Franchisee profile: Skip Russell, Kyle Russell
Territory: Magee, Mississippi | Growth: Planning to open 6 Newk’s locations, one per year
You owned another franchise before deciding to "retire." Which one?
Skip: I got into the Popeyes brand. Over the course of 13 years, I built, opened, and purchased at least 13 restaurants.
After selling those locations and retiring, you changed your mind about retirement and decided to go in a new direction?
Skip: My son is 20 years old, and he’s been in the business with me since he was 15, so I wanted to do something to continue to help him develop, follow in my footsteps, and then set his own path. That’s when we got to looking at the Newk’s brand. It’s a Mississippi-based brand, and it’s a household name here. Everybody knows and loves Newk’s. So, I reached out to the new franchise team, and was welcomed with open arms.
What attracted you to Newk’s?
Skip: I’ve known Newk’s ever since it was first around: I knew McAlister’s Deli, which was the first brand that the Newcomb family founded, so when they came out with the Newk’s brand, it really appealed to me. It’s a step above, and it’s great food, great leadership, management, service, and a great reputation in Mississippi. It’s a good bit above the fast-food industry, which I’ve always been in, and that’s why I wanted to get involved with it, and be able to offer something a little nicer, and a little more family friendly.
How are you approaching the franchise as father and son?
Skip: This is our first business venture together. My son just graduated college in May, of this year, from University of Southern Mississippi with his bachelor's degree in restaurant management and business management. He’s loved the restaurant brand ever since he started working, and he's always wanted to follow along behind me and try to have the same successes that I've had. I’m mentoring him and I’m guiding him to try to be as successful as he can be. Our agreement is to build six new restaurants together, and the more he gets to know about the business, the more he can start handling things himself.
We hear your grand opening was a big success. Tell us more.
Skip: The response by the community was overwhelming. It's a small town of only about 5,000 people, but we have a main thoroughfare through town that funnels people… if you live North or just a bit east or west of the Mississippi River, you have to come through Magee to get there.
There are people from all over: Missouri, Chicago, Illinois, Tennessee, Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, on their way traveling and on vacation. So, when we talk about how the store has been received, with only 5,000 people in our town, it’s been an overwhelming response and has exceeded our expectations. For those people just passing through, we always say if we can get them to stop one time, and eat our food and enjoy our service, we’ll get them when they come back, and we’ll catch them every year. I’m not just marketing to people in our town, I’m marketing to travelers from all over the country.