A comic book-inspired culinary hotspot is redefining the breakfast, brunch, and lunch experience in Huntsville, Alabama.

Superhero Chefs, a restaurant adorned with Marvel and DC artwork, serves up “wow-worthy” dishes like wings and waffles and shrimp and grits. For owner Terrel Davis, the journey from a passionate supporter of the brand to an entrepreneur has been as dynamic as the superheroes on the walls.

“I started with Superhero Chefs back in 2019 when we opened our first restaurant,” Davis said. “I was sold on the vision — the presentation of the food, how people would take out their phones to capture it. That ‘wow’ factor really spoke to me.”

In the summer of 2023, Davis took ownership of Superhero Chefs, purchasing the brand from celebrity chef Darnell Ferguson. With three years of experience cultivating a loyal team and creating memorable customer experiences, Davis was ready for the challenge.

“Most of our employees have been with us for about two and a half years, which is a big deal in the restaurant industry,” Davis said. “It’s like a family. They are loyal and dedicated. And our customers? They keep the doors open. Seeing their reactions to our food — their excitement and the way they share it with others — those moments are the best.”

Despite its outward success, Davis has faced the steep learning curve of growing the business into a franchise. Cash flow management, budgeting, and financial planning became immediate hurdles.

A critical moment for Davis came when his business partner asked if the core business model was even profitable. At that time, Davis admitted that he didn’t have the tools or confidence to answer that question.

“As owner-operators, you wear so many hats,” Davis said. “Cash flow was an issue. Budgeting was an issue.”

Davis found a lifeline through the Entrepreneurship Team at Communities Unlimited (CU). Referred by a family member of his business partner, he was introduced to CU Senior Management Consultant Rhett Douglas, who has become a pivotal partner in helping to stabilize his business.

Douglas began with a financial review, uncovering miscategorized costs and missing records. Together, they developed a breakeven analysis and cash flow management plan to address the restaurant’s challenges.

Through Douglas’s guidance, Davis not only gained clarity on his financial health but also implemented strategies like reducing operating hours and pivoting toward catering during slower seasons. Recognizing Davis’s ambition to diversify revenue, Douglas provided financial projections for a new vending machine venture on a nearby college campus. The projections highlighted potential profitability while flagging risks like profit-sharing requests.

“Rhett has really helped us, whether we’re venting about problems or problem-solving,” Davis said. “As owner-operators, you don’t always have someone to turn to. Communities Unlimited fills that gap.”

With CU’s support, Davis negotiated favorable terms for the vending machines and launched the project, using tools to track margins and fine-tune pricing. He also adopted a cash flow forecasting tool, giving his team early warnings of potential issues.

“Once we identified the root cause of his cash flow issues, Terrel started drawing connections and conclusions quickly,” Douglas said. “We developed a plan to manage capital better moving forward, and Terrel has fully engaged in the process, even involving his head chef to refine labor and inventory strategies. His dedication to seeing Superhero Chefs thrive continues to motivate me as we work through the process from all angles.”

For Davis, CU’s support has been transformative.

“You can’t tell your server, ‘I don’t know if we’ll pay bills next week,’ but you can work with Communities Unlimited to structure things better,” Davis said. “Rhett has helped me tremendously with cash flow, financial planning, budgeting, and preparing to present to investors.”

Davis expressed optimism about the future of Superhero Chefs, acknowledging the challenges of the restaurant industry, particularly its narrow profit margins. He credited Rhett’s guidance and the collaborative efforts of his team as key to their progress.

With their franchise disclosure documents completed, Davis shared their goal of expanding into multi-unit corporate stores and franchise locations. As they continue to refine operations, the plan includes opening additional stores and selling franchises in cities and states beyond their current reach.

Davis believes CU’s work extends far beyond his own business, creating a ripple effect that fosters economic growth and sustainable self-reliance within the community. He emphasized the critical role CU plays in supporting minority-owned businesses and empowering local economies.

“What CU is doing — please don’t stop,” Davis said. “Being a minority business and in our community, we don’t have that financial literacy piece of how to manage and how to do certain things. I’m glad this organization exists to help us out as a nonprofit. You help make a life from us being able to stay open, employees, and 20 other people to stay open. You all are keeping doors open for a lot of people indirectly by helping the owner-operators that are behind the businesses.”

Davis is transforming challenges into opportunities. This is part of the pathway to building a truly super brand.