Enjoying great chicken in an atmosphere where you can be yourselfthat's what childhood friends Zach McLeroy and Tony Townley wanted to achieve when they founded Zaxby's back in the 1990s. Company Information Childhood friends Zach McLeroy and Tony Townley opened the first Zaxby's restaurant in 1990 in the college town of Statesboro, Georgia. There was always a bit in the back of my mind saying, Its not going to work. During those early years I gave up relationships. Their goal was to provide a fun and relaxing atmosphere that would keep Guests coming back for more. Once Townley officially begins life after Zaxbys, daily leisure isnt in the cards. CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER (CSO) Food & Nutrition zaxbys United States of America Biography Along with childhood pal Zach McLeroy, Tony Townley is one of the "founding fathers" of Zaxby's. As he was from the very earliest days, Tony is responsible for the overall fiscal health of the company. When Oconee County High School graduates Zach McLeroy and Tony Townley sank their savings into a joint business venture three decades ago, little did they know they had planted a seed that would grow into one of the nations largest quick-serve restaurant chains. In 2012, the chain featured celebrities Rachel Dratch, Chris Kattan, Jill Hennessy, Lee Ann Womack, and National Football League linebacker Clay Matthews in its commercials. As for Zaxbys, McLeroy said he and Tony often get offers to buy the business. The menu itself mostly centers around delicious chicken entrees and finger food, but they have also expanded options by offering different sandwich options that you can eat, along with salads, appetizers, and as weve mentioned before, their signature sauce. Also read Who Owns Samsung? "That's exactly right. I love it so much, I cant just go home and sit on my tail. Absolutely devastating. Founders Zach McLeroy and Tony Townley came up with the idea to open Zaxby's while playing a game of basketball. In 1994, McLeroy and Townley . I just thought I needed to slow down and do some things that werent so stressful or intensive, Townley said of his decision to step down as chief strategy officer. [2] The company's first restaurant outside of Georgia was opened in September 1994 in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Segue lendo! Learn how your comment data is processed. Im working 80-90 hours a week. accounts, the history behind an article. The restaurant opened IN 1990 as Zax, with a menu focused on chicken fingers and wings. Well Band-Aid it, and well make it work. With that said, lets dive right into the history of the restaurant. But I was all in. After receiving a bachelors degree in economics and advertising, he worked to work with meat. Some like it, NOT! He began his profession with Zaxby General Director, while the organization had eighty-five locations. She spends her loose time, what occurs to students, catering and working towards shots. Manage Settings Because I was always working. If you live on the West Coast, you are going to be out of luck unfortunately (the closest state out West to try out a Zaxbys is in Utah). Everybody would tell us good luck, but you are not going to make it. Thats why the restaurant chain now has a quiz that you can take on their website that will tell you exactly what your saucenality is; Essentially, the quiz tells you some combinations of sauces that you might like the next time you come in and order some chicken based on your answers. The owner of the franchise will be recruited as the owner of the franchise, a weekly rate of 6% of the gross sales. states. We were also borrowing against credit cards. Open for Lunch & Dinner Dress Code: Casual. With grilled chicken dishes, which contributed in 1990, it contributed to a segment that is already crowded with chains focused on chicken, such as Chick-Fil-A, Bojangles, and Popeyes. Townley is reported to have entered the property armed with an ax before Anderson somehow got hold of a gun and fatally shot him, accidentally hitting Laura with gunfire in the abdomen in the process. To subscribe, call (706) 769-5175 or visit the tab on our website. Laura Townley remainsin a 'serious' condition but is expected to survive. The divorce was finalized last week, according to a police report cited by the Atlanta Journal Constitution. In the early days I was like a nomad. I think our mortgage payment was $600 a month. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'howigotjob_com-banner-1','ezslot_7',195,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-howigotjob_com-banner-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'howigotjob_com-banner-1','ezslot_8',195,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-howigotjob_com-banner-1-0_1');.banner-1-multi-195{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:7px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:7px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}. On March 27, 1990, Zach McLeroy and Tony Townley opened their first Zaxby's restaurant in Statesboro, almost exactly where the Zaxby's on the Georgia Southern campus now sits. Tony Townley stepped down from the company around a year ago after big investment from Goldman Sachs, leaving his fellow co-founder and high school buddyZach McLeroy to run the company. The tree farm ultimately closed in 1998 as the growth of Zaxbys began to explode. At the end of the calendar year, I did not have the money to pay taxes. Real Owner of XPO Logistics. Tony is all bookkeeping. Im not going to be your typical chairman who just goes to the board meetings. Throughout history, there have come and gone many famous and industry inspiring restaurants and fast food chains that have altered the way our society think about food. That's because childhood pals Zach McLeroy and Tony Townley hadn't invented it yet. The first Site of Mississippi was in Oxford, the birthplace of Ole Miss. Zaxby's CEO Zach McLeroy has had one business partner for the past 30 yearshis lifelong best friend, Tony Townley. Zaxbys is an exceptional demonstration. Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. Hes a sharp dresser, McLeroy acknowledged with a laugh. David is a graduate of Georgia generation with an MBA, whether from the Terry College of Business Administration at the University of Georgia. Here is the opportunity to do again and create a change in the lives of those in the following neighborhoods they represent. That was evident during the 1980s when the father, son and Randy Dawson opened Townleys Tree Farm in Oconee County. Ever since we were doing cable spots back in the early 90s. The divorce was still pending at the time of Townley's death. Zaxby's was a sponsor for Joey Clanton in the No. I feel like I have another 20 good years with this business. Hes worked with large brands, and hes worked internationally.. One of the menu items that Zaxbys is especially known for is their signature sauce lineup. According to court records reviewed by DailyMail.com, in August 2019, the NASCAR driver threw his wife, Laura, to the floor, leaving her 'in reasonable fear of the safety of her life, limb and health.'. Scoops about . With over 10 years experience he's covered businesses, CEOs, and investments. Zaxbys has branches in sixteen states withinside the . Jody Allen isnt a particularly well-known figure. "The primary motivator behind the new design concept is to improve operational excellence and guest experience. "We're breaking up the band after all these years," says Zach McLeroy, left, and Tony Townley, co-founders of Zaxby's. This may sound like a crazy made up word, but it is actually something that the Zaxbys company stands by. Laura Townley, 30, was struck by gunfire and wounded after the man she was with at the time, 32-year-old Zachary Anderson, allegedly opened fire on John Wes Townley, who was said to be brandishing an ax. Daddy used to get up every morning at 4 oclock and drive from Watkinsville to Atlanta to work, Townley recalled from his childhood. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. There is a massive explosion of southern cuisine, and peoples different styles did not have 30 years ago. Athens, GA 30606. Attempts to find a buyer fell through, so they pushed ahead with the restaurant. Townley, 31, was shot 9pm on Saturday on Morton Avenue in Athens, Georgia He entered the house armed with an ax, according to a report His ex-wife Laura and Zachary Anderson, 32, were at the home. British Summer Time begins in March but do you wind your watch forward Sickening CCTV footage shows the moment two trains collided and burst into flames in horror smash Greek PM MPs demands the menopause is made a 'protected characteristic' like race or religion - but Equalities Commando, 28, 'told woman he met on dating app "I love it when you keep telling me to stop" as he raped and Charles evicting Harry and Meghan is the act of a King putting his country first: REBECCA ENGLISH reveals A royal princess at Eton? The Zaxby's headquarters now sits in Athens, home of McLeroy's alma mater and his hometown. . Over the last three and half years, Acoca led the brand through a transformation in which digital e-commerce rapidly accelerated, drive-thru and back of the house were streamlined, and the chain doubled-down on its L.A.-Mex brand positioning with a new contemporary restaurant design in preparation for aggressive franchise expansion domestically. What started as a game of basketball between two friends quickly turned into the idea of having one of the best chicken based restaurants in all of Georgia. Also, athletics is an important part of the central culture, which has adopted the shape of Zaxby. I had raised $8,000, and Tony had matched it with $8,000. The site claims to have some truth to the rumor that Zaxby was founded by a former employee of Guthrie's Chicken. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'howigotjob_com-box-4','ezslot_5',194,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-howigotjob_com-box-4-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'howigotjob_com-box-4','ezslot_6',194,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-howigotjob_com-box-4-0_1');.box-4-multi-194{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:7px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:7px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}. that is degrading to another person. [7][8] Some locations had reopened by mid-May of 2020. Not only is the restaurant chain keen on sponsorship throughout the country, Zaxbys has also proven to be dedicated to children all over. 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