Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandon Wilhelm
Hi Brandon, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My family started in the restaurant industry back in 1986 when I was 7 years old in northern Illinois. We ended up being successful franchisees and developers for Subway restaurants for many years and oversaw development and operations for over 200 restaurants. Obviously, restaurants and franchising has been in my blood since I was very young. I saw my parents risk everything to become entrepreneurs and they really instilled in me the value of hard work, leadership, risk-taking, and integrity in business. I attended Baylor University from 1998 -2002 and went to work in Subcontract administration and negotiations for Lockheed Martin, working primarily on contracts involving the F-22 fighter jet program. I completed my MBA at SMU while working at Lockheed Martin and began looking for new opportunities in 2006. My father asked me to consider moving back to Illinois to help him run the Midwest Subway Development territory as he was looking to slow down. After months of consideration, my wife and I decided to make the move. For 18 years I managed the development of locations, worked with franchisees on profitability metrics, marketing initiatives, and strategic growth. Ultimately, we acquired more development territory, and we grew to over 500 locations. We oversaw one of the most successful territories in the Subway system for many years and established great long-term relationships with the franchisees in our territory. In 2021, Subway decided to move away from the Development Agent model and began acquiring those contracts and territories back to manage at the corporate level. In June 2024 we sold our development contracts back to Subway Headquarters and I was pursued by several other growing franchises including some fried chicken brands. I was invited by one of my colleagues to go to Virginia and try Hangry Joe’s Hot Chicken & Wings. I was blown away by the flavor and saw some great opportunities to help this brand grow. I believed that my experience with the largest franchisor in the world at the time could be of great benefit to Hangry Joe’s and that with a product as excellent as they turn out, we could really become a force in the fast casual restaurant space. I am currently a franchisee for Hangry Joe’s with one location open in San Marcos, TX near Texas State University and one location under construction in Kyle, TX. I am also the area developer for about 75% of the state of Texas, excluding the Dallas/Fort Worth area. I also am a member of the National Advisory Board for Hangry Joe’s. Our goal is to open and operate a handful of restaurants in the Texas Hill Country and we are looking for great entrepreneurs to become franchisees for Hangry Joe’s all over Texas.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Being an entrepreneur is never easy, but I can’t think of anything more rewarding than owning your own business. I had such great relationships with my Subway franchisees that we were like a family. We worked together very well for a long time to build that brand and it was very tough to change paths. We face our challenges building this new brand, Hangry Joe’s Hot Chicken & Wings as well, but I can honestly say it’s been a lot of fun along the way. I’m working more hours right now than ever before, but our leadership team comes together very often to discuss our challenges and how to overcome them. Growing from 20 locations to a projected 200 locations in only 3 years definitely is not easy. We’ve made some great strides towards lowering food and labor costs for the system the last year, while redesigning our store decor standards, marketing campaigns, and site selection criteria. Opening restaurants is not easy as there are sometimes last-minute changes needed for municipality codes, equipment delays, or employee emergencies that can throw a wrench in any plans. However, when you get past those hurdles and see the faces of happy customers truly enjoying your food, it makes it worthwhile. I personally walk side by side with my franchisees through all of those issues and when we work together to overcome those struggles, nothing is more satisfying to me than a happy franchisee.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Firstly, at Hangry Joe’s Hot Chicken &Wings, we bring the heat—literally! We specialize in Nashville-style hot chicken and wings, serving up bold flavors with the perfect balance of heat and crunch. Whether you’re a spice lover or prefer a milder kick, we offer a range of heat levels to satisfy every craving.
What Sets Us Apart?
Authentic Flavor – Our chicken is made fresh to order, marinated for maximum juiciness, and coated in our signature spice blends.
Quality Ingredients – We use only the best ingredients, ensuring every bite is packed with flavor and satisfaction.
Spice Levels for Everyone – From no spice to our insanely hot “Angry Hot”, we let you choose your own heat adventure.
Community-Driven – We’re not just about great food—we’re about giving back. We love to partner with local schools, sports, first responders, and local charitable organizations. We strive to be a key member of the communities where we do business.
As an Area Developer for Hangry Joe’s I take a lot of pride in our food. I am particular about the franchisees I choose to work with in this brand. I’m looking for people who take pride in their restaurants and are dedicated to serving the best quality food and providing top-notch customer service. In turn I am proud of the record and results I’ve had working with franchisees over the last 18 years. I work my tail off for my franchisees to try to help them be as successful as possible. My philosophy is I would not ask any franchisee to invest in something I wouldn’t invest in myself. I’m very proud of the brand we’re building and the direction we’re heading.
We we’re number 2 on Restaurant Business’s Future 50 list for fastest growing restaurant in 2023 and will likely be number 1 for 2024. I am confident that with the right mix of dedicated entrepreneurs we will become a real force in Hot Chicken. I believe our products are superior in the category and I am very excited about our direction as a brand.
What makes you happy?
I prefer to talk more about Joy than Happiness actually. I believe that happiness is momentary, where joy is lasting. Don’t get me wrong, I want life to be filled with as many happy moments as possible. If my wife surprises me with a special birthday breakfast or my daughter brings home a great report card or we have a record sales week, those events are very happy events. However, Joy is more long lasting and that comes from my faith in God and knowing that I’m unconditionally loved and I’m blessed with a family that supports me and loves me through anything. The life of a business owner is filled with ups and downs, stressful moments, and times of incredible happiness, but I believe Joy comes from the peace of knowing that although everything in this world is temporary, we are eternally loved.
Pricing:
- Entrees range from $7.50 to $13.00
- Combo Meals are between $12 and $16
- Hand Spun Milkshakes $6.95
- Catering platters $35.95 + depending on size
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.hangryjoes.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hangryjoeschicken/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hangryjoeschicken
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/101474969/admin/dashboard/
- Twitter: https://x.com/hangryjoeshot
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@hangryjoeshotchicken
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-wilhelm-5b45417/
