Misty Ball’s journey with Famous Dave’s began nearly 20 years ago when she took a job as a server at the restaurant in Rochester, Minnesota. Over the years, she moved from part-time shifts to general manager, all while raising five children and staying active in her community. Now, she’s taking the next step — becoming the new owner of the very restaurant where it all started.

Ball has always been passionate about the brand, especially the quality of the food and the team atmosphere. She’s proud to be part of a restaurant where the meats are smoked in-house and the sides are made from scratch. Famous Dave’s commitment to doing things the right way is what’s kept her invested in the business for so long.

Now, with her oldest daughter working alongside her and her husband helping with everything from catering to maintenance, Ball is entering ownership with a strong support system. While she’s focused on running the Rochester location, she’s open to growth in the future. For now, she’s excited to officially step into a role she’s been preparing for most of her career.

1851 Franchise spoke with Ball about her 20 year journey with Famous Dave’s. Here’s what she had to say:

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?

Misty Ball: The first time I started working here was back in 2006. I had just left a different serving job and was looking to try something new. I was about 20 years old and worked here for around four months before my mom, sister and I purchased a small-town café. I left to focus on that for a while.

I came back in 2013 and started working part-time on weekends and nights while still helping at the café. In 2015, there was a change in management here. A new manager came in — he had never worked for the brand before and wasn’t from Minnesota; he was from California. At the time, I was doing some supervising work, and he asked if I had ever considered going full-time as a manager.

I told him I was already working 40 hours a week serving and had three kids at home, but I figured why not? I went home and talked to my husband, and we decided to give it a try. It was a big change in my schedule. When I was serving, I worked in the evenings, but as a salaried manager, I had to be in earlier, around 2 p.m., which meant we had to figure out child care.

Eventually, it worked out. For a while, I worked mostly night shifts and weekends since we had a GM covering the day shifts. As my kids got older, we decided to homeschool them because I hated not seeing them all day. I really liked the job, so homeschooling allowed us to make it work.

In 2017, I became the GM. We’re still homeschooling, and I’ve been doing the same thing ever since.

1851 Franchise: How did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Ball: To be honest, it’s always been in the back of my mind. The current owner sold the Duluth store about five or six years ago to the GM who had worked there for around 12 years — about the same amount of time I’ve been here. So it was always something I thought about.

Around March of last year, he and I had one of our regular sit-downs when he came to the store. He said, “I think I’m almost ready to retire. I’m just not sure what I’m going to do. Would it be something you’re interested in taking over?” I said, “Yeah, I think so.” I’ve been here a long time. I know the business and the franchise, and I felt like it was something I’d like to do.

I had just turned 40 and thought: Why not go for it? Initially, he said it would probably be three or four years down the road, but he ended up fast-tracking it. It’s only been a little over a year since that conversation.

I went home and talked to my husband and kids. One of my daughters works here now, and the others are a few years away from being old enough. We love the food, we love the business, and it just felt like the right move.

1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee?

Ball: My husband and I had always talked about owning our own business — not necessarily franchising, but something of our own. We’ve always loved pizza. We make it at home all the time, and anytime we find a new pizza place, we stop and try it. So we talked about maybe opening something like that, or even a food truck.

But the timing was never right. Once our kids started getting a little older, we started thinking about it more seriously — then 2020 happened, and everything got flipped upside down. It just wasn’t the right time back then.

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

Ball: It is something I’m very passionate about. I love Famous Dave’s. I love the fact that so much of the food is homemade. We’re the ones who smoke all the meats, and a lot is expected of our managers to make sure everything comes out perfectly.

Our side dishes are homemade, too. In today’s world, that’s rare. A lot of restaurants just throw things in the microwave, but here, we take pride in the quality of our food — and I’m very passionate about that.

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

Ball: That’s not something I’ve thought too much about yet. I figured we’d start with this one. But if it goes well, I’m not opposed to doing more in the future. Like I mentioned, my kids love this place. One of my daughters had a softball coach ask her, “Don’t you get sick of barbecue?” And she said, “Nope, never.” After eating it for so many years, you just don’t get sick of it.

Opening more locations is something I’d definitely consider in the future. But for now, we’re just focusing on this location.

1851: Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?

Ball: Back in 2012, I had three kids, and my husband and I decided to expand our family — we had another in 2019 and one more in 2021. My boss was always very supportive. He let me take time off and adjusted my schedule when I needed it.

This job has allowed me to be there for my family. I’ve never had to miss any of my kids’ events — sports, activities, anything — because of work. That’s always meant a lot to me. If I ever needed help, my team — whether it was cooks, servers or supervisors — was always willing to step up.

I also recently took on a new role as a varsity softball coach. We just started a few weeks ago. Originally, the plan was for me to take over the restaurant in July, but they pushed it forward to April. I had to think seriously about whether I could manage both for about six weeks. I talked to my staff and asked if they’d be on board with me needing to leave a couple days a week at 2:00 instead of 4:00, and everyone supported me right away.

My family has been incredibly supportive, too. My husband helps with homeschooling the kids and has stayed home with the little ones. Now, with me taking over the business, he’s planning to help in any way he can — cooking, catering, doing outdoor and indoor maintenance. It’s been amazing to have that kind of support system.

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

Ball: I’ve always been the type of person to go all in. Try it — and if it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work. You can try something else. But you’re never going to know unless you give it a shot. We’re starting next week, so we’ll see how it goes.

ABOUT FAMOUS DAVE'S:

Famous Dave's is a nationally recognized leader in the barbecue industry, known for serving award-winning smoked meats, flame kissed ribs and scratch made sides. Founded by Hall of Fame Pitmaster, Dave Anderson in 1994, Famous Dave's has become one of the most recognizable BBQ Brands in the US and beyond. With a commitment to quality, innovation, and bold flavors, Famous Dave’s offers real, authentic BBQ, served up in a family friendly atmosphere. The brand has 107 locations in 30 states and three countries, including 32 company-owned and 75 franchise-operated restaurants, and continues to expand its presence in communities nationwide. Famous Dave’s has earned numerous accolades and awards for its exceptional BBQ and guest service, solidifying its reputation as a top destination for anyone seeking legendary BBQ with a side of hospitality.

For more information, visit www.famousdaves.com.