Byron Cogdell Sr. is scaling his million-dollar business.
According to Buffalo Business First, he is the founder of The Hoagie Stop, a Buffalo, NY-based venture he began after committing 15 years to the restaurant industry, including 10 years at Cole’s.
His motivation to start his own business came from grilling and selling hoagies right in his backyard. He also prepared his own sauces.
Now the business has grown to three establishments, with two located in Buffalo at 220 Allen St. and 183 Hertel Ave., and another at 2195 Clinton St. in West Seneca, NY. All locations opened between 2021 and 2023. Furthermore, a fourth Buffalo location is set to open in September 2024 at 2285 Main St.
The venture has faired well for Cogdell, crossing $1 million in revenue, the outlet notes. Now, he is preparing for new scenery, because he is moving to Dallas, TX. He became fascinated with the city after visiting his mother-in-law. Now, he plans to open a restaurant in that city too.
“We were just going to visit my mother-in-law for her birthday, and I fell in love with the city, with Dallas,” Cogdell explained, per Buffalo Business First. “I was completely impressed with the way the city is set up.”
Cogdell and his wife will make their way down to Dallas permanently once the shop is up and running, with some of his family members are also going to help get the business started there. The New York stores will be run by a new management team, which Cogdell has been assembling throughout the year. Additionally, a food distribution company has signed on to assist with bottling his sauces.
“Since beginning of the year, I’ve been delegating more and more tasks off to my staff,” he mentioned. “We’ve already put things in place.”
Now Cogdell will have more time to focus on his next chapter in Dallas, which he says will fulfill his vision, supported by the plans and resources that were unavailable to him when he began his journey in New York.
“I have a vision of what I want it to look like,” he said. “We have some things planned for down there I didn’t have when I started in business in Western New York. I have all the necessary things now in my corner that I didn’t have. I have the resources and means I need.”
