Franchisee Feature: PJ Patel – Blakey, GA
At Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, we know that potential restaurant owners are looking for more than great food when searching for the right franchise opportunity. We know that it is also greatly about brining value to a community and building a business with long term potential for success. For PJ Patel, joining the Dickey’s Barbecue Pit family was the perfect opportunity to do both.
As a new franchise owner in Blakely, Georgia, PJ is focused on introducing Legit.Texas.Barbecue.™ to his hometown while creating a welcoming gathering place for the local community.
Why PJ Chose Dickey’s Barbecue Pit
Coming from a small town, PJ and his family recognized an opportunity to bring something unique to their area — a concept the community didn’t already have.
“We’re from a small town and we always wanted to bring something different for the community,” PJ shared. “Something our community doesn’t have. I personally love barbecue, so I wanted to bring that to the community as well.”
After exploring opportunities, Dickey’s stood out because of its strong brand reputation, authentic barbecue, and overall franchise experience.
“Dickey’s Barbecue is a great place to be, with great food, so it’s been a great experience.”
For many franchisees, the ability to combine personal passion with a proven business model is one of the biggest advantages of joining an established restaurant franchise.
Training and Support for Franchisee Success
At Dickey’s, one of the main components that is focused on is training. We believe that it is a key factor necessary for success when opening a successful restaurant. Having the right training and operational support in place is one thing that is non-negotiable. PJ says Dickey’s franchise training program helped provide the structure and preparation needed to confidently launch his business.
“So, I had a good instructor for one, so that helped a lot,” he explained. “Learning how to get things planned and how to start each day with a plan — I think that was the best part.”
The hands-on guidance and operational systems helped PJ understand what it takes to run a successful restaurant day-to-day.
“Basically, it’s what you need to do to be successful and how it needs to be done to make your own business successful,” said PJ when asked what his training provided.
Advice for Future Franchise Owners
We asked PJ what advice he would give to future franchisees and his answer was simple: “Plan, plan, plan.” PJ emphasized the importance of preparation and consistency. “That’s the way to keep everything moving like it should.”
His advice reflects one of the key traits many successful franchise owners share — a commitment to operational excellence and long-term planning.
Building a Business That Serves Local Communities
PJ’s story highlights how one of Dickey’s top priorities for franchise ownership: building a successful business while making meaningful local impact in your community. Our prospective franchisees bring authentic Texas BBQ to their local communities like PJ is doing for Blakely. We love that PJ is creating a destination where families, friends, and community members can gather over great food and genuine hospitality.
Dickey’s Barbecue Pit continues to attract entrepreneurs, just like PJ, who are looking to bring authentic, slow-smoked barbecue to their local communities. Dickey’s empowers franchise owners with the tools needed to build and grow a successful business. Looking to join the Dickey’s family? You can look forward to comprehensive franchise training, operational support, proven systems, and a nationally recognized brand.