A Day in the Life of A&W Franchisee Stephanie Hewlett

Stephanie Hewlett grew up with A&W Restaurants, the iconic restaurant franchise with 500-plus units across the country. When her father established the family’s unit in Rockwood, Michigan, Hewlett spent much of her time there. Over the years, she has developed a special affinity for the brand.

To her, A&W is more than a career. It’s part of her family’s legacy.

“Unofficially, I’ve been with this brand since I was 10 when my dad started it,” she said. “I worked at the restaurant through college, and with only a short break after college, I’ve stuck with the brand all these years. Eventually, I took over completely.”

Hewlett chooses to be a hands-on owner by directly involving herself in the restaurant’s daily operations and personally organizing her staff for a successful shift. Though she feels comfortable stepping back occasionally, she strongly prefers to have a hand in the day-to-day business of the restaurant.

“I get here each morning a couple of hours before we open and clean the fryers and ice cream machine,” said Hewlett. “I check that we have enough root beer and inspect the restaurant to be sure everything is as it should be. It’s important to me that everything is in order, so my staff is set up for success. Once the staff arrives, I talk them through the day’s priorities. From there, I may assist with the store’s operations or work in my office. It’s helpful for us to have a routine.”

Hewlett has also personalized her restaurant’s local marketing campaign by introducing a “Community Share Night” for the schools in the area, offering an opportunity for students to share what they’ve learned at school.

“There are tons of schools in this area, and at one point, an elementary school approached me and asked if they could have a Share Night,” she said. “I was happy to invite them. From there, the word spread, and now I have at least 10 schools that hold Community Share Nights at our restaurant. They bring in a ton of business, and it feels great to create a community space for locals.”

A&W differentiates itself from others in the QSR segment by creating a sense of community and encouraging these types of events, said Hewlett. The restaurant also stands out by offering higher-quality food, resembling that of a diner, while still providing the swift service one would expect from a restaurant in the QSR industry.

For those considering becoming franchise owners at A&W, Hewlett recommends taking a personal interest in the restaurant’s operations.

“I recommend that owners learn how to do everything in the store themselves,” she said. “They might not need to work a fryer every day, but being personally involved and understanding the store inside and out will make you a better owner and leader for your staff.”

A&W currently seeks qualified franchisees for development opportunities in Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Wisconsin, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida and Nevada.

The total investment necessary to begin operation, not including rent or land costs, is $871,000 to $1,454,750 for a Freestanding Restaurant; $401,000 to $1,013,750 for an Inline Restaurant; and $276,000 to $704,000 for a Captive Restaurant, including a $15,000-$30,000 franchise fee. To learn more about franchise opportunities with A&W Restaurants, please visit https://franchising.awrestaurants.com/.