Not getting a promotion set Corbett Harris on an entirely different career path. That time in his life remains a motivating factor as the Jimmy John’s franchisee pursues growth with a second brand.
Through a seven-unit deal with Toppers Pizza, Harris plans to expand the Wisconsin pizza brand known for its inventive flavors and premium ingredients in eastern North Carolina. His agreement covers Greenville, Raleigh-Durham and Chapel Hill, and not only adds another concept to his portfolio but also allows him to elevate leaders on his team.
“I have some individuals who would hit their ceiling in Jimmy John’s, and it reminds me of where I was before I got into franchising,” said Harris of one reason he wanted to diversify with a new brand. “People are hungry for opportunities and growth.”
Now a 35-year-old multi-unit franchise owner, 10 years ago Harris was the supervisor of a kitting group within a company that handled projects for Fortune 500 clients such as Lowes, Family Dollar, Bank of America and Wells Fargo. After applying and not being chosen for a promotion, Harris said he reevaluated his long-term career goals and began researching franchises.
Franchisee Corbett Harris plans to open seven Toppers Pizza stores across several markets in North Carolina.
With a nest egg created from the employee stock ownership plan at his previous company and then partnering with his dad, Harris opened his first Jimmy John’s restaurant in 2015. In the eight years since, he’s grown his store count to 13 through “acquisitions, building and some partnerships,” with locations in North Carolina, Colorado, Virginia and New Mexico. He’s set to open two more Jimmy John’s within the next week, in South Carolina.
Starting his search for a second brand two years ago, Harris said he evaluated “everything from coffee shops to taco restaurants,” and sought a business he could “truly get behind.” He found that in Toppers, which he noted has a creative menu—its pizzas include Wisconsin Curds ‘N Bacon, Buffalo Chicken Mac N Cheese and Loaded Tot-zza—and continues to invest in technology innovation and franchisee support.
Toppers, based in Whitewater, Wisconsin, has 71 locations and did $86.5 million in systemwide sales in 2022, an increase of 11.6 percent. In 2021 it attracted a minority investment from Great Plains Capital with plans to increase its unit growth pace. Toppers’ average unit volume was $1.18 million in 2022, with a typical store size of 1,400 to 1,600 square feet.
Earlier this year Toppers promoted Adam Oldenburg, who started as a delivery driver and rose to vice president of operations, to the chief executive post. Oldenburg took over for founder Scott Gittrich, who transitioned to chairman of the board.
A typical Toppers Pizza restaurant is 1,400 to 1,600 square feet.
Harris said he worked at a pizza shop when he was younger and sees an opportunity to introduce Toppers to a region he believes is lacking in quality pizza options. The brand did have a few locations in Raleigh and Chapel Hill, but that franchisee closed the shops and exited the system in 2018.
Toppers does still have a presence in the Charlotte area, where franchisee Bill Stayduhar operates four locations, and Harris said he’s exploring cross-marketing strategies to leverage and extend the brand’s awareness. His markets are also home to four universities—East Carolina, North Carolina State, Duke and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill—and several large hospital systems, which he intends to target.
In building the Jimmy John’s business, Harris said he’s learned the biggest factor in his success is forging strong relationships. “It’s about developing proactive staff that’s going to fight for you day in and day out,” he said. A few years ago, he continued, he made an “astronomical shift” in how he runs the business, putting God at the center.
“I’m not going to force it down your throat, but I make it part of the identity of the company,” he said. “It’s opened the door for us to be more transparent as a company and more open as a company.”
He likewise draws on the group’s CRAFT core values—caring, resourceful, attention to detail, forward thinking, trust—in preparing for more growth. “We use those as our guiding principles,” he said.
Harris has two letters of intent signed for Toppers locations in Greenville and expects to open his first pizza restaurant later next year.