Multi-Brand and Multi-Unit Franchisees Find Continued Success with Ruby Tuesday

For Todd Hoekstra, working in the restaurant industry is nothing new. He has years of experience under his belt—he worked at Chi-Chi’s before eventually opening up multiple Applebee’s locations in the South Dakota area. But it wasn’t until he started franchising with Ruby Tuesday that he found the brand and business momentum that he was looking for.

Hoekstra first joined Ruby Tuesday’s franchise system in 2003, when he was approached by his friend Lee Howell. Howell was looking for a business partner with restaurant experience to develop the Ruby Tuesday brand because he was a longtime fan of its superior food and customer service. Hoekstra, who also enjoyed dining out at Ruby Tuesday locations, jumped at the chance to get involved.

“As soon as Lee approached me about getting involved with Ruby Tuesday, I knew it was something I wanted to be a part of. I fully believe in the brand, and was curious to see where we would be able to grow,” said Hoekstra. “It’s a business decision that’s definitely paid off for the both of us—we’ve seen incredible success and are continuing to expand our reach as franchisees.”

Now, Hoekstra and Howell own and operate 11 restaurants across four different states—Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota and Wyoming. Their most recent location, which opened in Gillette, Wyoming in June, is already seeing a spike in sales. That success is due in part to Hoekstra’s and Howell’s hands-on approach to restaurant franchise ownership.

“We live and breathe our restaurants’ operations. We aren’t semi-absentee owners by any means—we’re in our restaurants as often as possible and we oversee the day-to-day operations on a regular basis,” said Hoekstra. “We also have a great relationship with the corporate team—Ruby Tuesday is there to offer the support we need while giving us the space and freedom to run our restaurants as we see fit.”

Ruby Tuesday is currently in the process of expanding its franchise program—the brand wants to welcome more owners and operators into its system in communities across the country. That means working with franchisees like Hoekstra and Howell to perfect its franchise system and continue to develop its environment that fosters growth and success. The business partners are capitalizing on this unique opportunity—they’ve already signed franchise agreements to open even more Ruby Tuesday restaurants.

“I’m incredibly excited about where I believe the brand will go in the months and years to come. The current leadership team is exceptional, and franchisees like myself really have a strong voice,” said Hoekstra. “It’s a great time to be a part of the Ruby Tuesday team. As the brand continues to grow its franchise system and reposition itself in the market, I’m confident that more local business owners will see success.”