Ken Hamilton is a local self-made entrepreneur whose accomplishments can be seen as an inspiration to the Inland Empire community. He is the franchise owner of Johnny Rockets in the Shoppes at Chino Hills and Victoria Gardens in Rancho Cucamonga.
Johnny Rockets is a restaurant that offers the food, fun and friendliness of classic, timeless, feel-good Americana. It serves simple, great-tasting food from a menu of all-American favorites, including juicy hamburgers, classic sandwiches and hand-dipped shakes and malts. Ken says, “It’s a fun environment... it’s sort of a return to a carefree time in America, which I think resonates with a lot of people.”
At age 19 Ken started his first business in which he owned and operated an auto detailing shop. Over the next four years, he grew his shop to 3,000 square feet, took on a full staff and secured partnerships with some of the region’s top car dealerships. He was also able to form lasting relationships with local business owners that would open doors for him in the future. Ken was pleased with his business but he still aspired for greater challenges and lived modestly to save for his next venture.
Ken, along with the help of his business partner and fiancé, Jennifer, formed a strategic business plan and brought the first Cold Stone Creamery to Chino Hills and later to Diamond Bar. Cold Stone was very much in its infancy at the time and, at 24 years of age, he convinced the Cold Stone group he should be granted a franchise. Ken later grew the business to one of the highest grossing and most awarded stores in the nation. At age 30 he sold his Cold Stone Creameries and after looking into many different concepts, decided to approach Johnny Rockets and start his next project.
Ken was drawn towards Johnny Rockets because both Cold Stone and Johnny Rockets are both experience-based concepts and share the same type of extroverted, youthful crew members. He wanted to open a restaurant where families can feel at home and enjoy simple, reliable comfort foods.
Ken approached the Johnny Rockets Group, and only after months of pursuing them, was given a chance to convince them that he was the right guy to represent their brand in the Inland Empire area. After the lengthy interview process, he was given the opportunity to establish a territory he could call his own and start this multi-unit development.
It was a natural move for him to open up his restaurants in Victoria Gardens and later Chino Hills because he felt that these are both beautiful, safe locations that families could visit and have a good time. He explains how Johnny Rockets can complement these types of places because, “We are a wholesome environment, and have wonderful crew members that make that experience more than just merely another hamburger restaurant.” He has retained many of his original Cold Stone employees which are still working with him, and he feels that it is this culture among his employees that sets them apart from other restaurants.
In the past three years, Ken has defied the economic storm and created a community-focused neighborhood business. Ken states that during these times, you really have to use all of your resources to focus on marketing, community partnerships, and building the business—one guest at a time. The most important thing customers are looking for right now is value in the experience. They also remain active within the community by hosting fund-raisers, car shows, and other events. Ken sees Johnny Rockets as a place that can mean so much to so many different people. To some, it allows guests to reminisce about a time; to teenagers it can be a cool place to hang out; and to families it’s a place where they can come to a “kids eat free” night and enjoy entertainment.
Every business that Ken has had has taught him a different lesson. Ken states that one of the challenges of entrepreneurships is that it is very difficult to find a mentor, so you really have to blaze your own trail. The lessons that you learn, learn them well because they are often very expensive.”