Multi-Unit Franchisee Magazine Issue III, 2013

2013 MVP By Kerry Pipes Spreading His Wingstops Following his dad’s advice was a good idea from the start D anny Sonenshine clearly remembers his father encouraging him to look into franchising about 10 years ago. The elder Sonenshine had experienced his own successful career in the restaurant business and had always been an important influence on his son. “There weren’t many Wingstops around Southern California at the time,” recalls Sonenshine, “but my dad saw the potential of the brand and how getting in at the beginning could be a great move.” At the time, Sonenshine was slogging it out as a litigator and transactional attorney with a major law firm in Orange County—and he was unhappy. “I didn’t like working for someone else,” he says, “and I didn’t like not having any control over my schedule.” He heeded his dad’s advice. Although he didn’t know much about franchising or restaurants, he had heard that a couple of Wingstops in California were registering good numbers and that the franchisor was looking for franchisees. That was 2004. Sonenshire signed a deal for 10 units in Southern California and opened his first store in spring 2006. The last time we visited with him (Multi-Unit Franchisee, Q4 2010) he had grown to 11 units. He now has 22 open and 5 more in development. He’s also acquired the rights to Guam and Hawaii (he expects to open two Wingstops in Hawaii next year), and he’s about to add a second brand to his organization. On top of all this, he was named Multi-Unit Franchisee magazine’s Spirit of Franchising Leadership MVP Award winner, and recognized at the Multi-Unit Franchising Conference in March. The Laguna Beach native is on a roll. He’s weathered the tough economic storms of the past few years and come through with flying colors. “Our progress has been to open two to three stores each year, and I see that continuing for at least the next couple of years,” he says. Sonenshine has no regrets about leaving his law career behind and loves Name: Danny Sonenshine Title: President Company: Far West Restaurant Group, LLC No. of units: 22 Wingstops open, 5 in development Age: 40 Family: Wife Kerri; daughters Maggie, 11, and Sarah, 7 Years in franchising: 9 Years in current position: 9 Multi-Unit Franchisee Is s u e III, 2013 41

Multi-Unit Franchisee Magazine Issue III, 2013 | Page 43