Muscogee Nation Business Enterprise (MNBE) recently purchased the rights to expand Rex’s Chicken within the major eight counties of the Muscogee Creek Nation (MCN) tribal jurisdiction.
MNBE says it plans to implement the Tulsa-based restaurant chain into the design of its existing and future travel plazas, creating a draw for travelers along with gas, gaming, and existing restaurant franchises already located at the plazas.
MNBE CEO Woody Anderson says it is a great opportunity for the Muscogee tribe.
“Our plans are to create Rex’s Chicken initially into our travel plazas,” Anderson says. “Right now, we’re doing some strategic planning and designing for new upgrades or new travel plazas and hopefully designing travel plazas for the future, and we want to be able to add the Rex’s Chicken to our operations there.”
Founded in 1951, Rex’s rebirth came when David Rutkauskas, Rex’s Chicken CEO, obtained the rights in 2007 and opened a location in Tulsa in 2008. Since then, Rutkauskas has partnered with Curtis Branch, who bought the Tulsa location and is the master franchisee for Oklahoma.
“We started Rex’s in 2008 when the economy was tanking because of the Lehman Brothers collapse, and people were less likely to take on any risks in business,” Rutkauskas says. “Now, five years later, we’re so excited to be experiencing this incredible breakthrough and the opportunity to partner with the skilled leadership of the Muscogee Creek Nation. It’s a huge pleasure to work with them and grow Rex’s into something we always knew it could be. This is what I love about being an entrepreneur, creating success from nothing."
