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Iconic Midwestern model’s enchantment as children led Will and Deb Brinkley to open their very own restaurant in Burlington
Davenport, IA (RestaurantNews.com) Will and Deb Brinkley each grew up within the Quad Cities celebrating birthdays and hanging out at Happy Joe’s Pizza & Ice Cream’s. Greater than 50 years later, they’re nonetheless doing a lot of the identical – besides this time they’re the homeowners.
The Brinkley’s have owned and operated their very own Comfortable Joe’s in Burlington, Iowa since 1996. It’s the fruits of a longtime dream that they had as kids individually, after which collectively as a household. Each needed to personal their very own restaurant and over 27 years later, they’re dwelling out that dream.
“It’s loopy to suppose we’ve been going at it this lengthy contemplating we didn’t know something about making pizza after we began,” Deb Brinkley stated. “Fortunately, it didn’t take lengthy to be taught as a result of we already had among the obligatory skillsets, plus the coaching courses Comfortable Joe’s offered made it even simpler for us to make that transition.”
Will and Deb each began working at a big nationwide burger chain as youngsters within the Quad Cities. The 2 stayed on after highschool commencement, ultimately constructing a profitable profession within the restaurant trade. Nonetheless, the will to personal their very own restaurant nonetheless gnawed at the highschool sweethearts.
They ultimately approached Larry Whitty, son of Comfortable Joe’s Founder Joe Whitty, to get details about what it will take and the way a lot it will price to open their very own franchise. Larry satisfied them that proudly owning one was inside their means, so that they bought their home and moved their household to Burlington to begin their new careers.
“It’s been a fantastic expertise as a result of we’ve met so many fantastic individuals by way of Comfortable Joe’s and develop into buddies with most of the different franchisees,” stated Will Brinkley, who is also the previous President of the Comfortable Joe’s Nationwide Franchisee Board. “Our neighborhood isn’t very large, so we all know our competitors. We stand out as a result of Comfortable Joe’s is extra centered on assembly clients face-to-face, giving them that interplay that you simply don’t get at most different pizza locations.”
Whereas the recollections of consuming their favourite pizza – the Happy Joe’s Special – after soccer video games and seeing Comfortable Joe’s embellished fireplace engines in native parades are what drew them into the enterprise, the Brinkley’s business-savvy is what has stored issues operating easily the final twenty years. They realized to have sufficient liquid money, be current almost every single day and make the most of their previous restaurant information to maintain monitor of worker schedules and meals deliveries, in addition to make use of cleansing and bookkeeping programs. In addition they realized to deal with their workers like household to construct tight bonds in instances of want.
Basic Supervisor Stephanie Bailey is a kind of staff. She has been with the Brinkley’s at Comfortable Joes for 26 years and was lately named to Nation’s Restaurant Information 2023 GM Energy Checklist.
“Contemplating how nicely they deal with their staff and the outcomes they’ve had happening twenty years now, you couldn’t ask for a greater pair of proprietor/operators than Will and Deb Brinkley,” stated Comfortable Joe’s President, CEO and Chief Happiness Officer Tom Sacco. “I maintain Will in a particular place too as he was some of the instrumental individuals to assist me throughout my first two years at Comfortable Joe’s. When you’ve got a franchisee supporting the CEO, that’s when you already know that restaurant is in nice fingers!”
The Brinkley’s have weathered the Covid-19 pandemic, the staffing and provide chain points that adopted and are nonetheless going sturdy in immediately’s troublesome financial circumstances. They credit score their staff’ dedication, the help from Comfortable Joe’s company and the relationships they’ve constructed in the neighborhood for his or her continued success.
“Eating places by definition are a troublesome trade to reach and preserve,” Deb Brinkley stated. “We’ve been blessed to have nice individuals work with us to construct our dream. From staff which might be resilient and prideful to a neighborhood that appreciates high quality pizza and household enjoyable. We expect that is what Comfortable Joe’s has at all times been about.”
To be taught extra about Comfortable Joe’s go to HappyJoes.com. For curiosity in Comfortable Joe’s franchising alternatives, e mail Kat Davidson at KatD@drhnow.com or name 678.485.8413.
About Comfortable Joe’s Pizza & Ice Cream
Based in 1972 by Joe Whitty in Davenport, Iowa, Comfortable Joe’s dream was to create a restaurant idea that centered on serving America’s two favourite meals – pizza and ice cream – in a family-friendly, celebratory atmosphere. Owned and operated by Dynamic Restaurant Holdings Inc., Comfortable Joe’s has been named a FastCasual “Prime 200” idea, Franchise Occasions “Prime 400” enterprise, and Nation’s Restaurant Information “Prime 500” restaurant. The family-centric pizza model has eight firm and 34 franchise places all through the Midwest with extra within the pipeline. To be taught extra, go to HappyJoes.com or comply with Comfortable Joe’s on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Contact:
Mario Zavala
Champion
972-930-9933
mzavala@championmgt.com
- Extra from Happy Joe’s Pizza & Ice Cream
