER ACTION BASED UPON, OR ARISING OUT
OF,  THIS  AGREEMENT,  EITHER  NOTE,  ANY  SECURITY  DOCUMENT  OR ANY OTHER LOAN
DOCUMENT,  ANY  COLLATERAL  OR THE  DEALINGS  OR THE  RELATIONSHIP  BETWEEN  ANY
BORROWER  OR THE  LENDER,  OR (B) SEEK TO  CONSOLIDATE  ANY SUCH ACTION WITH ANY
OTHER  ACTION  IN  WHICH A JURY  TRIAL  CANNOT  BE OR HAS NOT BEEN  WAIVED.  THE
PROVISIONS OF THIS  PARAGRAPH HAVE BEEN FULLY  DISCUSSED BY THE PARTIES  HERETO,
AND THESE PROVISIONS  SHALL BE SUBJECT TO NO EXCEPTIONS.  NEITHER THE LENDER NOR
ANY BORROWER HAS AGREED WITH OR  REPRESENTED TO ANY OTHER THAT THE PROVISIONS OF
THIS PARAGRAPH WILL NOT BE FULLY ENFORCED IN ALL INSTANCES.

     9.11 CONSENT TO  JURISDICTION.  EACH OF THE BORROWERS HEREBY SUBMITS TO THE
JURISDICTION  OF THE  COURTS  OF THE  STATE OF NEW YORK  AND THE  UNITED  STATES
DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AS WELL AS TO
THE JURISDICTION OF ALL COURTS FROM WHICH AN APPEAL MAY BE TAKEN OR OTHER REVIEW
SOUGHT FROM THE AFORESAID  COURTS,  FOR THE PURPOSE OF ANY SUIT, ACTION OR OTHER
PROCEEDING  ARISING OUT OF ANY BORROWERS'  OBLIGATIONS  UNDER OR WITH RESPECT TO
THE  NOTES,  ANY  SECURITY  DOCUMENT  OR ANY OTHER LOAN  DOCUMENT  OR ANY OF THE
TRANSACTIONS  CONTEMPLATED  THEREBY, AND EXPRESSLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL OBJECTIONS
IT MAY HAVE AS TO VENUE IN ANY OF SUCH COURTS.

     9.12 Joint and Several  Liability.  Each of the Borrowers  acknowledges and
agrees that it is jointly and  severally  liable for all  Obligations  under the
Loan Documents.




<PAGE>





     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties have caused this Agreement to be executed
under seal by their duly authorized  officers as of the day and year first above
written.

                                          LENDER:

                                          BANKBOSTON, N.A.


                                       By:
                                          ----------------
                                          Title:


                                          BORROWERS:

                                          NEW WORLD COFFEE-MANHATTAN BAGEL, INC.


                                       By:
                                          ----------------
                                          Title:


                                          CCB ACQUISITION CORP.


                                       By:
                                          ----------------
                                          Title:


                                          WILLOUGHBY'S, INC.


                                       By:
                                          -----------------
                                          Title:


                                          MANHATTAN BAGEL COMPANY, INC.


                                       By:
                                          -----------------
                                          Title:


                                          I. & J. BAGEL, INC.


                                       By:
                                           -----------------
                                           Title:







                                 Exhibit 99.1.1

                                                           For Immediate Release

                   NEW WORLD SHAREHOLDERS APPROVE STOCK SPLIT

EATONTOWN,  NJ (8/23/99)--New World  Coffee-Manhattan  Bagel Inc. (NASDAQ: NWCI)
today announced that its shareholders have ratified a one-for-two combination of
the Company's common stock.

Each outstanding share of common stock will become one-half share, and the total
number of shares of common stock  outstanding will be reduced from 20,485,047 to
10,242,523  effective  August  24,  1999.  This  action  was part of a  Restated
Certificate  of  Incorporation  approved by  shareholders,  which also  included
provisions for a staggered Board of Directors and various procedural  provisions
related to the  operation of the Board of  Directors  and  stockholders  voting,
which will also become  effective  August 24, 1999.  New World  Coffee-Manhattan
Bagel,  Inc.  has been advised that its Common Stock will trade under the symbol
"NWCID" for  approximately 20 days commencing  August 24, 1999,  following which
the symbol will again be "NWCI".

New World  Coffee-Manhattan  Bagel Inc. currently owns, operates,  franchises or
licenses  stores  under its two brands in 18 states,  and  internationally.  The
Company is vertically  integrated in bagel dough and cream cheese manufacturing,
and coffee roasting, with plants in New Jersey, California and Connecticut.

                                      ****
Certain statements in this press release constitute  forward-looking  statements
or statements which may be deemed or construed to be forward-looking  statements
within the meaning of the Private Securities  Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The
words "forecast,"  "estimate,"  "project," "intend," "expect," "should," "would"
and similar  expressions and all statements  which are not historical  facts are
intended  to  identify   forward-looking   statements.   These   forward-looking
statements involve and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and
other  factors  which  could cause the  Company's  actual  results,  performance
(financial or operating),  or  achievements  to differ from the future  results,
performance  (financial or operating),  or achievements  expressed or implied by
such forward-looking  statements.  The above factors are more fully discussed in
the Company's SEC filings.

                                      ####

Press  Contacts:  At New  World  Coffee-Manhattan  Bagel,  Ramin  Kamfar,  (732)
544-0155,  ext.  108,  [email protected];  or Bill  Parness,  Parness & Associates
Public    Relations,    (732)   290-0121,    [email protected].    Web   site:
http://www.nwcb.com






                                 Exhibit 99.1.2

                                         Tuesday August 31, 2:15 pm Eastern Time
                                                           Company Press Release
                                   SOURCE: New World Coffee-Manhattan Bagel Inc.

              NEW WORLD COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF CHESAPEAKE BAGEL;
           ACQUISITION OF STORES WILL POSITION NEW WORLD AS INDUSTRY'S
                                  NO. 2 PLAYER


EATONTOWN,  N.J., Aug. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- New World  Coffee-Manhattan Bagel Inc.
(Nasdaq:  NWCID - news) today announced that it has completed the acquisition of
Chesapeake Bagel Bakery from Atlanta-based AFC Enterprises.

As  previously  announced,  the  addition  of  Chesapeake  will make New World's
Manhattan  Bagel  subsidiary  the second  largest  company  in the retail  bagel
industry,  with  approximately  350 stores  from coast to coast.  Expected to be
accretive to earnings immediately,  the acquisition adds more than 70 franchised
Chesapeake locations to the Manhattan Bagel system. All are expected to continue
to be operated by franchisees.  New World is financing the acquisition through a
combination of cash and debt; no new stock is being issued.

"Adding this store  network  solidifies  our position as the No. 2 player in the
industry while leveraging our investment in Manhattan  Bagel's  infrastructure,"
said Ramin Kamfar, New World Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.  "With 60% of
Chesapeake's units located in Virginia,  the District of Columbia,  Maryland and
Pennsylvania,  the acquisition  greatly  strengthens our share in those key core
markets."

The Chesapeake  stores are located in 23 states extending from the East Coast to
the Rocky Mountains.  While strengthening existing markets, the acquisition also
allows New  World-Manhattan  Bagel to  penetrate  Arizona,  Colorado,  Illinois,
Kansas,  Louisiana,  Minnesota,  Missouri,  Utah,  West  Virginia  and  Wyoming.
Chesapeake was founded in the Washington, D.C. area in 1981.

New World  Coffee-Manhattan  Bagel Inc. currently owns, operates,  franchises or
licenses  stores under its three brands in 28 states.  The Company is vertically
integrated in bagel dough and cream cheese  manufacturing,  and coffee roasting,
with plants in New Jersey, California and Connecticut.

AFC  Enterprises is the parent  company of Churchs  Chicken,  Popeyes  Chicken &
Biscuits, Seattle Coffee Company and Cinnabon.

Certain statements in this press release constitute  forward-looking  statements
or statements which may be deemed or construed to be forward-looking  statements
within the meaning of the Private Securities  Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The
words "forecast,"  "estimate,"  "project," "intend," "expect," "should," "would"
and similar  expressions and all statements  which are not historical  facts are
intended  to  identify   forward-looking   statements.   These   forward-looking
statements involve and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and
other  factors  which  could cause the  Company's  actual  results,  performance
(financial or operating),  or  achievements  to differ from the future  results,
performance  (financial or operating),  or achievements  expressed or implied by
such forward-looking  statements.  The above factors are more fully discussed in
the Company's SEC filings.





                                 Exhibit 99.1.3

              NEW WORLD COMPLETES $15 MILLION SENIOR DEBT FINANCING
               - BERWIND FINANCIAL AND RODMAN & RENSHAW SERVE AS
                              INVESTMENT BANKERS -

EATONTOWN,   N.J.,   Sep  1,  1999   /PRNewswire   via   COMTEX/  --  New  World
Coffee-Manhattan  Bagel Inc. (Nasdaq:  NWCID) today announced that it has it has
completed a $15 million senior debt financing with BankBoston, NA.

Proceeds  will be utilized to repay the BET  Associates,  L.P.  senior debt;  to
repurchase  the Manhattan  Bagel Company  Unsecured  Creditors  Trust note at an
$850,000 discount;  to partially finance the Chesapeake Bagel Bakery acquisition
completed  yesterday;  as well as for  working  capital  and  general  corporate
purposes.

Berwind Financial and Rodman & Renshaw acted as the Company's investment bankers
on the financing. Rodman & Renshaw is expected to continue to provide investment
banking services to New World.

Under the new financing,  BankBoston  will provide a $12 million term loan and a
$3 million  revolving  credit line.  "The term loan allows us to  refinance  our
senior debt at a  significantly  more favorable rate and  amortization  schedule
than under our prior  agreements,  which  provides  us with  substantially  more
operational  flexibility," said New World Chief Financial Officer Jerold Novack.
"In addition, unlike our previous senior financing, there is no equity component
to the BankBoston agreement."

New World  Coffee-Manhattan  Bagel Inc. currently owns, operates,  franchises or
licenses  stores under its three brands in 28 states.  The Company is vertically
integrated in bagel dough and cream cheese  manufacturing,  and coffee roasting,
with plants in New Jersey, California and Connecticut.

Certain statements in this press release constitute  forward-looking  statements
or statements which may be deemed or construed to be forward-looking  statements
within the meaning of the Private Securities  Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The
words "forecast,"  "estimate,"  "project," "intend," "expect," "should," "would"
and similar  expressions and all statements  which are not historical  facts are
intended  to  identify   forward-looking   statements.   These   forward-looking
statements involve and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and
other  factors  which  could cause the  Company's  actual  results,  performance
(financial or operating),  or  achievements  to differ from the future  results,
performance  (financial or operating),  or achievements  expressed or implied by
such forward-looking  statements.  The above factors are more fully discussed in
the Company's SEC filings.

CONTACT: Ramin Kamfar of New World Coffee-Manhattan  Bagel,  732-544-0155,  ext.
108, [email protected];  or Bill Parness of Parness & Associates Public Relations,
732-290-0121, [email protected], for New World Coffee-Manhattan Bagel


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