Husband and Wife Duo Achieve Their Dream of Restaurant Ownership with Eggs Up Grill

Eggs Up Grill is continuing to take the Southeast by storm…this time around with husband and wife franchisee duo, Jerry and Tammy Storms who are set to achieve their dream of restaurant ownership by bringing Eggs Up Grill to their breakfast-loving community of Wake Forest, North Carolina.

The couple has always loved going out to eat breakfast together and has been doing so multiple times a week for over 20 years. After purchasing a vacation getaway in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, they discovered Eggs Up Grill and the breakfast, brunch and lunch restaurant quickly became their new go-to spot. “In a town that has many breakfast options, it was clear that Eggs Up Grill was special,” said Jerry. “We fell in love with the atmosphere, the quality of the food, the friendly service and, of course, the affordable price.”

Eggs Up Grill started along the coast of South Carolina, opening up in Pawleys Island in 1997. The restaurant quickly became a fixture in the community for breakfast, brunch and lunch. Residents and tourists alike appreciated the neighborhood gathering place with great food and friendly service. Acquired in 2018 by private investment firm WJ Partners, the brand has stayed true to that authentic neighborhood experience, growing in more than 40 communities across the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida.

When the Storms decided to follow their lifelong dream of owning a restaurant, Eggs Up Grill was the obvious choice. After doing their due diligence, including speaking to numerous existing franchisees and meeting with the expert leadership team, Tammy and Jerry signed on with the brand in 2019.

They were attracted to the brand’s community-centric culture and authenticity.

“We have lived in Wake Forest for 35 years, and it still has the small-town feel even though it is a community that is growing quickly,” said Tammy. “We believe the local feel of Wake Forest will align well with the community-oriented atmosphere of Eggs Up Grill.”

The location in Wake Forest will be one of at least 6 opening in North Carolina in 2020. Multi-Unit deals in Wilmington, North Carolina, as well as signings in Hendersonville, Garner and Asheville are propelling the brand’s growth in the Tar Heel state with neighborhoods still available for future expansion. Eggs Up Grill was recently recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine and plans to achieve 100-locations by mid-2022.

The Eggs Up Grill leadership team made the Storms feel very welcome as first-time business owners. “Owning a breakfast restaurant has been a dream of ours, and we are so thankful that Eggs Up Grill is helping us achieve that goal,” said Jerry. “Since neither of us have restaurant experience, it’s nice to be given a model for us to follow that will lead to success.”

The Storms aren’t the only entrepreneurs coming to Eggs Up Grill from a different industry—because of this support and the simplicity of the business model, roughly 60% of the brand’s operators come from a non-restaurant background.

Although the two are joining Eggs Up Grill from non-restaurant backgrounds, they have a wealth of managerial experience. “I am a superintendent in road construction,” said Jerry. “Previous to the construction business, I also spent several years as a trucking manager, scheduling and maintaining positive relationships with independent contractors and managing a team of 15 members.”

Tammy also has extensive management experience. “Twenty-five years in the pharmaceutical industry has provided me with an understanding of what it’s like to work in a highly regulated industry,” said Tammy. “My experience has provided me with the skills to analyze and understand the financial well-being of business opportunities.”

Eggs Up Grill offers these franchisees several benefits, including a simple business model, strong unit-level economics, a track record of success, fantastic guest reviews, an experienced leadership team and support system and family-friendly hours of operation (6am–2pm), which provide franchisees with an advantageous work-life balance.

“With Eggs Up Grill, it is great to know we are going into business for ourselves but not by ourselves,” said Jerry. “We have been considering the idea of opening one or two more locations in the surrounding area. Our main focus right now is making sure our first location in Wake Forest is a success so we can make a positive impact in our community.”