Former Denny's Waitress Amassed 75 Denny's Restaurants

[Alan C.]

How a Former Denny's Waitress Amassed an Empire of Over 75 Denny's Locations

 

Dawn Lafreeda began working at a Denny's in California at 16, making her way from hostess to waitress. During college, she took on a second job at a software company, where she learned about accounting and managing personnel.In 1984, when she was 23, Lafreeda was able to merge all her skills when she had the opportunity to purchase a Denny's restaurant in the tiny mining town of Globe, Ariz. She jumped at the chance. "I knew from a young age I was going to own my own business," she says. "I always knew I was going to be self-employed."Eighteen months later, impressed by what Lafreeda had accomplished, Denny's offered her four ailing restaurants in west Texas. It was a challenge whipping the stores into shape, but for Lafreeda the biggest hurdle was culture shock--she wasn't prepared for the area's depressed economy and arid landscape. Every week she called Denny's executives and asked them to sell her a store in the big city of San Antonio. Eventually they did, and since moving there, Lafreeda has increased her empire to 75 Denny's locations in six states, becoming the largest single-owner franchisee in the system.

 

This worthwhile story illustrates how a person can work his/her way up from the bottom and become a successful entrepreneur.

 

Of course, one could also go the State violence route and use "civil rights" to simply plunder Denny's restaurants.

[cab21]

how did a 16 year old work without government stopping her and shutting down the business?

[WorBlux]

I started working (summers) at 14

[Mr. Wrong]

That's an awesome story. It's inspiring actually.