Franchisees to Know: Dan Rakestraw

In 1991, he founded Valor Security Systems, a company that provided contract security services exclusively to the shopping center industry. Under his leadership, Valor eventually grew into one of the top 15 security companies in the country, but by 1999, Rakestraw decided to sell the business to SMS Holdings with a three-year management contract. That decision would guide him for the next 17 years of his life—to this day, Rakestraw serves as president of acquisitions and partnerships for SMS.

But it was one business partnership in particular that really inspired Rakestraw. After spending a few years at SMS, Rakestraw started cultivating a relationship with the company’s chief executive officer, Keith Wolken. They both had an idea—they wanted to invest in a thriving concept and create something meaningful.

Rakestraw considered the idea of franchising. But instead of investing in a legacy brand, he sought out newer fast-casual concepts. As he started researching diverse ideas, due diligence led him to the down-the-line pizza franchise industry—it was a concept rising in popularity, and now was the time to get on board. From there, Your Pie emerged at the forefront of the pack. The brand was a natural fit for Rakestraw and his business partner.

“Franchising was a new world for us. But there was something about Your Pie’s quality and uniqueness that inspired me to bring the brand to Nashville,” Rakestraw said.

Your Pie is the world’s originator of the quick-serve, brick-oven, customized personal pizza category. A culinary entrepreneur since his teenage years, Your Pie founder Drew French combined his passion for innovative restaurant concepts with brick oven technology to create the highest quality pizza available at incredible speed. Drawing from family recipes from the island of Ischia in Italy, Your Pie pays homage to pizza’s true Italian roots while intertwining new and complex flavor profiles.

Since deciding to join the your Pie family, Rakestraw and Wolken have signed a four-unit deal in Nashville. The business partners hope to open the set of restaurants over the next three to four years.

“Nashville is our ‘test market,’ and depending on the success we see, we want to open locations throughout the state. We really have no limit; we’re excited to contribute to the success of a unique and well-organized brand,” Rakestraw said.

To learn more about development plans for Your Pie, click here.