Middle School Best Friends Take on Franchising with Layne’s Chicken Fingers

When Shahmeer Alam first visited Layne’s Chicken Fingers*, the Soon to be Famous™ chicken franchise, he fell in love with the food and just had to introduce his longtime best friend Yves Jodesty to it. With Alam already having some restaurant franchising experience under his belt, the delicious chicken sparked his interest for business ownership, as the lawyer and physician duo had previously discussed wanting to branch out in their careers. After becoming more acquainted with the franchise, the determined pair, who are only in their 30s, immediately felt confident that franchising with Layne’s would be a great opportunity to own their own business that was bursting with potential.

1851 Franchise spoke with Jodesty and Alam to hear about their journey into franchising with Layne’s in South Florida and their plans for growth in the future. 

PROFILE QUESTIONS

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

Jodesty: I'm an internal medicine physician, but I've always been interested in broadening my horizons outside of the medical field. My desire to branch out actually all started after COVID. It really shook me; I'm sure it shocked everybody. 

Shahmeer and I have been best friends since middle school. He’s a franchisee with another restaurant and brought this opportunity with Layne’s to my attention. I did my research and was able to sample the food, and that's what really hooked me into progressing with them. 

Alam: I've been in franchising before with another restaurant concept. I'm actually an attorney, so I was practicing law, but I always had an interest in restaurants and starting my own business. I worked at Subway when I was a teenager in high school, and I even ended up managing it at one point; through that experience, I figured out that I could run one by myself. 

I saw the opportunity with Layne’s, and after visiting a location for the first time, I just fell in love. I told Yves about it because I figured, why not work with a friend? We have known each other a long time, so why not go into this venture together? 

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?

Jodesty: I was always interested in franchising, but I didn’t really have a big perception of it. I wanted to be my own boss and more of an entrepreneur. Now that I know more about it, it seems like a very good pathway into business ownership. 

Alam: This isn't my first franchise, so I had some experience with it. Franchises always have their ups and downs. If it is a brand that is properly managed and overseen then it really offers you a lot. They've done the legwork for the supply chain, the marketing and bringing to the table a product that can be mass produced anywhere. I love that idea. They also bring brand awareness, which is really helpful. 

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

Jodesty: The food was fantastic! It is great quality and very well done. On top of that, the corporate team is also very friendly; everybody there works together well. Everyone’s goal is to make sure that the customer gets the best service and high quality food. They were very welcoming and open. 

Alam: I agree. Chicken is very popular in the U.S., which is evident from the fact that Chick-fil-A is the number one highest grossing restaurant chain in the US. It's an opportunity to get into the market during the early stages with a newer concept and brand that has a lot of potential.

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

Alam: Our goal is to be the number one South Florida franchise for Layne’s. We want to grow, too. We have a large market consisting of Miami, Broward and Palm Beach County. We'd like to ultimately take that market and build onto it into the rest of the state if we're able to. 

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

Jodesty: I am transitioning from a physician into a different career path. I think that's a tough thing for physicians to do just because we've spent so many years focused on one thing, and I've talked to many of my colleagues and so many seem hesitant to branch out. I hope that my example will really encourage other people in my position to take a risk and go out of their comfort zone.

Alam: I like to be in the service of others, which is something I enjoy about my profession as an attorney. I ensure every client is provided with excellent representation and given all the resources that are available to them. It’s the same thing in the restaurant field; it's about providing a worthwhile service and food that people can enjoy.

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

Jodesty: If it's something that you're interested in, don't be afraid to take that chance and to take that leap of faith.

Alam: I think the best thing to do is enjoy and like the product that you are investing in. We love the product and we love the team. 

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 $656,000 - $1,280,500 with different buildout options available. Learn more about franchising here.