Barbertios’ First Franchisee Grows With Dunkin’, Newk’s Eatery in Athens Community

David Weeks was the first franchisee of Barberitos, a fast-casual brand based in Athens, Georgia. At the time, he was transitioning out of pharmaceutical sales and looking for something more meaningful. Over time, he invested with Dunkin’, and he eventually signed with Newk’s Eatery to open two new Athens locations and take over both the Newnan and Peachtree City Newk’s locations.

Now, Weeks has a total of 20 restaurants between the three brands, many of which are concentrated throughout Athens and the surrounding areas. As he continues to grow internally, focusing on the development of his people and teams, Weeks is also considering additional growth beyond Athens, potentially establishing more restaurants in surrounding communities like Bethlehem and Winder.

Weeks took the time to chat with 1851 Franchise to discuss all of this and more. Here’s what he had to say:

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

David Weeks: I was in pharmaceutical sales in my mid-20s, and I just wasn’t happy. I knew I wanted to make a change. After looking around, I felt pretty certain that I wouldn’t be happy in any type of corporate environment, so I started looking toward franchising.

I came into franchising without prior restaurant experience, which initially felt like a huge leap. I was the first franchisee of a brand called Barberitos, which started in Athens. I didn’t have a ton of capital, but I finally found a bank that approved me for a loan, and I got my first franchise. Barberitos offered a structured starting point where I could focus on mastering one thing at a time.

It was a foundational experience that later led me to Dunkin’. While I was a franchisee with Barberitos and Dunkin’, someone at Newk’s reached out to me. I let them know that I wasn’t ready yet but to check back with me in six months. They followed up every six months, and eventually, I was ready. Finally, when I stepped into Newk’s, I was ready for the complexity of a higher-quality, chef-inspired brand. Each step was a building block that shaped me as an operator.

1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?

Weeks: I knew that franchising provided the proven model and support entrepreneurs need to grow, especially when they’re new to an industry.

I think people should know, though, that you don’t just sign the check and watch the money come in. The franchisor does not run your business for you. You still have to navigate the challenges of business ownership; you just have someone by your side to do it with you.

1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?

Weeks: A friend’s kids were raving about Newk’s — this brand they experienced when they went to college. Initially, the conversation was around us investing and letting the sons run the restaurants. My experience is that restaurants perform best when the operator has skin in the game. And I was trying to build this Dunkin’ and Barberitos profile, so I just didn’t have the time in that phase of life.

I had gotten in touch with the corporate team during my initial research, and I stayed in touch. I told the representative to check back in six months. She called me diligently — every six months — for years. I was already interested in the business model, but that persistence over the span of years really stood out to me. I love that about Newk’s.

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth? 

Weeks: I currently have 20 locations across three brands. I’ve considered expanding to additional units with Newk’s and the others, but the unit count expansion is less important to me than building meaningful careers for our teams. I want to create opportunities for them and give them the runway they need to have successful careers.

This includes 401(k) options, health insurance and other perks that show our commitment to employee development. Our growth is steady, with plans to expand where it makes sense, but the focus will always be on building a strong team who can represent the brands well in our communities.

1851: What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?

Weeks: I was talking to a friend of mine who was a Zaxby's franchisee. I asked him about the restaurant business and said, “Everyone talks about the hard work and the failure rate. So why are you in the restaurant business?” And I’ll never forget this. He looked at me and said, “David, I’m not in the restaurant business. I’m just having all my friends over every day for lunch and dinner.” That was the “aha” moment for me.

My wife and I love grilling out and having our friends over on a Saturday Night, and that’s always been my mentality in the restaurant business. If you come to one of our restaurants, it’s like you’re coming over to my house to share a meal with me. That’s why I decided to go for it and jump into the restaurant business.

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming a franchise owner?

Weeks: Take the time to understand the unique demands of each brand you’re considering. Franchising isn’t a shortcut; it requires your full buy-in to each brand’s playbook.

It’s always important to realize who your first “customer” is as the business owner. My philosophy is that my primary customers are my team members. By investing in them, I ensure that they are equipped and motivated to serve our actual customers with the level of care and quality each brand deserves.

ABOUT NEWK'S EATERY

Based in Jackson, Mississippi, Newk’s Eatery is a fast-casual chain that operates and franchises just under 100 units in 12 states. Founded in 2004 and named after Co-Founder Chris “Newk” Newcomb, Newk’s offers salads, sandwiches, soups and pizzas, all made in-house without fryers or microwaves. Fresh grab-and-go options are also available, and Newk’s new mobile app, now available on Google Play and the App Store, offers mobile ordering for curbside, in-store pickup or delivery. In 2020, Newk’s ranked in Nation’s Restaurant News’ “Top 200 Countdown” and Restaurant Business’ Top 250 Chains. Newk’s has also been selected as a Top Food Franchise by Entrepreneur. In 2021, Newk’s was recognized in Nation’s Restaurant News as a “Top Scorer in Takeout Food Quality” and ranked among the highest “True Loyalty” scores – the percentages of respondents who said they visit because of a real desire to experience the brand, as opposed to convenience. For more information, visit Newks.com, join Newk’s Rewards or follow Newk’s on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter. For franchise information, visit franchise.newks.com.