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Jack Omer isn't just growing a multi-unit portfolio. He's extending a family story that helped launch Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken nearly six decades ago.
Omer, a third-generation restaurateur and grandson of Lee's co-founder Harold Omer, has acquired five existing Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken restaurants across Indiana, deepening a legacy that began in 1966 when Harold Omer and Lee Cummings opened the brand's first location in Lima, Ohio. The newly acquired restaurants are located in Connersville, Muncie, and Richmond, Indiana, and will undergo remodels to align with current brand standards.
For Omer, the opportunity is about more than scale. It's about stewardship.
"Having grown up with Lee's as part of my family's story, I've seen firsthand how the brand has evolved while staying true to its roots," Omer said. "As a third generation, it's meaningful to build on my family's history. I'm excited to build on the momentum and bring this brand to more communities so others can experience the quality food and service that have defined Lee's for generations."
The transaction builds on Omer's earlier acquisition of the Lee's restaurant in New Castle, Indiana, and reflects his long-term commitment to reinvesting in markets where the brand has deep roots.
"Jack represents both where Lee's has come from and where it's headed," said Ryan Weaver, CEO of Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken. "He's part of the brand's founding family, and he's approaching growth with a modern, multi-unit mindset of reinvesting, remodeling and expanding in markets that love Lee's."