Multi-Unit Franchisee Magazine Issue III, 2011 | Page 14

Forbco Management, he accepted and set out to learn more
about franchising and restaurants. Sally turned her hand to developing marketing and advertising programs for the company.
The couple, who worked for Forbco for six years after their
marriage and through the opening of 36 units in Southern
California, don’t believe they could have had a better teacher.
“He’s so passionate about his work and such a talented entrepreneur,” Gary says. “He taught me all about what to do and
what not to do in the restaurant business: how to formulate a
company, take care of your people, and hire a great attorney,
accountant, and banker. And he’s really been a leader among
Sizzler franchisees.”
By the early 1980s, the couple, who’d found to their delight that they enjoyed working together, were ready to start
their own company. They became partners with John Burk, a
general contractor who’d built some of the Forbco Sizzlers,
and with Williams, who would operate as a silent partner,
forming BMW Management Inc. “I talked to the president
of Sizzler USA and he approved our five-store, five-year development agreement,” says Gary.
Their idea was to take Sizzlers to areas that really needed

restaurants. In 1983, they opened their first in Temecula,
Calif., where they would move one year later. “We had lines
out the door. There were cowboys coming out of the hills on
horses, so we had to have a tie-up for the horses,” Gary recalls.
“People there just fell in love with Sizzler but they got tired
of standing in line. One regular customer said, ‘If you’ll build
another one in Moreno Valley, I’ll give you the property and
$750,000 for the building.’ It turns out that the property he
offered was exactly where I wanted to build.” BMW opened
that location in 1985.
2011 Multi-Unit Franchisee magazine MVP Award winners,
the couple currently are revamping their 24 Sizzlers into what
they call the “new-generation Sizzler.” Though their three
children are now grown, family, complete with grandchildren,
is still a priority with the busy couple.
“Juggling is something we still do. It’s not easy and there
were times we had to sacrifice our own sleep and interests to
maintain a positive, loving, thriving family and to be there
for the business and staff,” says Sally, who points to the family camping vacations as a highlight of every year. “But it’s all
been worth it. We are very blessed.”

PERSONAL
Key accomplishments: Gary: Leading and operating a first-class organization
with dedicated and loyal people, keeping a family culture throughout our organization even as we’ve grown larger, and continuing to grow and succeed during
economic recessions. More recently, BMW Management has produced the greatest
change to the Sizzler concept through building and remodeling restaurants. The
Murrieta and Oceanside Sizzlers are the newest remodeled units to feature our
innovative design elements along with some of the new food offerings on our
menu. M