Our Story
Learn More About Oak Street Franchise
John Greenlaw
Consultant
School had just ended, and the summer of 1984 was about to kick off. We wanted to make a few bucks that summer, so my friend and I found some old wooden boards in his garage and hammered out a lemonade stand. We painted signs and sold our lemonade for fifty cents a cup. We were doing pretty well, and some of our other friends wanted in on the action. We built another stand, painted the same signs, same lemonade mix, and prices, we even helped them get set up. Our new partners opened up their stand a block away from ours, but on the other side of the street, this way we had both sides of the street covered. They did just as well as we did, and at the ripe old age of ten years old, I had my first experience in franchising. Oh, I forgot to mention, this all took place on Oak Street.
I guess it’s in my blood as I come from a family of entrepreneurs. My grandfather ran his own business, a printing and design company, which my parents got into and still run to this day. I worked there too, after school, nights and weekends at the front desk, taking orders and making deliveries. The business is still going strong, more than 50 years later. While in college, I started my own business, the first of many, which I eventually sold for a tidy profit. I am well experienced in growing a business from the ground up, as well as buying and selling existing businesses, which I have done as well. These experiences provide a unique perspective that lends itself well to being a franchise consultant. I know what it takes to build a business and what it feels like to want to do your own thing, to be your own boss, to make your own schedule and to have the freedom to do it for yourself.
Whether it’s your dream business or a new addition to an ever growing portfolio, we’re excited to help you find the franchise that’s a perfect fit for you. Here on Oak Street, we want you to feel good about what you’re doing, the big decisions you’re making, and hopefully where the revenues will flow like lemonade. And just like we were there to help and support our friends on Oak Street, we’ll be there for you as you get started on your franchise journey. We look forward to helping you on this endeavor.