Five years ago, Amber Thomas was just a Chick-Fil-A intern.
But now, she owns her own restaurant franchise.
And to make things more interesting, Thomas has now become the only Black owner of a Chick-Fil-A restaurant in Spring Valley, California, a San Diego suburb.
She Didn’t Initially Expect It
Five years ago, Thomas couldn’t even entertain the thought of owning her own Chick-Fil-A restaurant.
After all, she was still just 17 and didn’t come from a wealthy family.
But she’s done it, and it still feels unreal.
Thomas is still absorbing that she now owns and runs a Chick-Fil-A restaurant in an area she is familiar with.
A Decent Support System
Thomas has her family to thank for her entrepreneurial ambitions.
At first, she was determined to become a physical therapist, and she didn’t entertain the thought of pursuing anything else.
But her mom asked her if she could consider owning her own Chick-Fil-A restaurant, and her sister inspired her to consider becoming a business owner.
With constant support from her mother, sister, and grandmother, Thomas eventually decided to open and run a restaurant in her area.
Running the Chick-Fil-A The Right Way
Thomas isn’t a passive owner.
She is pretty hands-on when it comes to running the restaurant.
For instance, she always greets customers when they enter the store.
She also encourages her staff and offers the kind of advice her younger self would have appreciated.
Being an Inspiration in Her Community
Thomas believes we should keep working hard, and our future selves will be proud.
She is a real example of that ethos and an inspiration to other Black women.
In time, we will hopefully see Thomas open other restaurants, create jobs for more people from her community, and become a significant player in her industry.
And considering her age, Thomas has all the time she needs to realize her goals.
