But in 1994, Trautmann said he couldn’t find anyone willing to open a new restaurant at a location in Withamsville, Clermont County, that “I just knew would work well,” he said.
After a conversation with the then-CEO, Trautmann offhandedly mentioned that maybe he would open his own franchise, something that was “unheard of at the time because no one got a franchise unless they were already on the inside,” he said.
But six months later, he had his Skyline in Withamsville, which has now grown to a location in Springboro and West Chester Twp. Trautmann just opened his second restaurant in West Chester Twp. off Tylersville Road at 7716 Dudley Drive, just in front of the new West Chester Medical Center.
“I just loved the product, and loved eating Skyline and loved the atmosphere,” he said. “I always wanted to be a Skyline operator and the opportunity presented itself and I jumped on it.”
While Trautmann said he likes the hands-on approach he has with the restaurant — he managed day-to-day operations; his children worked in the stores and his wife decorates them — at 60 years old he recently hired a district manager to help run his locations. He hopes to be expanding “all the way up (Interstate) 75” in the near future.
“It’s just fun. We take a lot of pride in our locations,” he said. “We are probably going to stay out here in Butler and Warren County if there is opportunity.”
For more information about Skyline Chili, call the new store at (513) 759-1710 or visit www.skylinechili.com.
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