Today we’d like to introduce you to Anthony J Royal Sr
Hi Anthony J, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My name is Anthony J. Royal, Sr. But everyone calls me Tony Royal.
This profound quote was penned by King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived. Ecclesiastes 3:7 says, “To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” I have seen God reveal my purpose in so many seasons of my life.
I began working at KFC at the age of 17. After working at several quick service restaurants over the years, I eventually operated a Chick-fil-A restaurant for 16 years. Presently, I am the Owner and Operator of Robert’s Soul Food Restaurant in Lithonia, Georgia. I believe it’s vitally important to have an unwavering commitment to reinvesting the in community in which I serve. The restaurant serves great food in a warm and friendly environment. We serve down home, delicious breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You can learn all about us by visiting our Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/RobertsSoulFood
I am also founder and executive director of Forty Days to Deliverance Inc. In 2000, I received a God-given vision of empowering men who are homeless, jobless, and have simply lost their way in life. The mission of the nonprofit organization is to empower men and help them discover their purpose in life. Moreover, the nonprofit is designed to serve the community by providing counseling, improving skill sets, increasing self-esteem, and sharing resources in areas of employment, higher education, GED testing, housing, and other services that will empower families.
I am the president and lead certified inspector for Get RIGHT Inspections, a company specializing in home inspections. I am a member of the Deacons Ministry and Men’s Ministry at Berean Christian Church. I have been married for 38 years to Leslie E. Royal. We have two adult children, Antasha and Jay, as well as a son-in-love Julius. I am “G-Daddy” to two beautiful granddaughters – Kedei Savanna and Kemi Mae.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road. Coming from the corporate world and becoming a small business owner has been very challenging. In the corporate world and at Chick-fil-A, you had like minded peers that help you. You had an entire company with its IT departments, human resources, business consultants, and other Owner/Operators that you could rely on. Chick-fil-A has a motto, “You’re in business for yourself, but not by yourself.” That is compared to a small business person who can sometimes feel alone. It’s hard to find a community of small business owners that are willing to share information, insights, their struggles, their triumphs, and ways to run a profitable business.
We’ve been impressed with Robert’s Soul Food Restaurant, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Robert’s Soul Food Restaurant is a warm and friendly place serving delicious downhome cuisine that your mother, grandmother, and great grandmother served. We serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Our popular specialty menu items include oxtails, neckbones, smothered Salisbury steak. Our popular classic menu items fried chicken, fried pork chops, and fried fish. We serve whiting, tilapia, and catfish. We are so very proud of all of our menu items. One of our most popular menu items is the fried pork chop dinners. We feel like those pork chops are just flying out of the door. Our guests love our macaroni and cheese, cabbage, collard greens, and turnip greens. A big hit is our homemade desserts which consist of sweet potato pie, lemon glaze pound cake, key lime cake, and carrot cake.
How do you think about happiness?
Serving customers and putting a smile on their faces is what makes me happy in business. Life is truly about relationships and my most important relationships are with God, my family, and my friends. I love spending time with my lovely wife Leslie and traveling to exciting places with her. I love watching my two beautiful granddaughters grow. I enjoy spending time with my children Antasha and Jay as well as son-in-law Julius. I like talking sports with my uncles Claude and Fred, best friend Danny, and brother-in-law Henry.
Contact Info:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RobertsSoulFood
Image Credits
Images courtesy of Tony Royal. Photo credits: @LesliesLane
