Jimmy John’s owner hires his dad as assistant manager
As a student at the University of South Carolina in
Columbia, Tyler LePhew took on a part-time job working at Kraft Foods.
While working there, it wasn’t unusual for people familiar with Tyler’s father, Perry LePhew, to approach him and introduce themselves.
Perry LePhew, 53, has spent almost 30 years with the Nabisco Company, several of them as a representative, where he interacted with people and businesses on a daily basis.
“There was always somebody talking about dad,” Tyler LePhew, 25, said Tuesday. “It made me proud to hear that he was always there (for his customers), making corrections, seeing the people responsible and not procrastinating. ... It put a warm feeling and a smile on my face.”
He remembers his father as someone who was always making calls and getting the job done, something Tyler took to heart when he decided to open a Jimmy John’s restaurant recently on Main Street in Rock Hill.
Though he and his mother worked out the opportunity, when it came to hiring his first assistant manager, there was no doubt in Tyler’s mind that his father – who he calls “Pops” – was the best man for the job.
“Having my father around here is definitely a breath of fresh air,” he said. “It’s a little more personal to have family here.”
Perry LePhew agreed.
“That doesn’t bother me, being two times his age and taking orders from him,” he said, grinning.
Perry noticed Tyler’s business-focused mind from the time he was a child. As a Nabisco employee, he had a collection of Chips Ahoy! pencils and noticed they were missing.
“He was taking them to school and selling them for a nickel apiece,” Perry LePhew said of the pencils. “At Halloween, when we’d carve pumpkins, he would take pumpkin seeds, have his mom bake them, package them in a zip-lock bag and sell them.”
At age 16, Tyler took a job at a market in Rock Hill.
“He’s always been a hard worker, and he doesn’t like to lose,” Perry LePhew said. “He works hard, he plays hard.”
But Tyler LePhew credits his father with a lot of the business inspiration, and now he sees his father in a different light.
When Tyler decided to open the franchise, the father and son team traveled to Illinois for a three-week training course, staying in the same hotel room. They quizzed each other, studied the necessary information, joked around and pushed each other to do better.
At the end, it was a role reversal: Tyler LePhew had always made his father proud, now Perry did the same for his son.
“I had to get mentally into the Jimmy John’s role and learn,” Perry LePhew said. “He pushed me. ...Then I wanted to do well to make him proud.
“Time flies by so fast,” he said. “When he was born, you could hold him in the palm of your hand. I blink my eyes, and he’s my boss ... a few days a week,” he added with a grin.
Now, the duo work together several days a week at the downtown restaurant.
Perry LePhew works on Sundays, so his son can have one day a week off, and works other days during the week.
Having his dad with him on the job is a great feeling, Tyler LePhew said. But the two hope to spend time together Sunday – Father’s Day – along with Tyler’s brother, Chad, 27.
Perry LePhew said he and Chad often hunt and fish together, so working with his other son Tyler gives them some time together as well.
“This has been good for us, to spend time here with him and have something in common,” he said.
Past Father’s Day celebrations have included hanging out at Lake Wylie, cooking out, watching NASCAR races, and, more recently, an Aerosmith and Kiss concert.
“We’ve had a great relationships as friends and as my father,” Tyler LePhew said. “I love hanging out with my dad. ... On a trip, he’s just one of the guys.”
“He’s older and wiser than I am. He’s Pops for a reason.”
“I am their father, I am their friend,” Perry LePhew agreed. “Any parent wants their children to succeed in whatever they do. I want both of them to be happy.”
While working there, it wasn’t unusual for people familiar with Tyler’s father, Perry LePhew, to approach him and introduce themselves.
Perry LePhew, 53, has spent almost 30 years with the Nabisco Company, several of them as a representative, where he interacted with people and businesses on a daily basis.
“There was always somebody talking about dad,” Tyler LePhew, 25, said Tuesday. “It made me proud to hear that he was always there (for his customers), making corrections, seeing the people responsible and not procrastinating. ... It put a warm feeling and a smile on my face.”
He remembers his father as someone who was always making calls and getting the job done, something Tyler took to heart when he decided to open a Jimmy John’s restaurant recently on Main Street in Rock Hill.
Though he and his mother worked out the opportunity, when it came to hiring his first assistant manager, there was no doubt in Tyler’s mind that his father – who he calls “Pops” – was the best man for the job.
“Having my father around here is definitely a breath of fresh air,” he said. “It’s a little more personal to have family here.”
Perry LePhew agreed.
“That doesn’t bother me, being two times his age and taking orders from him,” he said, grinning.
Perry noticed Tyler’s business-focused mind from the time he was a child. As a Nabisco employee, he had a collection of Chips Ahoy! pencils and noticed they were missing.
“He was taking them to school and selling them for a nickel apiece,” Perry LePhew said of the pencils. “At Halloween, when we’d carve pumpkins, he would take pumpkin seeds, have his mom bake them, package them in a zip-lock bag and sell them.”
At age 16, Tyler took a job at a market in Rock Hill.
“He’s always been a hard worker, and he doesn’t like to lose,” Perry LePhew said. “He works hard, he plays hard.”
But Tyler LePhew credits his father with a lot of the business inspiration, and now he sees his father in a different light.
When Tyler decided to open the franchise, the father and son team traveled to Illinois for a three-week training course, staying in the same hotel room. They quizzed each other, studied the necessary information, joked around and pushed each other to do better.
At the end, it was a role reversal: Tyler LePhew had always made his father proud, now Perry did the same for his son.
“I had to get mentally into the Jimmy John’s role and learn,” Perry LePhew said. “He pushed me. ...Then I wanted to do well to make him proud.
“Time flies by so fast,” he said. “When he was born, you could hold him in the palm of your hand. I blink my eyes, and he’s my boss ... a few days a week,” he added with a grin.
Now, the duo work together several days a week at the downtown restaurant.
Perry LePhew works on Sundays, so his son can have one day a week off, and works other days during the week.
Having his dad with him on the job is a great feeling, Tyler LePhew said. But the two hope to spend time together Sunday – Father’s Day – along with Tyler’s brother, Chad, 27.
Perry LePhew said he and Chad often hunt and fish together, so working with his other son Tyler gives them some time together as well.
“This has been good for us, to spend time here with him and have something in common,” he said.
Past Father’s Day celebrations have included hanging out at Lake Wylie, cooking out, watching NASCAR races, and, more recently, an Aerosmith and Kiss concert.
“We’ve had a great relationships as friends and as my father,” Tyler LePhew said. “I love hanging out with my dad. ... On a trip, he’s just one of the guys.”
“He’s older and wiser than I am. He’s Pops for a reason.”
“I am their father, I am their friend,” Perry LePhew agreed. “Any parent wants their children to succeed in whatever they do. I want both of them to be happy.”
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