Real Talk with Real Owners: Nate Schott of Cheyenne, Wyoming

Eager to find his next journey post-service, Navy veteran Nate Schott found opportunity knocking when his sister mentioned her local favorite—Dickey’s Barbecue Pit. “Great barbecue was hard to find while stationed in San Diego. With the closest Dickey’s an hour away, my wife and I immediately fell in love with the authentic flavor and family history,” says Nate. “Once we learned about the growth opportunities with Dickey’s, we decided franchising would be our next mission.”

Driven to take the lead with slow-smoked barbecue in ‘The Frontier City’, Nate and his wife have become a barbecue sensation in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Always busy filling people’s hearts and plates, the husband and wife team are primarily focused on community engagement. “Cheyenne is the place where everybody knows your name, and that is the approach we’ve taken in our community marketing efforts,” shares Nate. And it’s hard not to agree that there is a mutual passion for great barbecue. 

Recently, Nate’s store was voted ‘Best Barbecue’ in the city’s newspaper, the Wyoming Tribune Eagle. He adds, “From the rib raisers fundraiser events to bounce back offers, the home office’s community marketing support has been instrumental in how we interact with our current and potential guests.  When individuals see my wife and me around town, we want them to remember their great experiences at Dickey’s.” 

Aside from the marketing support, Nate also utilizes the training and operations support to further engage the store’s guests. “The refreshed operations techniques provided through the daily training videos have transformed my employees’ perception on how they deliver customer service. It’s a great feeling to know the majority of our repeat business is because of our down home approach, and I look forward expanding our Dickey’s business in this area.”