He Spent Years at Franchise HQ. Now He Runs His Own Location.

Tony Hickombottom spent years inside franchise headquarters, first working near the top at Jimmy John's and later at the childcare brand Kids 'R' Kids, before he and his wife Kendele became owners themselves. As Black Enterprise reports, the couple opened a Little Gym in the Chicago suburb of Naperville in April 2025, the brand's first spot in that market. They found the kids' fitness chain as parents in Atlanta, then moved home to the Chicago area and saw nothing like it nearby. Kendele brings a background in nonprofit marketing and runs a mentoring nonprofit for first-generation college students. Tony says year one was harder than expected, and the biggest hurdle was simply getting known: a 50-year-old brand still meant nothing to local families. So they lean on community events, local partners and neighborhood associations. His advice for would-be franchisees: research the brand, talk to owners who struggled as well as the winners, decide how hands-on you want to be, and pick a business that fits the life you want.