In a world the place the journey is usually simply as highly effective because the vacation spot, Huge Dave’s Cheesesteaks resides proof that grit, imaginative and prescient, and group can flip humble beginnings right into a nationwide legacy. What began in a 700-square-foot fuel station in Dunwoody, Georgia, is now a full-blown franchise empire. And now, the model simply made historical past.
Huge Dave’s Cheesesteaks has formally ranked No. 6 on Quick Informal’s 2025 “High 100 Movers & Shakers” listing, changing into the primary majority Black-owned cheesesteak model to crack the business’s prime tier. However the recognition doesn’t cease there—President Jessie Bray additionally earned a spot among the many High 25 Quick Informal Executives, solidifying the crew’s management standing in a aggressive culinary house.
Founder and CEO Derrick Hayes, a West Philly native who named the model after his late father, didn’t simply construct a enterprise—he sparked a motion.
“As one of many youngest Black males to ever make the High 100 listing, the impression and inspiration this award can have on future entrepreneurs isn’t misplaced on me,” Hayes shared. “That is about objective, ardour, and proving what’s potential.”
The nationwide highlight first hit when Philly legend Eve gave a shoutout to the meals on social media. From there, Huge Dave’s grew right into a cultural staple, feeding followers inside Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Orlando’s Kia Heart, and a number of Southeastern places spanning Georgia, Florida, the Carolinas, and past.
Nonetheless 100% self-funded and independently constructed, Huge Dave’s Cheesesteaks isn’t only a fan favourite—it’s a blueprint. With plans to lock in 100 new franchise places by the tip of 2025, Hayes and Bray are scaling good, with a mannequin rooted in taste, technique, and tradition.
“Being acknowledged as a prime innovator confirms that what we’re constructing issues—not simply to our crew, however to the business at massive,” stated Bray. “We’re not simply promoting cheesesteaks—we’re creating legacy.”
The Quick Informal High 100 isn’t nearly gross sales—it’s about innovation, cultural affect, and the manufacturers which are redefining what it means to guide. Huge Dave’s suits that mould completely, combining tech-forward choices with old-school group values and Philly-inspired soul.
Huge Dave’s isn’t only a restaurant—it’s a motion constructed on objective, powered by ardour, and proudly representing Black excellence on a nationwide stage.
Test the total Quick Informal High 100 listing right here.
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