The Youngest Chick-fil-A Owner

Ashley Lamothe’s Epic Climb from Chick-fil-A Counter to Franchise Queen

Let’s talk about Ashley Lamothe for a minute. She’s one of those people whose story makes you pause and think, yeah, I need to step my game up. At 15 years old, while most teenagers were worried about homework, friendships, and weekend plans, Ashley was clocking in at Chick-fil-A. Back then, she probably wasn’t daydreaming about becoming a franchise owner before turning 30. But that’s exactly where her story ends up.

The Teen Years: Just Getting Started

Ashley’s first job looked pretty normal on the surface. She worked the counter, served customers, and learned how to survive the lunch rush. But behind the scenes, she was picking up far more than a paycheck. She learned how to show up on time, how to treat people well even on stressful days, and how small details can make or break a customer’s experience. Those early shifts quietly shaped her work ethic and gave her a front-row seat to how a successful business actually runs.

Balancing Books and Burgers

When college came around, Ashley didn’t leave Chick-fil-A behind. She balanced classes and shifts, papers and people, tests and teamwork. It wasn’t easy, but it was intentional. She understood that education didn’t only live in a classroom. While professors taught theory, the restaurant taught her leadership, responsibility, and how to manage real-world pressure. That combination made her stand out, and it didn’t go unnoticed.

Dreaming Bigger Than the Role

As the years passed, Ashley moved up the ranks. What started as a job slowly turned into a calling. She wasn’t just completing tasks anymore. She was leading teams, solving problems, and thinking like an owner long before she had the title. Her goal became clear. She wanted to run her own Chick-fil-A, and she wasn’t shy about pursuing it.

By 26, she had done what many only talk about. Ashley became a Chick-fil-A franchise owner, making history as the youngest to do so. It wasn’t luck. It was years of consistency, preparation, and saying yes to growth even when it was uncomfortable.

More Than Just Chicken

For Ashley, owning a franchise was never just about success or status. Her store became a place where people mattered. Employees weren’t just workers; they were developing leaders. Jobs weren’t dead ends; they were stepping stones. She built a culture where teamwork, growth, and care for others were just as important as serving great food.

Lighting the Way for Others

Ashley Lamothe’s journey is the kind of story that pushes you forward. It speaks to young people grinding through entry-level jobs, wondering if the work really matters. It reminds us that age doesn’t define readiness and titles aren’t handed out, they’re earned. With focus, humility, and determination, what starts as a part-time job can turn into a life-changing opportunity.

Her climb from the Chick-fil-A counter to franchise ownership is proof that big dreams often grow out of small beginnings. And if you’re paying attention, working hard, and willing to grow where you’re planted, there’s no telling how far that first step can take you.