I saw something akin to the Mean Jim Greene coke commercial in January on a flight into Pensacola. Jerel Worthy from Green Bay was on the flight, and in the baggage claim area he saw a nine year old boy decked out, head to toe in Green Bay gear a week after they had been eliminated from the play offs. He came over and thanked the kid for supporting the team, autographed his hat, shook his hand, took pictures, etc. It was pretty cool.
Franchising worked for Junior Bridgeman. After a 13-year NBA career, he became a franchisee for Wendy’s. Today, his company owns 160 of the restaurants and Bridgeman is the second-largest Wendy’s franchisee. I would imagine the franchise fee for Jimmy John’s is much lower than for a Wendy’s. And unlike Subway, I don’t think they have a reputation for plunking down a company store two blocks away from a franchisee’s location.