When Angel Crockford decided to leave the construction world during the 2008 recession, he never imagined he’d become a leading force in quick-service franchising. But nearly two decades later — and with a legacy family business that dates back to 1948 — Crockford is applying his experience from Dunkin’, Arby’s and Little Caesars to build something fresh and exciting: a new chapter with BIGGBY® COFFEE.
Through a unique “bolt-on” model that attaches BIGGBY® drive-thru cafes to Minuteman gas stations, Crockford and his team at Campbell Oil are opening three locations starting later this year in Aynor, South Carolina, with plans for 20 and beyond.
For Crockford, the real appeal of BIGGBY® lies in its franchisee support and operational flexibility. With drive-thru-only and satellite models, the brand allows operators to launch quickly and recoup investments faster — making it the perfect fit for Campbell Oil’s expansion goals and long-term vision of becoming BIGGBY®’s largest franchisee nationwide.
1851 Franchise spoke to Crockford about his franchise journey and plans for the future. Here’s what he had to say.
1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?
Angel Crockford: I’ve been in the food industry for 17 years, which has flown by. I originally started with one Dunkin’ Donuts restaurant. At one point, we grew that into 70 restaurants across six states. Currently, our portfolio includes 13 restaurants — four Arby’s and nine Little Caesars.
We’re excited to bring on the BIGGBY® COFFEE concept. We have three locations signed to build within the next year, and we’re looking forward to getting those up and running. BIGGBY® is a phenomenal brand. I often compare it to Dunkin’ Donuts — the menu is great, the coffee is great and I think customers in North and South Carolina are going to fall in love with the brand once they get to know it.
Our first BIGGBY® location will be in Aynor, South Carolina, and we’re scheduled to open that one by July or August of this year.
1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?
Crockford: I was in the construction industry, and when the economy collapsed in 2008, I was surrounded by people struggling to stay afloat. This was in Las Vegas, where it was 125 degrees in the summer, and I decided I wanted to do something different.
We started with the Dunkin’ franchise and decided to open one to see how it would go. I fell in love with the food industry. One of the things I enjoy most is the impact you can make on someone's life — building relationships with customers. Seventeen years later, I still find it exciting. I love the challenge of operating at a high level 365 days a year, and I’m excited about this new opportunity with BIGGBY®.
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?
Crockford: My perception before becoming a franchisee was that you probably didn’t make a lot of money, and that the fees were outrageous and it was very hard. What I’ve learned over the last 17 years is that it’s actually very easy to become a franchisee when you have the support of the franchisor.
They give you a turnkey operation — everything from POS support to restaurant specs is in place to help you get up and running from day one. I would highly recommend becoming a franchisee. BIGGBY® has been incredibly supportive in making sure we’re set up for success — not just with our first restaurant, but with all three we’ve signed, and we’re potentially signing a few more.
Our goal is to get up to 20 locations between North and South Carolina. We believe the potential is there, and the support from the franchisor makes the process so much easier. You don’t have to create your own menu or do your own marketing. You have the brand support to make sure the community knows you’re opening and that your team is properly trained to serve the product.
1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?
Crockford: BIGGBY® is an up-and-coming concept. When we talked to other franchisees — both in Michigan and in North Carolina — you could tell they were genuinely excited about the brand. BIGGBY® is still in the early stages, with a goal to reach 1,000 locations by 2028, and we’re excited to be part of that.
We feel like we’re getting in at the ground level. The support from the brand is one of the main reasons we chose them. They have a clear vision for the future, and we believe that by building out in North and South Carolina, we’ll be able to expand our portfolio significantly.
1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?
Crockford: We hope to become the biggest BIGGBY® franchisee and grow to 20 locations. One of the main reasons we chose BIGGBY® is the flexibility they offer in their buildouts. You don’t need a 2,500-square-foot dining room with no drive-thru. They offer drive-thru-only and satellite locations, which can be built faster and provide a quicker return on investment — sometimes within a year to a year and a half.
Drive-thru-only locations can open in as little as 90 to 120 days from the start of construction. That flexibility allows us to expand at a rapid pace, and we’re excited to grow our portfolio with BIGGBY®.
1851: Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?
Crockford: Our company has been around since 1948. We specialize in the gasoline business with Minuteman gas stations. Part of our BIGGBY® plan is to tie the two together in what we call “bolt-ons,” where we have a gas station with a drive-thru BIGGBY® attached.
We’ve been in business a long time, and we’re excited to partner with BIGGBY®. We want to become the biggest franchisee in the country. Twenty locations is just the beginning — we think five years from now, we could double that number.
1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?
Crockford: Don’t be afraid to jump in and take a risk — especially with a brand like BIGGBY®. When you do your research, know that the support is there from the franchisor, and you don’t have to do it all yourself.
From site selection onward, BIGGBY® is very supportive. They help you analyze traffic counts and make sure you’re set up for success. Any questions or concerns you have get answered quickly, and the support doesn’t stop once the building opens. It continues — whether it's one year, two years or five years down the road.
One thing the brand does really well is recognizing that performance can vary from market to market. What works in Michigan might be different from what works in North Carolina, Arizona or Florida, and they’re willing to adapt to help franchisees succeed in their communities.
About The BIGGBY® COFFEE Franchise
BIGGBY® COFFEE, based in East Lansing, Mich., was started with a single store on March 15, 1995. One year later, and on the cusp of opening a second location, Bob Fish and Michael McFall, on a handshake and $4,000, decided to franchise the concept. The brand’s cultural values of Make Friends, Have Fun, B Yourself and Share Great Coffee help coffee-lovers and the coffee-curious alike benefit from a less pretentious and fun approach to the standard gourmet cafe paradigm. Besides connoisseur-worthy drinks with names like Teddy Bear® and Caramel Marvel®, BIGGBY® COFFEE baristas provide a unique experience focused on brightening their customers’ day and supporting them in building a life they love. The “Big ‘B’” on the orange background caught on, and today BIGGBY® COFFEE has 430+ cafes across many states, including Virginia, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Idaho, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Kentucky and Florida.
BIGGBY COFFEE
SPONSORED
With three BIGGBY® COFFEE locations set to open starting this summer, Angel Crockford and Campbell Oil are bringing a bold new drive-thru model to the Carolinas.
When Angel Crockford decided to leave the construction world during the 2008 recession, he never imagined he’d become a leading force in quick-service franchising. But nearly two decades later — and with a legacy family business that dates back to 1948 — Crockford is applying his experience from Dunkin’, Arby’s and Little Caesars to build something fresh and exciting: a new chapter with BIGGBY® COFFEE.
Through a unique “bolt-on” model that attaches BIGGBY® drive-thru cafes to Minuteman gas stations, Crockford and his team at Campbell Oil are opening three locations starting later this year in Aynor, South Carolina, with plans for 20 and beyond.
For Crockford, the real appeal of BIGGBY® lies in its franchisee support and operational flexibility. With drive-thru-only and satellite models, the brand allows operators to launch quickly and recoup investments faster — making it the perfect fit for Campbell Oil’s expansion goals and long-term vision of becoming BIGGBY®’s largest franchisee nationwide.
1851 Franchise spoke to Crockford about his franchise journey and plans for the future. Here’s what he had to say.
1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?
Angel Crockford: I’ve been in the food industry for 17 years, which has flown by. I originally started with one Dunkin’ Donuts restaurant. At one point, we grew that into 70 restaurants across six states. Currently, our portfolio includes 13 restaurants — four Arby’s and nine Little Caesars.
We’re excited to bring on the BIGGBY® COFFEE concept. We have three locations signed to build within the next year, and we’re looking forward to getting those up and running. BIGGBY® is a phenomenal brand. I often compare it to Dunkin’ Donuts — the menu is great, the coffee is great and I think customers in North and South Carolina are going to fall in love with the brand once they get to know it.
Our first BIGGBY® location will be in Aynor, South Carolina, and we’re scheduled to open that one by July or August of this year.
1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?
Crockford: I was in the construction industry, and when the economy collapsed in 2008, I was surrounded by people struggling to stay afloat. This was in Las Vegas, where it was 125 degrees in the summer, and I decided I wanted to do something different.
We started with the Dunkin’ franchise and decided to open one to see how it would go. I fell in love with the food industry. One of the things I enjoy most is the impact you can make on someone's life — building relationships with customers. Seventeen years later, I still find it exciting. I love the challenge of operating at a high level 365 days a year, and I’m excited about this new opportunity with BIGGBY®.
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?
Crockford: My perception before becoming a franchisee was that you probably didn’t make a lot of money, and that the fees were outrageous and it was very hard. What I’ve learned over the last 17 years is that it’s actually very easy to become a franchisee when you have the support of the franchisor.
They give you a turnkey operation — everything from POS support to restaurant specs is in place to help you get up and running from day one. I would highly recommend becoming a franchisee. BIGGBY® has been incredibly supportive in making sure we’re set up for success — not just with our first restaurant, but with all three we’ve signed, and we’re potentially signing a few more.
Our goal is to get up to 20 locations between North and South Carolina. We believe the potential is there, and the support from the franchisor makes the process so much easier. You don’t have to create your own menu or do your own marketing. You have the brand support to make sure the community knows you’re opening and that your team is properly trained to serve the product.
1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?
Crockford: BIGGBY® is an up-and-coming concept. When we talked to other franchisees — both in Michigan and in North Carolina — you could tell they were genuinely excited about the brand. BIGGBY® is still in the early stages, with a goal to reach 1,000 locations by 2028, and we’re excited to be part of that.
We feel like we’re getting in at the ground level. The support from the brand is one of the main reasons we chose them. They have a clear vision for the future, and we believe that by building out in North and South Carolina, we’ll be able to expand our portfolio significantly.
1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?
Crockford: We hope to become the biggest BIGGBY® franchisee and grow to 20 locations. One of the main reasons we chose BIGGBY® is the flexibility they offer in their buildouts. You don’t need a 2,500-square-foot dining room with no drive-thru. They offer drive-thru-only and satellite locations, which can be built faster and provide a quicker return on investment — sometimes within a year to a year and a half.
Drive-thru-only locations can open in as little as 90 to 120 days from the start of construction. That flexibility allows us to expand at a rapid pace, and we’re excited to grow our portfolio with BIGGBY®.
1851: Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?
Crockford: Our company has been around since 1948. We specialize in the gasoline business with Minuteman gas stations. Part of our BIGGBY® plan is to tie the two together in what we call “bolt-ons,” where we have a gas station with a drive-thru BIGGBY® attached.
We’ve been in business a long time, and we’re excited to partner with BIGGBY®. We want to become the biggest franchisee in the country. Twenty locations is just the beginning — we think five years from now, we could double that number.
1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?
Crockford: Don’t be afraid to jump in and take a risk — especially with a brand like BIGGBY®. When you do your research, know that the support is there from the franchisor, and you don’t have to do it all yourself.
From site selection onward, BIGGBY® is very supportive. They help you analyze traffic counts and make sure you’re set up for success. Any questions or concerns you have get answered quickly, and the support doesn’t stop once the building opens. It continues — whether it's one year, two years or five years down the road.
One thing the brand does really well is recognizing that performance can vary from market to market. What works in Michigan might be different from what works in North Carolina, Arizona or Florida, and they’re willing to adapt to help franchisees succeed in their communities.
About The BIGGBY® COFFEE Franchise
BIGGBY® COFFEE, based in East Lansing, Mich., was started with a single store on March 15, 1995. One year later, and on the cusp of opening a second location, Bob Fish and Michael McFall, on a handshake and $4,000, decided to franchise the concept. The brand’s cultural values of Make Friends, Have Fun, B Yourself and Share Great Coffee help coffee-lovers and the coffee-curious alike benefit from a less pretentious and fun approach to the standard gourmet cafe paradigm. Besides connoisseur-worthy drinks with names like Teddy Bear® and Caramel Marvel®, BIGGBY® COFFEE baristas provide a unique experience focused on brightening their customers’ day and supporting them in building a life they love. The “Big ‘B’” on the orange background caught on, and today BIGGBY® COFFEE has 430+ cafes across many states, including Virginia, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Idaho, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Kentucky and Florida.
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