Jeff Rigsby is now the largest franchisee in the Bojangles system.
Bojangles Opco, LLC, a Southern restaurant franchise with more than 760 sites throughout the Southeast, has announced the signing of a development deal with longtime franchisee Jeff Rigsby.
The deal consists of 45 new locations over the next seven years, in Rigsby’s core markets of Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee, along with a new Bojangles market: Columbus, Ohio, which is slated for 15 locations.
As well as the planned 45 new developments, Rigsby has also acquired 16 company-operated Bojangles sites, making him the largest franchisee in the system. He currently operates 92 locations, and with nine approved sites set to open in 2021, he will finish the year with 100 stores.
“Jeff has been a valued partner of the Bojangles brand for over 20 years, and we could not be more thrilled to extend this business relationship to 45 new locations, including expansion into a new market for our brand,” said Jose Costa, chief development officer for Bojangles. “He embodies what it means to proudly represent this beloved chain, and we are looking forward to many more years of success for Jeff.”
Rigsby joined the chicken-and-biscuits chain in 1994 as an area supervisor in Greenville, South Carolina. He was later promoted to director of operations – a role in which he oversaw more than 35 stores throughout the Carolinas.
In 2001, Rigsby harnessed his entrepreneurial spirit and became a franchisee, buying six stores in Asheville, North Carolina. Since that time, his Bojangles franchise has seen exponential growth across five states.
“Over the past 20 years, my partnership with Bojangles has been rewarding and full of growth, and this major milestone and accompanying investment deal is a perfect indicator of that,” said Rigsby. “I’m grateful for what we’ve accomplished together, and I’m excited for what’s to come.”
