Greg Hammond

Greg Hammond was a bit skeptical when his mother called from Kanawha City.

She had sought spiritual guidance through prayer, and said he should return to Charleston and open a Subway franchise.

Greg had already capped a successful business career in Florida, and the business climate in West Virginia was not so favorable to an enterprising entrepreneur. Besides, there was already a Subway in Kanawha City.

But a succession of innocuous incidents -- like the Subway menu appearing beside the car one day with no store nearby -- seemed to point the way.

In 1988, Greg and brother Jack opened Subways in Cross Lanes and Ashland.

But they got into a bind for cash. "Lord, what do I do now?" he prayed. And $1,000 to cover the shortfall immediately came to hand when he scratched off a lottery ticket.

Coincidence? Perhaps.

Greg and his brother now own seventeen Subway stores with new locations soon opening in Hamlin, Lavalette, Huntington "and at the new Wal-Mart in Hurricane."

"Nothing ever happens in February," Hammond told Putnam Rotarians today. "But the first week of February this year was our best -- ever," he said.

"Nationwide, Subway has more locations than McDonald's, 99 against 72 in West Virginia alone,"

The difference, said Greg, is in a "partnership" attitude.

Many franchises help with the setup and start, and then the local store is on its own.

Not so with Subway, he said. And that is why some stores in a similar market niche want to change over to Subway.

Greg Hammond is now an advising "partner" with 193 stores in West Virginia and surrounding states.

He offers a helping hand through know-how, high motivation, focus and determination.

Oh, yes. And there's always spiritual guidance through faith in purpose and method.