Jawad Rawra Is Betting on Layne’s Chicken Fingers as His Next Big Growth Play

Having built a 120-location telecom network and portfolio of hotel franchises, you’d never guess that Jawad Rawra came to the United States without a dollar to his name. 

Before his personal American Dream was set in motion, Jawad spent his early career working 12-hour shifts, seven days a week at an AT&T Wireless outlet. He kept hustling during the five years he worked for AT&T, sprinkling in odd jobs in between shifts. Jawad always carried the entrepreneurial spirit he inherited from his family and kept searching for the right opportunity to build something on his own.  

In 2007, after facing rejections from major telecommunications giants like Verizon, AT&T and Sprint, T-Mobile opened a door. With that chance, Jawad built his way up until he was one of the largest franchisees in the nation with 120 locations across 14 states. In 2016, he diversified his portfolio by expanding into real estate and the hospitality industry with Marriott, Hilton and Hyatt hotel franchises.

Today, Jawad is continuing his trend of diversifying his portfolio while preparing to open his first Layne's Chicken Fingers location in Rockwall, Texas, slated for April 2026. Layne's stood out to him because of its cult-like following in his Houston community and passionate leadership team. Having built an impressive portfolio in hospitality, telecom and now restaurants, Jawad says his true American Dream has always been his wife and their three amazing daughters. He says everyone in his household loves Layne’s, and he can’t wait to leverage this new location as a legacy for his family. 

1851 Franchise sat down with Rawra to discuss the launch of his new business. Here’s what he had to say:

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

Jawad Rawra: I'm an immigrant who came to this country with no money in my pocket. I had a struggling life, had multiple jobs, and worked seven days a week, 12 hours a day. My first job was with AT&T Wireless in the telecommunication world, but I also worked some odd jobs in the mall during the days I wasn’t working at AT&T. I worked there for five years, but due to the entrepreneurial mindset that I inherited from my family, I always knew I wanted to do something on my own. I started my first business with a couple of friends back in 2007. That's my story… at least, that’s where my journey began.

1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Rawra: At that point, the only experience I had was in the telecommunication world—I knocked on doors of Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile and got rejections everywhere. Then T-Mobile gave me a chance, so that's where I signed my first contract and opened up our first location. It wasn't about franchising making sense necessarily… My sentiment was that I wanted to operate a business, and that was the first door that opened as an opportunity. I knocked on it, opened my first location, and became one of the largest franchisees in the nation, growing to 120 locations in 14 different states. In 2016, I started diversifying in different businesses, including hospitality by becoming a franchisee for Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, and other real estate investments.

1851: What do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?

Rawra: It comes with a responsibility. You agree to put the brands’ best interest alongside yours by following their rules and regulations. It might be tricky and not everyone's cup of tea, but the idea of building your own business while playing within the sandbox is something that comes naturally to me. When the mutual partnership is strong, growth and success follow organically.

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

Rawra: In the mindset of diversifying businesses in my portfolio, I was looking into different industries, QSR and Layne’s specifically being one of them. Layne’s food and quality always stood out to me when comparing it with Raising Cane's and other chicken finger brands out there. Anytime I have taken my family or friends to Layne's, the consensus is the same time and time again, that there is no comparison, Layne’s is a tier above the rest. They're passionate about their food, which ties right back to their leadership. They are hardworking, like-minded people who align with the way I think for my vision and growth. It just felt like the right fit.

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

Rawra: The first step is to get into the system, open the first location, and get accustomed to the business. There’s something new to learn every day, so you do just that till the day you multiply. The vision is not to sit at one location. The vision is to go from one to two, two to five, five to 10, and grow beyond Texas when the opportunity presents itself.

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

Rawra: I would say to go with a brand that aligns with your vision and growth. There's a lot of research that goes behind it. Before signing up, talk to the other franchisees in the system and make sure they're satisfied, happy, and content. Most importantly, in the end, go with your gut.

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

Rawra: I'm a family man. I have a beautiful wife, and three amazing daughters, who are my life. Everybody in my family loves Layne's, and my goal is to leave a legacy for my family.

ABOUT LAYNE'S CHICKEN FINGERS:

Founded in 1994 in College Station, the original location became a Texas A&M legend known for its small-town charm, friendly service, iconic chicken fingers and secret sauce. While opening corporate locations across the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the leadership team focused on fine tuning its operations and starting to franchise.  

Franchise opportunities range from $451,500 to $1,050,000 with different buildout options available. Learn more about franchising here.