Multi-Unit Franchisee Magazine Issue III, 2014 | Page 42

2014 MVP AWARDS
BY DEBBIE SELINSKY

Brand Builder

Big expansion plans ahead for this multi-state operator

L

arry Lee had a built-in advantage when
he leveraged his career in real estate
and shopping center development to
include franchising.
“Great locations will offset everything
else,” says the Texan, who has 16 McAlister’s
Deli locations open, with plans to add two
dozen more by 2015 as he expands beyond
his base in Texas and New Mexico. Lee first
ate in a McAlister’s at one of his San Antonio
shopping centers. “No matter how great your
marketing is, you can’t market your way out
of a bad location,” he says.
Lee says his learning curve as he entered
franchising was relatively easy. “Franchising
was a little new, but I knew about the real
estate, of course, and the financing requirements. Dealing with a franchisor was a little
different but that’s gone well, too,” he says.
His winning approach led him to sign on
with McAlister’s for development rights in
half of Texas and all of New Mexico, Idaho,
and Utah. “We’re up to 16 restaurants with
four more under construction,” he says. “Our
future growth will create approximately 1,200
jobs throughout these local communities and
give us an opportunity to bring McAlister’s
NAME: Larry G. Lee
TITLE: CEO, Southwest Deli Group,

Odessa, Tex.
NO OF UNITS: McAlister’s Deli, 19;

Wings ’N More Express, 3
AGE: 57
FAMILY: Sons Clinton and his wife

Cassie, and Dustin
YEARS IN FRANCHISING: 12
YEARS IN CURRENT POSITION: 12

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MULTI-UNIT FRANCHISEE IS S UE III, 2014