Brothers DeRon and Deon Ragland of Chicago, opened their first store in Calhoun, Georgia in June of 2009.  Deon just recently being laid off of his corporate job as a manager at a chemical company, decided to relocate in Georgia.  DeRon decided on the move south in September 2010.  Now they own four stores and expansion plans include seven more stores over the next two years.  Their goal is to have 100 stores up and running within five years. 

Dr. Garrard McClendon is an Emmy award winning talk show host, professor, and author. He has hosted The McClendon Report TV and radio shows for Comcast and WVON-AM 1690, along with Garrard McClendon Live on CLTV in Chicago, and Off 63rd with Garrard McClendon on WYCC PBS Chicago. He is the author of “Ax or Ask?: The African American Guide to Better English.” Dr. McClendon earned his Ph.D. in Education from Loyola University - Chicago.