Long-Time McDonald's Manager Becomes BIGGBY® COFFEE Franchisee in Georgia

For Scott and Jill Novinski, owning a franchise is more than just a business venture; it’s about creating a legacy for their children. After working in various industries, including hospitality and real estate, the Novinskis decided to pursue their dream of becoming franchise owners. They have since signed with BIGGBY® COFFEE, a brand that reminded them of home, and are working to bring their first location to Chatham County, Georgia.

The Novinskis’ hard work and dedication are evident in their plans to open multiple locations and make a positive impact in their community.

1851 Franchise recently spoke to the dynamic duo to gain insight into their franchising journey and future aspirations.

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

Scott: I’ve worked for McDonald’s as an operations manager for the past 38 years. I oversee 12 restaurants in the Chatham County market. But I’ve always wanted to do something on my own. I was actually speaking with someone that I used to work with at McDonald’s, who lives in Michigan, and I found out he now works for BIGGBY® COFFEE. We discussed the possibility of bringing BIGGBY® COFFEE down here to Georgia. He said, “It’s funny you should mention it,” because they were looking to expand. That’s how it happened. I’m already familiar with the Chatham market, and I figured I can leverage my experience to run a successful BIGGBY® COFFEE location.

Jill: I’ve worked as a CNA at an assisted living facility, and also worked at McDonald’s on and off, which is how we met. Before franchising, we also worked in real estate. We used to buy and flip homes. And we owned rental properties. At that time, we lived in New York, but we decided to leave and move to Michigan, where we built a house.

Scott: Michigan is where Jill is originally from. And that’s really where we become familiar with the BIGGBY® COFFEE brand. While working with McDonald’s, someone I used to work with asked me to move down to Georgia for another opportunity, and so we packed up and moved with our five children. While we were down here, Jill’s father became ill, so she went back up to Michigan to take care of him. At that point, we decided to [prioritize] family [before] anything else, which is part of the reason we’ve decided to open our own franchise.

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?

Scott: I’ve been involved in the franchising space for a while, and I’ve always enjoyed it. I like the hospitality aspect of it. I was 15 when I first started working. McDonald's was right down the block from my house, and I really wanted to be a chef originally. But having worked in the kitchen, I decided it wasn’t for me. I realized I wanted to be the person who was in charge of running the store. So, I started looking into hotel and restaurant management opportunities. Since then, I’ve always wanted to work in the franchising industry.

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

Scott: I love coffee! BIGGBY® COFFEE has a very reasonable franchise fee, and they provide you with a lot of support. They want you to succeed. If you’re successful, they’re successful. Also, BIGGBY® COFFEE as a brand feels like a taste of home. It reminds us of our life in the Midwest. That feeling is really what drew us in.

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

Scott: If all goes well with our opening, we’d like to open another location maybe within another six months or so. I’d also like to be able to drive brand awareness for BIGGBY® COFFEE here in Georgia and become a leader for the brand from a franchise standpoint and in the company itself. But ideally, I’d like us to own multiple locations. We want to create places in our community that make people feel like they’re home. Even if they’re new to the area and aren’t familiar with the region, we want everyone to know they have a comfortable and welcoming spot at our BIGGBY® COFFEE franchises.

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

Scott: We’re dedicated and hard-working. We’re creating a legacy for our children, and we want to give our children options for when they’re older. My daughter never really came on board with McDonald’s, and I never want to push them to do something they don’t want to do. But with BIGGBY® COFFEE, I really think that’s something that she and the rest of our children would enjoy doing. We’re giving our children options.

Jill: I’d really like to use this opportunity to make an impact in our community. We want to be able to participate in fundraisers and help local schools and businesses,

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

Scott: Do your homework! Make sure it’s something you can do. Opening a franchise takes a lot of time and effort. You’ve got to be a part of the business in order for it to be successful. A lot of times, I think people are looking for investments that they don’t have to be a part of, and they just expect returns. That doesn’t lead to success; that leads to issues in the business.

About The BIGGBY® COFFEE Franchise

BIGGBY® COFFEE, based in East Lansing, Michigan, 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 such as 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. Today, BIGGBY® COFFEE has 340 cafes across many states, including Virginia, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Idaho, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Kentucky and Florida.