David Glassman

A Lean Machine

 

We are a company that started in 1980 and made it to #15 on the INC. 500 in 1985 ("Aah, Those Were the Days," May). Certainly, 1980 was a tough time to get a business off the ground, particularly in the crowded fast-food market. But we saw a window of opportunity.

First, many established retailers weren't developing new units in malls, leading to a glut of available locations. Mall developers, eager to accommodate new businesses, made it easier for us to lease prime mall space. Second, 1980 saw the birth of food courts (12 to 20 fast-food restaurants with one common eating area). While many companies had to adapt to this design, we were designed with the concept in mind. And since our company began in tough economic times, we had to have an efficient operation. We started lean and stayed lean.