If you are familiar with popular culture, you’ve likely heard of “The Breakfast Club” with Charlamagne tha God. Weekly, Charlamagne and his co-hosts dive into topics around entertainment, businesses, mental health, and more.
Known for his hot takes and exploratory commentary, Charlamagne has made it known that his dimensions are not limited to his job behind the mic. He is an accomplished entrepreneur.
The 45-year-old noted that he and his wife are launching several businesses at the top of 2024 in addition to leading the podcast network. As a part of those plans, the radio host plans to open several Krystal Restaurants in South Carolina.
“2 Chainz became the creative director of Krystal [Restaurants], so I started paying attention to what they were doing,” Charlamagne told AFROTECH. “Then, I reached out to 2 Chainz, and he plugged me in with the right people. I talked to my team about it. My team was like, ‘This is a great opportunity.’ So me, and my wife decided to go ahead and pull the trigger on six of them [restaurants].”
However, opening six new Krystal franchises isn’t the end of Charlamagne’s upcoming entrepreneurial endeavors. He is also opening a dispensary in Newark, NJ, noting his personal connection with the natural benefits of cannabis.
“I’m really big on the benefits of cannabis, especially when it comes to anxiety and depression and things like that. I’m invested in knowing about the plant-based methods of dealing with those issues,” Charlamagne said.
While the South Carolina native is making big moves today, his roots in business go back to his inspiration from his father.
“Growing up, my father had a fish market called Max Seafood on Main Street in Monks Corner, SC. Then, he started getting into construction, and he worked for a construction company. He later started his own construction company called McKelvey and Son.”
He continued, “My father was always an entrepreneur who had his own businesses, and I’ve always wanted to follow that path.”
Although it seems like things are rapidly progressing for Charlamagne, it has not always been this way.
It took years of hard work and dedication to his craft and passions to be positioned to succeed in the ways the public sees, which is why he encourages other entrepreneurs to play the long game.
“The long game is the only game. There’s no such thing as something happening instantly. And if it does happen instantly, it’s probably not going to last too long. You must have patience. You have to lay the proper foundation for you and your business to stand on,” Charlamagne said.
