U.S. Marine Captain Robert Rutter won $500,000 on the FOX game show “Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader?” Now he hopes to use part of his winnings and cash in on a barbecue restaurant franchise.
Rutter signed on with Dickey’s Barbecue, a 67-year-old company based in Dallas that’s expanding around the country. His store will be in the Shops at Wesley Chapel, one of six stores under development in Florida.
Construction of Rutter’s 1,727-square-foot, 60-seat store is scheduled to begin by Oct. 15 to be completed by Dec. 16.
Rutter discovered Dickey’s Barbecue while doing research on franchising as an investment for his game show money. He chose the company for its food, fast-casual concept and family tradition, a release said.
Franchises cost between $329,000 and $400,000 to build from scratch. Some owners spend less by converting an existing restaurant, said Tom Petska, franchise developer for the eastern half of the United States.
“I consider myself a barbecue connoisseur and as a Marine have had the opportunity to taste barbecue all over the country, and Dickey’s is the best,” Rutter said in the release. “I was really impressed with the company and CEO Roland Dickey, who took the time to answer all my questions and laid out a detailed plan for the future.”
Logo from Dickey’s.
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