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Dont Drop The Ball: Attracting Athlete Investors to Your Restaurant or Franchise

Game On! Restaurant Brokers Interview Pro Athletes Turned Restaurant Owners

Pro Athletes Talk to The We Sell Restaurant Brokers

Restaurant Reality Dont Drop the Ball

Professional athletes are investing in restaurant concepts, franchises and clubs at increasing rates. Is it any wonder those stars on the field or court are looking off the field for their next big investment?

Industry Guests Join the Restaurant Brokers

Carlos Emmons
Carlos Emmons
Carlos A. Emmons is from Greenwood, Mississippi, a former American football linebacker in the National Football League. Emmons started playing football in seventh grade as an offensive linemen before moving to wide receiver in eighth grade. He attended Greenwood High School and played defensive back and linebacker. After high school, he played college football at Arkansas State University where he was a four-year starter and received a Bachelor in Science in Business Management in December 1995. He earned second team All-Big West Conference honors following his senior season, when he had 63 tackles, including four sacks. Emmons was drafted in the seventh round of the 1996 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers and played for the Steelers until 1999. In 2000, he began playing with the Philadelphia Eagles and was named team Defensive MVP in his final year. He signed as free agent by the New York Giants in March 2004 and was released by them on February 12 2007, after having career ending back surgery.
 
While playing in the NFL,Emmons partnered with many NFL Players to establish 51 Ways Charity Foundation Inc. based in Atlanta, GA. It’s a non-profit organization that supports families of children who have been diagnosed with cancer and/or blood disorders through financial, spiritual and physical resources. The efforts of 51 Ways Charity Foundation Inc. brought a multitude of celebrities and athletes together from around the country to support and raise awareness about cancer.
 
Emmons is President/CEO of Emmons, LLC and owns a restaurant/bar called Wet Willie's in Atlanta, GA which opened March 5, 2010. The establishment specializes in serving the World's Greatest Daiquiris and great food with terrific service and entertainment.
  • 267-235-4483 Phone
  • parisnicole@thepnpagency.com Email
  • www.wetwillies.com Website
  • Wet Willies Atlanta Wet Willies Atlanta
George Tinsley Sr.
George Tinsley Sr.
Tinsley’s resume boasts three years as a teacher and coach; a one-year stint as an exhibition specialist for the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center, and training as an FBI agent. However, Tinsley had a burning desire to earn more income for his family. During this time, he was presented with the ground floor opportunity to work as a training instructor for Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) and start its formal training programs for new franchisees.
 
Being one of the first hired into the program afforded Tinsley the opportunity to assist with its development. “My business background was limited, but I had very good people skills,” he said. “And being a former professional athlete opened a lot of doors for interaction with both KFC corporate executives and franchisees.”
 
Although Tinsley’s rise through KFC’s corporate ranks was swift, he aspired to an opportunity without limitations; one that allowed him to reach his full potential. During an informal meeting with several high-level corporate executives, he said, “the idea came up that I should look at becoming a franchisee. So I seized the opportunity and asked them to put the offer in writing.”
 
This paved the way for Tinsley to become a franchisee, opening his first KFC restaurant in Auburndale, Fla. Both Tinsley and his wife, Seretha, quit their jobs, moved the family to Winter Haven, Fla., and embarked on the first of many entrepreneurial endeavors.
 
After their first year as a KFC franchisee, Tinsley said, “The restaurant developed into an outstanding success and spawned other opportunities.”
 
Tinsley developed two KFC restaurants within three years, and later assisted in developing KFC’s minority franchisee program.
 
After six years with KFC, he opened the first African-American owned T.G.I. Fridays® in the U.S.
“It became the No. 1 T.G.I. Fridays® in the U.S. for nine consecutive years, and continues to be a top performer,” he said.Continuing to diversify with other branded concepts, Tinsley Family Concessions now owns and operates more than 50 Florida franchises, with most locations in Miami and Tampa International Airports.
  • 863-412-1764 Phone
  • gtinsley@pengeo.com Email
  • www.georgetinsleysr.com Website
  • Tinsley Family Concessions, Inc Tinsley Family Concessions, Inc
Tye Hill
Tye Hill
South Carolina born Tye Hill is a former college and professional football cornerback who played in the NFL for five seasons. After receiving All-American honors at Clemson University, he was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in 2006. He also played professionally for the Atlanta Falcons, Tennessee Titans and Detroit Lions.
 
He now lives in Atlanta with his family. Hill owns three Golden Corral restaurants with his business partner, James Butler. Together, they founded YBE Enterprise LLC, a food and hospitality company.  The restaurants are located in Oxford, Alabama; Milledgeville, Georgia; and Centerville, Georgia.
  • 843-922-0210 Phone
  • hill@ybeenterprise.com Email
  • www.goldencorralfranchise.com Website
  • Golden Corral Golden Corral
James Butler
James Butler
James Butler of Bainbridge, Georgia was a standout football player at Georgia Tech. He went on to play for the New York Giants when the team won Super Bowl XLII. He also played professionally for St. Louis Rams. He now lives in Atlanta with his family. Butler owns three Golden Corral restaurants with his business partner, Tye Hill. Together, they founded YBE Enterprise LLC, a food and hospitality company.  The restaurants are located in Oxford, Alabama; Milledgeville, Georgia; and Centerville, Georgia.
  • 678-896-6041 Phone
  • butler@ybeenterprise.com Email
  • www.goldencorralfranchise.com Website
  • Golden Corral Golden Corral