---
title: "CEO Ricky Richardson On NPR: Growing a Restaurant During the Age of COVID-19"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/add6e463-225a-4fb2-b5b6-ad4bc90c6216
source: "1851 Franchise"
original_url: https://1851franchise.com/ceo-ricky-richardson-on-npr-growing-a-restaurant-during-the-age-of-covid-19-2714245
category: "Restaurants"
industry: "Restaurants"
topics: ["People"]
published: 2020-11-13T22:17:50.000Z
modified: 2026-11-01T02:27:41.893Z
image: https://newimage.1851franchise.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=85,format=webp,width=1280,height=720/story/featureImage/fc77d8cc859e7df65d1dcc023a5e31fa60.jpg
---

# CEO Ricky Richardson On NPR: Growing a Restaurant During the Age of COVID-19

**TL;DR:** Eggs Up Grill CEO Ricky Richardson discusses the brand's growth during the COVID-19 pandemic, with 6 new restaurants opened in 2020 and 3 more set to open by year's end. The brand will expand into new states including Virginia, Alabama, and Tennessee in 2021.

*originally published in 1851 Franchise on 2020-11-13. [Read the original](https://1851franchise.com/ceo-ricky-richardson-on-npr-growing-a-restaurant-during-the-age-of-covid-19-2714245).*

## Story

Eggs Up Grill, the breakfast, brunch and lunch restaurant concept, has continued its rapid expansion as 2020 comes to a close. So far, 6 restaurants have opened this year with another 3 set to open before the end of the year.

"I credit the hard, hard work of our franchise partners to run safe, clean, enjoyable experiences in their restaurant." The community involvement has been very important," said Richardson.

Richardson noted that there hasn't been a single closure of any existing restaurant and that sales levels are at "95% of what they were pre-COVID."

Ahead in 2021, the brand will enter new states including Virginia, Alabama and Tennessee.

"It's unique and opportunistic for people who really enjoy being a business owner, but also enjoy the hospitality and community nature of a brand like Eggs Up Grill."

## Entities

- 1851 Franchise (publication)
- Restaurants (sector)
- unit expansion (topic)
- Tennessee (location)
- covid-19 impact (topic)
- Virginia (location)
- restaurant growth (topic)
- Alabama (location)
- Eggs Up Grill (company)
- Ricky Richardson (person)
- franchise partners (topic)

---
Originally reported by 1851 Franchise (https://1851franchise.com/ceo-ricky-richardson-on-npr-growing-a-restaurant-during-the-age-of-covid-19-2714245). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/add6e463-225a-4fb2-b5b6-ad4bc90c6216).