Friday, September 17, 2010

Franchisee Profile: Steve and Susan Nichols of Lenny's Sub Shop of Gallatin, TN

Today our franchisee profile will be highlighting Steve and Susan Nichols, our husband and wife franchisees from the Lenny's Sub Shop in Gallatin, TN.

Location: 1025 Nashville Pike Ste 130, Gallatin, TN 37066


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How Steve and Susan Nichols Got Started With Lenny’s Sub Shop
A church pastor all his life and corporate manager of a mobile tool company for eight years, Steve Nichols has had plenty of experience with both community involvement and corporate franchising. However, with a family of six to support, Steve was often forced to spend most of his time on the road, away from his four children and wife Susan, then a stay-at-home mom. Finally, Steve decided to quit his corporate job and look for something else, something that would support his family financially while also allowing him to work with his wife, to be there for his children, and to engage with his community as he so loved to do. Little did he know, a chance discovery on Craigslist would fulfill all these desires and more. Since falling in love with Lenny’s and taking over as local franchisees in June of 2009, Steve and Susan Nichols have watched their little sandwich franchise blossom into a bustling neighborhood hotspot, and they’ve done it all together.

What Steve and Susan Nichols Love About Lenny’s Sub Shop
The Nichols fell in love with Lenny’s Sub Shop the first time they ate there, and their affections have only grown with time. Steve cited the value of the menu, the high quality of the food, and the ever-present atmosphere of friendly hospitality that the restaurant has exuded from the start. The Nichols have nurtured that atmosphere, making Lenny’s the kind of place where customers know they’ll eat great and be personally taken care of every time they show up.

“I truly believe that Lenny’s has the potential to be the best sub shop in the nation,” said Steve. “The giant subs are just that good. And beyond that, it has a personality that sets it apart from everybody else—small services and undeniable value that we’ll never have to apologize for. You never have to apologize for value.”

Something Interesting About Steve and Susan Nichols’ Story…
For Steve and Susan Nichols, it’s the human connections that make this business venture most enjoyable. While Susan tends to gravitate toward marketing while Steve focuses more on daily operations, the duo have what Steve calls “as much a of partnership as you can possibly have,” spending most of each day working in the shop together from 7:30am until closing. Family comes first for the Nichols—with four adopted children ranging in age from 10 to 19, Steve and Susanknow how to create a welcoming environment for young people, and they’ve used this knowledge to make Lenny’s a haven for the Gallatin community at large.

Steve and Susan Nichols’ Community Involvement…
Community involvement is very important to the Nichols family, and they’ve strived to integrate their business into Gallatin community life as fully as possible. As Chamber of Commerce members, they continuously support a slew of local organizations, from the local community college to the local church to the local high school, hosting spirit nights, sponsoring the marching band, and participating in a variety of other events. It is this kind of thoughtful integrity and dedicated cultivation that has turned their Lenny’s franchise into what it is today: a successful and beloved community restaurant with real expansion potential.

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