Longtime Houston resident and former University of Houston Head Football Coach Tony Levine is moving from the sideline to the frontline counter as the franchise owner of Chick-fil-A’s new stand-alone Sienna Crossing restaurant in Missouri City. Projected to open in May, Levine’s new restaurant at 9130 Highway 6 will bring with it 90 new jobs—creating a different field of opportunity for spring training his new recruits.
As he did with assistant coaches on the gridiron, Levine will develop a leadership team that will focus on specific aspects of the restaurant business while creating opportunities for growth and development among his team members.
For Levine, winning on the Chick-fil-A field of play will mean having trained a strong team that provides freshly prepared food and personalized customer service while creating a platform for positive community impact. Operating a Chick-fil-A restaurant and coaching a Division 1 football team have more in common than might be obvious at first.
For Levine, the opportunity to bring his significant experiences around coaching and developing young people were key reasons for pursuing the Chick-fil-A opportunity. Introduced to Chick-fil-A by a friend and fellow franchise owner, Levine was impressed not only by the brand setting the standard for excellent food quality and genuine hospitality, but the culture of developing young people and truly making a difference just as he has done in the lives of those he has coached throughout the years.
“When I was considering my next career move, it made perfect sense to once again associate with a winning team as I join the Houston-area Chick-fi-A franchise owners in expanding the opportunities to create remarkable experiences for both our guests and the communities we serve,” he says.
Having fallen in love with Texas during his time coaching football, he and his family are thrilled to be back in metro Houston. Levine has begun hiring 90 team members as he builds his team at Sienna Crossing. He is filling full- and part-time positions in all areas of the restaurant, including leadership development, hospitality, catering, training and marketing.
Just as he recruited skilled football players during his football career, Levine is carrying that skill over to recruit strong talent at his new restaurant. He is looking for team members who have a desire to learn and grow, but more importantly make a difference in others’ lives. Each position will include benefits such as scholarships for continuing education. In addition, Chick-fil-A restaurant team members will appreciate having Sundays off, flexible schedules, and the family atmosphere intentionally being fostered at the restaurant by Levine.
Chick-fil-A team members are eligible for the chain’s initiative, Remarkable Futures, which provides $4.9 million in annual scholarships. Ranging from $2,500 to $25,000, the scholarships are based on leadership, community involvement and academic achievement. Chick-fil-A, which employs more than 75,000 people through corporate positions and franchised locations, is celebrating 40 years of providing nearly $38 million in scholarships to help pay for college.
