The Subway on RWE Jones Street in Grambling is owned by Roderick Sims. Courtesy photo
Roderick Sims is the owner of the Subway locations throughout northern Louisiana, including the one on Grambling State University’s campus.
Originally from Ringgold, La., Sims, a father of two, currently lives in McKinney, Texas.
After earning his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Louisiana Tech University in 1988, Sims was inspired to become a business owner and become his own boss.
Sims started off working as a cook in a restaurant located in the Village in Grambling.
In 1995, he opened a pizzeria called Pizza Express.
After being stranded in Los Angeles during a family vacation, Sims was gifted some free food from Subway while deserted at the airport.
That is what inspired him to own and operate a Subway restaurant. But it was his fear of being broke that truly got the ball rolling.
He opened his first Subway in the Village.
In 2007, Sims closed his Pizzeria to focus on Subway and become more successful in owning a franchise store.
The Subway he had owned was originally located in the Village was later moved to RWE Jones Drive which was originally a radio station.
Roderick Sims is most proud of being the second man to have the longest-running business in Grambling.
Being a highly dedicated and motivated man, he knew he had a family to provide for.
“Being able to provide for my wife and two daughters Natalie and Nikhia is one my biggest accomplishments since becoming a franchise owner,” Sims said.
Sims owns three Subway restaurants in three locations – Grambling, Monroe and Farmerville.
He also runs his seafood company called Cajun Made Crawfish and Seafood, LLC. During crawfish season, he operates in McKinney, Texas.
“I have known Roderick for about five years and I lived in Grambling for about 10 years and whenever I come to his store I always admired how he ran a business thousands of miles away,” Greta Carter said.
Sims travels about four hours every, eight days out of the week to oversee his businesses.
“I worked for him for four years and he’s cool and I respect him. He’s taught me about the business aspect of how hard it is running a business,” said Felisha Gurley, a Subway employee.
“He’s a good businessman since I have been working here he’s employed about 30 students who attend at Grambling.”