A Fayetteville restaurateur has been selected out of applicants from across the country for the opportunity to own their own establishment. 

Own Your Own (OYO), the newest company from Hotjobs.com founder and Wilmington, NC based entrepreneur Richard Johnson, is designed to give entrepreneurs the opportunity to open new businesses and revitalize small towns across America, starting with Burgaw, North Carolina.

OYO launched a nationwide competition this past January to find the future owner of a new restaurant in Burgaw. The winner gets a 3,000-sq. ft. space in Burgaw and a $1,000,000 budget to design and build their own restaurant.

The opportunity has already attracted 500 applicants from 26 states and due to the overwhelming response. 

“A key element to our success is finding the right person who can succeed at running a restaurant and will also be supported by the town," Johnson said in a press release. "We are so proud of the work we are doing and want to share our story. We also want to show how the OYO model can be used to create sparks of opportunity in other towns and communities.”

Now, the Own Your Own (OYO) Million Dollar Nationwide Restaurant Challenge is excited to announce the 24 Finalists who will be coming to Burgaw, NC this October to compete for the opportunity to own their own restaurant at 106-108 W. Courthouse Avenue.

These finalists represent 10 states and a wide range of concepts. 

Included in those finalists is Fayetteville’s very own Peggy Walker, who is stepping into the ring with her restaurant idea for “Annie Girls” Breakfast and Lunch. 

Walker owns “Gimmie Sugar” a home based business originating out of Fayetteville, NC which specializes in custom cakes, custom cupcakes, candy bar buffets, event planning and design and more. 

Walker acknowledged the honor in a Facebook post she shared on the bakery’s page. 

The post reads in part: 

“It was a lot of hard work. I was discouraged at times. I was up against over 500 applicants fighting for their chance at their own $1 Million Dollar Restaurant.

But I gave it everything I had. My fiancé lifted me up all the times I was ready to throw in the towel because I literally told nobody but a handful of people that I was doing this and it was so hard keeping it a secret because I needed to vent most times lol.

Those 500+ applicants then had to go through another round to make it to the top 64. Like 64 out of 500+? Wowzers! My anxiety kicked in strong because I was up against some super tough guys.

Through dedication, faith, prayer and pure destiny; I made it to the top 64. I couldn’t believe it. I was like no way this is happening.” 

You can read the full post here. 

On Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, the final 24 will face off against each other in a Town Square Cook-off along W. Courthouse Avenue in conjunction with Burgaw’s inaugural Autumn Fest.

Learn more about the Own Your Own Journey here. 

Editor's Note: This is a developing story, the GFBJ plans to continue to follow Walker and her OYO journey.