Chick-fil-A Hinesville operations Director Christopher Lewis was recently awarded his own Chick-fil-A franchise in California.
Chick-fil-A Hinesville owner Nick Westbrook said, Lewis is the first employee from the Hinesville eatery selected.
“It is an incredible honor to be selected as a Chick-fil-A franchisee,” Westbrook explained. “It is a unique franchise model where the company selects each franchisee to have the opportunity to own a franchise. It is not available to just everyone. They are very selective of the people they select to have the opportunity to represent the brand and take the brand to different communities.”
Westbrook said the company had about 75,000 applicants for franchisees this year.
“And they’ll only select about 100 to 120 people,” Westbrook said. “They say it is easier to get into Harvard then it is to get your own Chick-fil-A franchise.”
Lewis said he knows he faces big challenges ahead.
“I was excited and nervous,” Lewis said. “There is a lot to do in starting a new business and just being able to take on that responsibility was an honor, especially with Chick-fil A, which is a great brand and what they’ve been able to accomplish over the years is amazing.”
Lewis has been with the company for 16 years, the last two of which employed and the Hinesville location. He began his Chick-fil-A career in Thomasville, Georgia while also putting himself through college at Valdosta State.
“I’m motivated a lot by my family and being able to grow and do better and give my kids a better place in life than where I started,” Lewis said. “Also continue to grow myself and now the brand.”
He said the company is currently building his new restaurant in California and he is excited about meeting new people.
“We grew up in Georgia, been here most of our lives,” Lewis said. “But we are excited for the change and to get to know a new community.”
Westbrook said he was happy to be a part of Lewis’ growth and learning process.
“It’s been my dream to offer that opportunity since I was selected nearly three years ago, and we have our first selection coming out of our restaurant here in Chick-fil-A Hinesville,” Westbrook said.
Westbrook said he invited Lewis to join the Hinesville team two years ago after meeting at their daughters’ volleyball and conversing. Westbrook said he realized Lewis had overcome many difficult obstacles in his life and had the potential to succeed in Chick-fil-A.
“I saw the investment that he had in his own family,” Westbrook said. “My role was to help develop him as a leader and create a business owner mindset.”
“Chick-fil-A is different than most brands,” Lewis added. “They have a way of imprinting on you and the operators and the people in the business I’ve known have made a significant impression in my life and it made me want to do that for other people.”
Westbrook noted that Chick-fil-A is a company that recognizes and promotes people from within who also exemplify a willingness to serve the community as well as their customers. He said he hopes that Lewis is the first of many Team Hinesville Members that will one day get their own franchise as well. To commemorate the occasion Westbrook had a Team Hinesville Chick-fil-A jersey made with the number one printed on the back.
“Hopefully the first of many,” Westbrook said.