A Family Affair: Why Third-Generation A&W Owner Anthony Walker Invested in the Iconic Brand

Anthony Walker is the owner of the A&W in Baldwin, Wisconsin — a restaurant that’s been around since the 1960s, when his grandparents first opened it. Initially, it was a seasonal Root Beer stand. Now, Walker is the proud owner of one of the biggest A&W’s in the country, one that seats 160 guests and takes up roughly four acres of land.

“I like to say I grew up with Root Beer in my veins,” Walker joked. “There’s a lot of family history with A&W. I’m not alone. There are multiple generations and people with similar situations to mine. It’s awesome.”

Walker says he feels incredibly blessed to have a job he loves. And the A&W brand supports franchisee’s entrepreneurial dreams, especially those of young up-and-comers.

“I’m only 32, and I absolutely love what I do,” Walker said. “Sure, I’ve learned a lot from my family, but A&W also wants feedback on what younger generations want. I think that’s why I’m a good fit for the National A&W Franchise Advisory Board (NAWFA). They wanted to learn from us and from our store.”

Because of A&W’s solid support structure, Walker believes there’s potential for growth even further throughout Wisconsin and even Minnesota — something the corporate team has already suggested to him because of his dedication to the brand.

“If I ever tell anyone I’m from Baldwin, they associate us with the A&W,” he said. “They say, ‘Oh! Your town has that A&W!’ We’re unique because we’re a landmark store. And I have been interested in building more stores. In fact, A&W has approached me about building more stores. They want franchisees who are good operators to open more.”

“It’s rare to find a brand with third- or fourth-generation owners. But that is a big part of A&W,” said Paul Martino, president and COO of the brand. “We’re so lucky to have them and are even more fortunate to have them as leaders for A&W. They’re instrumental in our growth because not only are they opening new locations, but they can also mentor new franchisees.”

Despite the economic challenges A&W — and the entire restaurant industry — faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, Walker says his location saw strong sales growth.

“Our whole industry has been growing profitable sales, and during the pandemic, business increased,” he said. “When COVID started, we remodeled our restaurant, ripped out our old drive-thru lane and put in a new one. We were one of the first A&W’s to do that. It was new for A&W, and we capitalized on it. We closed our dining room and have been much better at drive-thrus ever since.”

Walker’s advice to other young entrepreneurs who are interested in franchising? Pick a brand that already has a legacy and has strong leaders.

“With A&W, it’s proven, and we found out we can make it through anything. There are a lot of concepts out there that come and go. I would say to go with something that is proven and has a great track record,” he said. “I would also recommend looking at leadership. We have a leadership team that’s been with A&W for a long time. Kevin Bazner is fantastic.”