Giving back is essential for Slim Chicken owners

By St. Clair Murraine
Outlook Staff Writer

The success that Kim and Angelo Crowell are having with their businesses is a clear sign that plenty of planning went into their strategy in the restaurant business. 

The idea was to do a little more than the business plan, though. Giving back to the community was right up there, said Kim.

“That was one of the things from the beginning to make sure that anything we put on our minds to we always have a focus of giving back,” she said. “We feel that we are blessed to be a blessing.”

The Tallahassee beneficiary of the Crowell’s benevolence is the Children’s Home Society of Florida. The couple announced their partnership with the non-profit agency during a ribbon-cutting ceremony last Thursday for their newest Slim Chicken restaurant in the spot where La Fiesta Mexican restaurant was at 2329 Apalachee Parkway.

“There is truly a need and we are grateful that they were willing to accept our partnership and we are excited to work with them,” Kim said.

The first Slim Chicken Restaurant was opened at 2441 North Monroe Street earlier this year. The couple also owns more than 50 Jersey Mike’s restaurants, with four in Tallahassee and the others located in Alabama and Georgia.

Promotion of Slim Chicken’s new desert jar is the driver for the donation that will go to Children’s Home Society. One dollar from each sale will go to the non-profit.

The donation will help several of the programs offered by the agency, said Tiffany Martin, Executive director of Children’s Home Society of Florida. Martin’s jurisdiction includes 18 counties from North Florida to Alachua County in Gainesville.

Part of the agency’s “from the cradle to career” philosophy is an Early Step program. It helps children who have developmental issues. The agency also connects parents to resources to help the child.

The non-profit assisted about 6,000 families during the last fiscal year, Martin said, adding that the Slim Chicken partnership is timely.

“We always want more opportunities to serve,” she said. “What happened here today is going to give us that opportunity. It lets people know we are here to serve. This is a big deal. Every time someone comes into Slim Chicken, they get an opportunity to know about what we do and they get an opportunity to help if that’s what they chose to do.”

Antonio Jefferson, president of the Big Bend Chamber of Commerce, applauded the Crowell’s generosity.

“We have to be productive but as well as what we receive give back to the community,” said Jefferson, who presented a plaque to the owners. “We are so proud of their entire commitment to the Tallahassee area.

“Being part of the community and this commitment is only a stance that they are committed to supporting the production of quality citizens. Turning around and helping someone up as a result of the blessings you’ve obtained is something we all should be doing.”

The Crowell’s are parents of two children, ages 7 and 11. They took up residence in Tallahassee in 2010 and soon after opened their first Jersey Mike’s. 

Kim is a Tallahassee native and Angelo is from Winston Salem, N.C. They met while attending the University of Virginia, where she was a cheerleader and he played linebacker on the football team. 

Angelo played seven years in the NFL, six with the Buffalo Bills and one with the Tampa Bay Bucs. Kim, who was known for her gymnastics skills while growing up in Tallahassee, is an attorney.

The Crowell’s employs about 500 people in all of their restaurants. Each of them knows their value to the company, said Angelo.

“Everything we do is about our people. We can’t do anything we do without our people,” he said. “We look for people to grow with our organization. That’s the conversation that we have with our employees. We are really looking for the people to grow with us.”