March 14, 2017

Meet Chris Newcomb of Newk’s Eatery

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Newcomb.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Chris. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I was spurred early on into the world of restaurant business by my Dad who was a dentist by trade but an entrepreneur at heart. Under his influence and alongside our family friend Debra Bryson, we opened a restaurant that eventually grew into the McAlister’s Deli franchise.

After selling the McAlister’s Deli brand, we knew we wanted to do something different— something that would spark a new generation of fast-casual dining where freshness and flavor reign. That was the start of Newk’s Eatery.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The Newk’s Eatery brand has been well-received since our start in 2004— so much so that the opportunity for growing the brand initially outpaced the capital to do it. That’s when we sought and secured the partnership of Sentinel Capital Partners investment group to allow us to realize Newk’s growth potential.

But beyond capital support, a persistent challenge is the need and desire for ongoing menu innovation, which is at the core of our brand. New, bold flavors, unique ingredient combinations and inventive cooking techniques all play a role in what gets guests excited to try a menu item and make that return trip again and again. We believe the more creative and meticulous you are in the kitchen, the more likely you are to create memories for your guests instead of just meals.

Newk’s Eatery – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
We are in the restaurant business because we love food. Discovering new recipes and re-imagining old favorites is a passion for us, and many of the recipes that have made their way onto Newk’s menu come from my family’s own kitchen.

It’s how Newk’s got its name—“Newk” being the nickname for “Newcomb”—because everything about our restaurant is personal. Age-old family recipes, new entrées taste-tested and perfected by our Newk’s family and a warm hospitality that speaks of our Southern roots.

You’ll find ingredients on Newk’s menu that challenge expectations of a typical fast-casual restaurant. Sushi-grade ahi tuna, imported European cheeses, house-infused oils, hand-crafted dressings and sauces—these are all a part of our mission to create a dining experience for our guests that’s truly exceptional with most of our menu items being made from scratch. We want the smells, sights, tastes and textures of our meals to stick with you and ultimately bring you back to the table.

We specialize in fresh salads, artisan pizzas, toasted sandwiches and scratch-made soups, along with desserts made in our own company bakery. In addition to in-restaurant dining, we also have extensive Grab-N-Go, catering and online ordering options for those wanting to eat well on the go.

But our passion at Newk’s is something that goes beyond the kitchen. Born out of my wife’s personal ovarian cancer journey and sustained by the incredible response from our loyal guests, we started Newk’s Cares in 2014— an ongoing system-wide campaign committed to raising awareness of and funds for ovarian cancer research. It’s a cause that aims to give a voice and a hope to the close to 200,000 women currently living in the U.S. with ovarian cancer, and together we’ve so far been able to raise more than $500,000 to put toward the search for a cure.

What were you like growing up? Personality wise, interest wise, etc.?
Growing up, I was a career college student in Oxford, Mississippi before my Dad jumpstarted my interest in the restaurant industry. Good food had always been a love of mine but not something that had crossed my mind as a business opportunity until my Dad took the first leap. Drawing on his old days as a soda jerk, he converted an old gas station in Oxford into a small, 1950s-style deli called “Checquers.” This really became our launching pad when Checquers ultimately grew into McAlister’s Deli—named after my great grandparents—and the rest is history.

Contact Info: