It’s a move that oughta get a lot of attention from both sides of the field.
Eegee’s, which has been quickly expanding its restaurant brand over the years, announced that the industry veteran Jason Vaughn has been appointed as its new chief executive officer (CEO). Vaughn will succeed Ron Petty, who served as the restaurant’s chairman for a decade before becoming CEO in 2019.
In the beginning, the idea was to keep the frozen delights and sub sandwiches only in Tucson, but they have since opened locations down I-10 in Casa Grande and Phoenix. However, more importantly, Tucsonans will be surprised to hear that Eegee’s, for the first time, will be planning to expand outside of the state.
“The opportunity to take part in a success story like Eegee’s is an immense honor,” said Vaughn. “The brand is nearly synonymous with Arizona, and I’m excited to help bring its unique offering and first-class customer experience to more areas across the state, and even beyond. I feel fortunate to now be part of Eegee’s incredible legacy — one that I take very seriously, as I know the loyalty of Eegee’s supporters is unmatched — and look forward to what’s to come.”
Vaughn has been named by Nation’s Restaurant News as “One of the Most Influential CEOs in the Country” and is carrying over more than three decades of experience to the restaurant. Ron Petty, will continue to serve as an advisor to Eegee’s during his retirement, focusing on real estate to help the brand strategically expand its footprint.
Eegee’s first got things rolling in 1971 and began as a vending truck serving frozen lemon drinks at community events in Tucson. Today, they’ve got 31 locations and are looking forward to serving its ice-cold concoctions to fans outside of Arizona.
The exact out-of-state locations have yet to be revealed, but keep an eye out for future announcements.
For more information, visit eegees.com.
Article written by:
Matt Sterner
More about MattAt a very young age, Matt Sterner was gifted with the artistic ability to masterfully roll a burrito to the highest of standards, but the wrapped medley of delicious innards wasn’t his first love. Matt’s first true love was a combination of reading, writing, and creating. He grew up reading comics, the ingredients list of his shampoo and conditioner bottles, choose-your-own-adventure books, and the Scrabble dictionary — something he found useful when challenging his grandmother to a game.
He attended college at New Mexico State University and graduated with a degree in Digital Filmmaking. One of his favorite classes was screenwriting because he became responsible for the story’s birth before it came to life on-screen. After school, Matt took on numerous positions at a local television station in Tucson. From dealing out stories about heartbreak to producing “fluffier” content for a lifestyle broadcast, he learned what it takes to adapt to the many emotions the world of media can stir. Since 2017, Matt has dabbled in the culinary world of Tucson as well as San Diego, California from time to time.
If you’re in the mood for strange stories, head over to his pride and joy, wonkytimes.com. And in case you’re curious — yes, after all of this time, he still manages to roll a killer burrito.
