Franchisee Spotlight: Chris Procell

Chris Procell and his father, Melvin Procell, are spearheading the growth of Lenny’s Sub Shop throughout Louisiana, with the brand’s first location in the state opening in Shreveport in June of 2011. The father/son team is planning an aggressive growth strategy of multiple locations expanding across north Louisiana over the next decade. A recent law school graduate, Chris Procell chose to go into the restaurant industry, where he will be working alongside his employees making sandwiches for his customers, because he wants to bring Lenny’s great sub options to Louisiana.

Before Franchising, what were you involved with?

I graduated from the Mississippi College School of Law in 2010 and just recently passed the Louisiana Bar Exam. I sparked interest in the franchise business while in school and thought that north Louisiana needed a Lenny’s.

How did you learn about the brand?

When I was in law school I was introduced to the brand at the location in Jackson, Miss. I loved their food and I always felt like it was a great, young, family brand. When I moved back to Louisiana I wished there was a Lenny’s around for me to enjoy.

Why is this brand and a franchise system the right fit for you?

We are looking forward to the opportunity to bring a new brand to the area.  We slice our meats and cheeses fresh to order and pile them high on fresh baked bread. With about a half pound of meat and cheese on the regular size sub, and about a full pound on the large size sub, Lenny's provides an unmatched value for our guests' hard earned dollars. Our Philly Cheesesteak is cooked fresh to order and is served hot off the grill.

What are your future goals? Development plans?

My father and I have the goal to open ten stores over the next 10 years. We’re going to start with our first store in Shreveport, which is on the west end of our territory, and then will work our way east. Our second store will most likely be in Bossier. We want to open other locations in Natchitoches, Minden, Ruston, Monroe and West Monroe throughout the next decade. 

Lenny's Sub Shop featured in Bossier Press-Tribune

Lenny’s Sub Shop was recently featured in the Bossier Press-Tribune in an article about the first Lenny’s location to open in Louisiana. Chris Procell opened his Lenny’s Sub Shop in Shreveport recently after falling in love with the brand while he was in college in Mississippi. The recent law school graduate enlisted the help of his father to open the franchise location, and the pair plan to bring 10 to the Louisiana area in the next decade. In the article, Lenny’s Sub Shop president, Brent Alvord, also talked about going into the sub business with his father when they acquired the franchise from its original founder in 2004. A portion of the article is below and it can be read in its entirety by clicking here.

National chain opens local shop

The first time Chris Procell of Homer took a bite of the #6 Deluxe Combo at Lenny’s Sub Shop, it was truly love at first bite.

That day in Jackson, Mississippi changed the course of his life and has brought a national sub shop chain to the Ark-La-Tex.

After receiving a degree in economics from Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, Procell decided to pursue a law degree at the Mississippi College Law School. That’s when he first discovered his love for the Deluxe Combo with turkey, roast beef and bacon.

After that visit, Procell said he ate at Lenny’s Sub Shop once or twice a week for the next three years, ordering the same sandwich every time.

When he was finished with law school in 2010, he returned to Louisiana. However, something was missing.

“I missed the product,” Procell said. “Next thing I knew, I was on a plane to Memphis and signing a franchise agreement.”

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