The Youngest Black Owner of a Chick-fil-A Franchise is an HBCU Graduate

In 2011, at the age of 26, Ashley Lamothe became the youngest franchise owner in Chick-fil-A history. However, her story with the company started many years before when she began working at a Chick-fil-A restaurant outside of Atlanta at the age of 15. It turned out that she liked the job, and when it came time to attend Spelman College, she began working at the Chick-fil-A restaurant near campus as a director on the leadership team.
“At the time, I thought it was just a great job to have while pursuing my degree in theatre,” says Ashley. That is, until her restaurant Operator pulled her aside to ask about her long-term goals and recommend a career in leadership.

“I’d never considered it. Sometimes you just need someone to help you see your potential,” says Asley.

Changing up the plan

She changed her major to economics to pursue owning her own Chick-fil-A restaurant – a dream she achieved in 2011, only five years after graduating from college. Perhaps it was only fitting that Lamothe’s first restaurant was the Chick-fil-A restaurant across the street from the University of Southern California. However, in Spring 2018, she opened her second location in downtown Los Angeles.

Her passion

Ashley says her passion is to help her team grow. “I want to help them get to where they want to go, whether it’s a career with Chick-fil-A, or studying law or medicine, or anything. I want to help them make that next step, just like so many have done for me,” says Ashley.

Ashley’s hard work is paying off. Most recently, she was awarded the company’s Symbol of Success, an honor reserved for Chick-fil-A Operators whose businesses experience particularly high sales growth.

“It’s humbling to be honored. But I feel like I’m just getting started,” she says.

Follow Ashley on Instagram at @ashleythe0ne