Coolgreens Builds on Growth Momentum in Home State of Oklahoma with Newest Signing

Chris and Susan both grew up in northwest Oklahoma in a town called Enid. Attending Drummond High School, the two began to date and were high school sweethearts. Staying together during their college years, Chris and Susan attended Oklahoma State University. Surviving the four years, the two were destined to live the rest of their lives together.

“After college, I took a job in Alaska,” said Chris during an interview with 1851 Franchise. Susan came with and the two began their professional lives. Chris’s profession brought him into the oil and gas industry, while Susan found a position with a brokerage firm, which turned into her career. While living in Alaska Chris and Susan found a love for the outdoors.

The two left Alaska as Chris’s job took them to Dallas, TX. The Gates couple turned into a family as their first son was born. After spending four years in Dallas, Chris and Susan looked to move. “We found ourselves missing the outdoors,” explained Susan, “so we picked up and moved to Colorado.”

In Colorado, Chris began to phase out of his role in the oil and gas industry, and began to develop sales experience with high tech companies. There was even more change as the Gates’s added to their family, when their second son was born. Chris and Susan spent seven years in Colorado, but needed change. “With two little boys and missing both of our families, we moved back to Oklahoma to Claremore and then recently to Owasso – suburbs just outside of Tulsa,” explained Susan.

Moving back home, Chris kept with his role in the high-tech sales industry, but Susan transitioned to being a stay-at-home-mom to raise the boys. After a few years, the boys were old enough and Susan followed an old aspiration to open a coffee shop which she named Pecan Porch Coffee & Tea Company in Catoosa.

The coffee shop let the two taste what it is like to own their own business. The coffee shop grew and spiraled into success; enough success for recognition. Chris and Susan won Entrepreneur of the Year within their area. “After several years, I decided to sell Pecan Porch,” said Susan. “I then took a job with the University of Tulsa.”

Missing the feeling of owning their own business, the two began to investigate franchising where one day, while reading the Tulsa World, Chris and Susan saw a story about Coolgreens looking to develop within Tulsa. “I got a call from Chris and Susan and automatically knew they were a great fit for the brand,” said Clay Carson, Coolgreens Vice President of Franchise Development. A few months into negotiations with the brand, Chris and Susan signed a multi-unit deal with Coolgreens aiming to bring three to the Tulsa food scene.

“Coolgreens fits perfectly into our lives because we are very health conscious and strive to eat healthy. I believe Coolgreens will do well in the Tulsa area because of the variety it brings,” explained Chris. Additionally, the two realized they were part of the momentum of making Tulsa a healthier city.

With the help of Clay and the rest of the Coolgreens support system, the two look to bring the Oklahoma City based healthy eatery to Tulsa in the late summer of 2018, with the other two locations following.