Wes Williams’s journey to becoming a successful franchisee with Newk’s Eatery is a testament to his hard work, resilience and dedication to creating opportunities for others. Before stepping into franchising, Williams spent over 16 years in the metals distribution industry, working his way up from a truck loader and equipment operator to president of a growing company that eventually generated over $50 million in sales annually. Later, he explored entrepreneurship by opening and running three tanning salons for a decade before selling them in 2018. This hands-on business experience prepared him for franchising. “We were really successful, and it allowed me to try some other investments and things,” said Williams.
Williams’s connection with Newk’s Eatery began when a University of Mississippi graduate introduced him to the brand. Initially, he passed on the opportunity, but a second chance arose when a group of partners planned to open a Newk’s in his hometown of Jonesboro, Arkansas. Since then, Williams has grown his footprint to six Newk’s locations across Arkansas and Tennessee, including stores in Jonesboro, Hot Springs, Conway, Little Rock and, most recently, Knoxville.
“When you’re with a big group, everyone has different tastes, and I noticed that the Newk’s menu had something for everyone,” Williams said. “It has a universal appeal, which I thought made it a great fit — our food appeals to many different people.”
Looking to the future, Williams has ambitious plans for growth, with at least three more stores lined up and the potential for further expansion. However, he stresses the importance of building a team of people eager to grow with him. “I was given opportunities because I worked hard,” he said, “and I want to offer those same chances to our key people who have been with us from the start. As we grow, they grow too.”
Through his franchising journey, Williams has learned that success comes from dedication and hands-on involvement. “Franchising gives you a solid starting point, but it’s not something you can just put money into and expect it to run itself,” he said. “You have to show up, make decisions and work hard.”
Williams sat down with 1851 Franchise to talk about his journey into franchising, his partnership with Newk’s and his plans for the future. Here’s what he had to say:
1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?
Wes Williams: I was working at the metals distribution center as a truck loader and equipment operator. Then I had an opportunity to come to Jonesboro, Arkansas, for a new startup metal distribution company. I worked my way up and, at one point, became the president of the company, staying there for about 16 years. We grew that business significantly — by the time I left, my locations were responsible for over $50 million in sales a year.
During that time, I had a customer who built tanning beds, and they showed us their business model. They offered everything needed to get started, so as an investment, we started tanning salons and grew that to three locations, which we ran for about ten years before selling them in 2018.
Eventually, I was introduced to Newk’s by an Ole Miss [University of Mississippi] grad who wanted to open a restaurant in our town. After looking at a few locations, we decided the timing wasn’t right, so we passed. Later, another group approached us, and that’s when we opened our first Newk’s in 2013. I’d gotten out of the steel business around 2010 and had been running my own businesses since then — including rental investment properties and commercial real estate. We added Newk’s to our portfolio and now operate six locations.
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?
Williams: I didn’t know much about it initially. I worked for a franchisee at a fast-food restaurant in high school, but I was just a guy making the food and getting a paycheck every week — I didn’t understand how it all worked. My first experience that was somewhat similar to franchising was with the tanning salons. It wasn’t a true franchise, but they helped with marketing, designed my store and provided all the equipment. It was almost like a business in a box, but there were no royalties or ad funds.
When we opened our first Newk’s with a couple of partners, we initially thought we’d just be investors, but we quickly learned you have to be hands-on and put in the work. Franchising gives you a solid starting point, but it’s not something you can just put money into and expect it to run itself — you have to show up, make decisions and work hard. That’s what I’d tell people about franchising: it’s a great foundation, but you have to be actively involved for it to succeed.
1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?
Williams: When my son played travel baseball, we often found ourselves eating at Newk’s between games. When you’re with a big group, everyone has different tastes, and I noticed that the Newk’s menu had something for everyone. It has a universal appeal, which I thought made it a great fit — our food appeals to many different people.
1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?
Williams: We have at least three more stores signed up to open, and we want to expand beyond that. Growth depends on finding the right opportunities and having people within our team who are willing to take on the challenge. We employ about 200 people, and some are interested in growing with us, which is exciting. In the steel business, I was given opportunities because I worked hard, and I want to offer those same chances to our key people who have been with us from the start. As we grow, they grow too.
1851: What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?
Williams: If you look at me on paper, I’m not a “five-star recruit.” I didn’t finish college, I didn’t come from a wealthy family and I grew up with some hardships. I grew up in a two-bedroom mobile home and relied on free school lunches. At the time, I envied friends who had more, but I now realize my dad gave me something far more valuable. He taught me the importance of working hard and going after what I want. That’s been the most valuable gift I’ve received, and I’ve seen the same work ethic pay off with some of our team members. They might not look impressive on paper, but they’ve worked hard and succeeded, and I’m happy to give them the same opportunities I was given.
1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?
Williams: Really evaluate the opportunity and make sure you’re ready for the risks involved. There’s another successful business owner in town who says, “If you knew the risks I’ve taken, you wouldn’t be able to sleep at night.” That’s true — there are a lot of sleepless nights, and running a business has many moving parts. You have to look at the numbers, ask questions and decide if you’re at a place in your life where you can commit the time and effort it needs. You won’t see huge success in the first six months; you have to be in it for the long haul. As you grow, you can build a team around you, but it takes time. If it’s right for you, go for it, but know that it requires a lot of hard work and dedication.
About Newk’s Eatery
Based in Jackson, Mississippi, Newk’s Eatery is a fast-casual chain that operates and franchises just under 100 units in 12 states. Founded in 2004 and named after Co-Founder Chris “Newk” Newcomb, Newk’s offers salads, sandwiches, soups and pizzas, all made in-house without fryers or microwaves. Fresh grab-and-go options are also available, and Newk’s new mobile app, now available on Google Play and the App Store, offers mobile ordering for curbside, in-store pickup or delivery. In 2020, Newk’s ranked in Nation’s Restaurant News’ “Top 200 Countdown” and Restaurant Business’ Top 250 Chains. Newk’s has also been selected as a Top Food Franchise by Entrepreneur. In 2021, Newk’s was recognized in Nation’s Restaurant News as a “Top Scorer in Takeout Food Quality” and ranked among the highest “True Loyalty” scores – the percentages of respondents who said they visit because of a real desire to experience the brand, as opposed to convenience. For more information, visit newks.com, join Newk’s Rewards or follow Newk’s on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter. For franchise information, visit newks.com/franchise.
Newk’s Eatery
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With six Newk’s franchises across Arkansas and Tennessee, Wes Williams attributes his success to hands-on involvement, a commitment to growth and support for his team’s success.
Wes Williams’s journey to becoming a successful franchisee with Newk’s Eatery is a testament to his hard work, resilience and dedication to creating opportunities for others. Before stepping into franchising, Williams spent over 16 years in the metals distribution industry, working his way up from a truck loader and equipment operator to president of a growing company that eventually generated over $50 million in sales annually. Later, he explored entrepreneurship by opening and running three tanning salons for a decade before selling them in 2018. This hands-on business experience prepared him for franchising. “We were really successful, and it allowed me to try some other investments and things,” said Williams.
Williams’s connection with Newk’s Eatery began when a University of Mississippi graduate introduced him to the brand. Initially, he passed on the opportunity, but a second chance arose when a group of partners planned to open a Newk’s in his hometown of Jonesboro, Arkansas. Since then, Williams has grown his footprint to six Newk’s locations across Arkansas and Tennessee, including stores in Jonesboro, Hot Springs, Conway, Little Rock and, most recently, Knoxville.
“When you’re with a big group, everyone has different tastes, and I noticed that the Newk’s menu had something for everyone,” Williams said. “It has a universal appeal, which I thought made it a great fit — our food appeals to many different people.”
Looking to the future, Williams has ambitious plans for growth, with at least three more stores lined up and the potential for further expansion. However, he stresses the importance of building a team of people eager to grow with him. “I was given opportunities because I worked hard,” he said, “and I want to offer those same chances to our key people who have been with us from the start. As we grow, they grow too.”
Through his franchising journey, Williams has learned that success comes from dedication and hands-on involvement. “Franchising gives you a solid starting point, but it’s not something you can just put money into and expect it to run itself,” he said. “You have to show up, make decisions and work hard.”
Williams sat down with 1851 Franchise to talk about his journey into franchising, his partnership with Newk’s and his plans for the future. Here’s what he had to say:
1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?
Wes Williams: I was working at the metals distribution center as a truck loader and equipment operator. Then I had an opportunity to come to Jonesboro, Arkansas, for a new startup metal distribution company. I worked my way up and, at one point, became the president of the company, staying there for about 16 years. We grew that business significantly — by the time I left, my locations were responsible for over $50 million in sales a year.
During that time, I had a customer who built tanning beds, and they showed us their business model. They offered everything needed to get started, so as an investment, we started tanning salons and grew that to three locations, which we ran for about ten years before selling them in 2018.
Eventually, I was introduced to Newk’s by an Ole Miss [University of Mississippi] grad who wanted to open a restaurant in our town. After looking at a few locations, we decided the timing wasn’t right, so we passed. Later, another group approached us, and that’s when we opened our first Newk’s in 2013. I’d gotten out of the steel business around 2010 and had been running my own businesses since then — including rental investment properties and commercial real estate. We added Newk’s to our portfolio and now operate six locations.
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?
Williams: I didn’t know much about it initially. I worked for a franchisee at a fast-food restaurant in high school, but I was just a guy making the food and getting a paycheck every week — I didn’t understand how it all worked. My first experience that was somewhat similar to franchising was with the tanning salons. It wasn’t a true franchise, but they helped with marketing, designed my store and provided all the equipment. It was almost like a business in a box, but there were no royalties or ad funds.
When we opened our first Newk’s with a couple of partners, we initially thought we’d just be investors, but we quickly learned you have to be hands-on and put in the work. Franchising gives you a solid starting point, but it’s not something you can just put money into and expect it to run itself — you have to show up, make decisions and work hard. That’s what I’d tell people about franchising: it’s a great foundation, but you have to be actively involved for it to succeed.
1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?
Williams: When my son played travel baseball, we often found ourselves eating at Newk’s between games. When you’re with a big group, everyone has different tastes, and I noticed that the Newk’s menu had something for everyone. It has a universal appeal, which I thought made it a great fit — our food appeals to many different people.
1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?
Williams: We have at least three more stores signed up to open, and we want to expand beyond that. Growth depends on finding the right opportunities and having people within our team who are willing to take on the challenge. We employ about 200 people, and some are interested in growing with us, which is exciting. In the steel business, I was given opportunities because I worked hard, and I want to offer those same chances to our key people who have been with us from the start. As we grow, they grow too.
1851: What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?
Williams: If you look at me on paper, I’m not a “five-star recruit.” I didn’t finish college, I didn’t come from a wealthy family and I grew up with some hardships. I grew up in a two-bedroom mobile home and relied on free school lunches. At the time, I envied friends who had more, but I now realize my dad gave me something far more valuable. He taught me the importance of working hard and going after what I want. That’s been the most valuable gift I’ve received, and I’ve seen the same work ethic pay off with some of our team members. They might not look impressive on paper, but they’ve worked hard and succeeded, and I’m happy to give them the same opportunities I was given.
1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?
Williams: Really evaluate the opportunity and make sure you’re ready for the risks involved. There’s another successful business owner in town who says, “If you knew the risks I’ve taken, you wouldn’t be able to sleep at night.” That’s true — there are a lot of sleepless nights, and running a business has many moving parts. You have to look at the numbers, ask questions and decide if you’re at a place in your life where you can commit the time and effort it needs. You won’t see huge success in the first six months; you have to be in it for the long haul. As you grow, you can build a team around you, but it takes time. If it’s right for you, go for it, but know that it requires a lot of hard work and dedication.
About Newk’s Eatery
Based in Jackson, Mississippi, Newk’s Eatery is a fast-casual chain that operates and franchises just under 100 units in 12 states. Founded in 2004 and named after Co-Founder Chris “Newk” Newcomb, Newk’s offers salads, sandwiches, soups and pizzas, all made in-house without fryers or microwaves. Fresh grab-and-go options are also available, and Newk’s new mobile app, now available on Google Play and the App Store, offers mobile ordering for curbside, in-store pickup or delivery. In 2020, Newk’s ranked in Nation’s Restaurant News’ “Top 200 Countdown” and Restaurant Business’ Top 250 Chains. Newk’s has also been selected as a Top Food Franchise by Entrepreneur. In 2021, Newk’s was recognized in Nation’s Restaurant News as a “Top Scorer in Takeout Food Quality” and ranked among the highest “True Loyalty” scores – the percentages of respondents who said they visit because of a real desire to experience the brand, as opposed to convenience. For more information, visit newks.com, join Newk’s Rewards or follow Newk’s on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter. For franchise information, visit newks.com/franchise.
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