Ham’s Restaurants

Founded in 1935, Ham’s originally offered curbside service, kosher meats and deli takeout. These days, the self-described “value-casual” chain offers Southern classics like chicken-fried chicken and baby back ribs alongside chicken parmesan and an array of burgers—not to mention the wide variety of beers that have been a Ham’s mainstay since the early days. Charlie Erwin, who bought the original Ham’s in 1984, signed his first franchise partner in 2004. He plans to open three restaurants a year for the next three to four years while developing the infrastructure to support “explosive growth” thereafter.