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| People.. |
Peake condition
Franchisee takes political action
Ask any business person to divulge the secret to a successful venture and he or she will almost always reply: It’s the people. Well, we feel the same way about our editorial coverage. It’s the people who make franchising so rewarding to cover.
In addition to being an enviable golfer and runner, Allen Peake’s run for state representative had some unforeseen benefits for his business, too.
When Allen Peake went door to door campaigning for a seat in Georgia’s House of Representatives last fall, he never failed to mention, “by the way, I own Captain D’s Seafood and Cheddar’s (franchises), I hope you’ve had a chance to visit us.”
 Allen Peake, left, and partner Mike Chumbley at Peake's swearing in ceremony at the Georgia House of Representatives. |
And although he ran against “a guy who was better known than me, I had the contacts,” the 45-year-old businessman says. “People had seen me at the restaurants.”
Peake, who was sworn into office January 8, isn’t sure yet what the impact of his second career will be on his business work wise, but sales wise it’s already proven to be a winner. “Our restaurant business has been in double-digits in sales ever since I was elected,” he says.
His business partner, Mike Chumbley, was his inspiration for running for office, although Chumbley wasn’t able to use his restaurants to his advantage when he campaigned—“Byron is too small for (our) restaurants,” he says.
A reluctant politician, Chumbley is a city councilman for Byron, Ga., with a population of 3,200. He said the job, which he’s held for six years, “has been one of the greatest experiences and one of the most frustrating.” In the restaurant business, for instance, “if we have a problem, we have the empowerment to solve it. In government you have to go through all sorts of channels..(and) committees…no one can see more than 12 months ahead.”
Perhaps it was for that very reason Peake decided to throw his hat in the ring. “I had the conviction that we needed businesspeople running our state,” he says. “(Georgia has a $20 billion budget and) I felt like we needed people who could make good, commonsense decisions.”
He’s on the elite Ways and Means Committee, an assignment freshmen representatives rarely receive, as well as the Banks and Banking, Health and Human Services and Children & Youth committees.
He’s also credited with being part of a “clean and refreshing” campaign run, according to a local TV news station out of Macon.
Chumbley also is an unusual politician. He voted for his opponent; and donates his stipend—$100 a month when he started, which his colleagues voted to increase to $250 recently—to a fund that pays the utility bills for people who can’t afford the cost.
Running businesses
A CPA by training, Peake went to work for RMS Family Restaurants in 1985 in the accounting department. The franchisee company had 50 Shoneys and Captain D’s, and in the early ‘90s they merged with a large Popeyes franchisee. In 1995, Peake was CFO and then CEO and Chumbley, who moved up the ladder on the operations side, became COO. Five years later they divided up the company and sold the individual restaurant groups. Peake and Chumbley bought the 11 Captain D’s. “We had experience running them,” Peake says, “and knew they were solid performers.” The seafood concept doesn’t have as many peers competing with it as, say, the hamburger segment, he adds.
 Allen Peake is sworn into office as his mother holds the Bible and his family looks on. |
They named their new endeavor C&P Restaurant Company and added Cheddar’s to the mix. The two call Cheddar’s—which Peake describes as a cross between T.G.I.Friday’s and Houston’s—“the best-kept secret in the restaurant industry.”
They now have 12 Captain D’s and three Cheddars with plans to build one to two Cheddar’s a year, although the big-box concept are also “big investments.”
His business philosophy is to have a service attitude: “service to community, service to customers, service to employees.” His advice to others thinking about the restaurant business: Don’t do it. “It takes a lot of time and sacrifice,” he explains.
It’s worked for him because he found the right concepts and the right people—from his partner down to his managers whom they pay well and reward with bonuses off profits.
“I’m fortunate to be partners with Mike,” Peake says. “He can go into the kitchen when we’re in the weeds and fix it in three minutes.” Peake deals with the front of the house and the finances. “And, we’re good friends, which helps,” he adds.
Somehow, Peake also manages to fit golf into his schedule. He plays competitive amateur golf and qualified for the 2005 U.S. Mid-Amateur tournament.
His new extra-curriculum endeavor will keep him busy the first 40 days of the calendar year when the state legislature is in session, and then the “rest of the year won’t be as time intensive,” he says.
Chumbley considered running for the house also, but “we both don’t need to be gone for the first 40 days of the year.” And, he admits, “Allen’s a little bit more polished than I am.”
