Posted: Sunday, July 13, 2008 7:56 am

Murfreesboro Post Business Profile: Johnny Fleeman

Name: Johnny Fleeman

Title: Owner

Company name: Sundowner Management Group/ Legend’s Steak House

Web site: www.legendssteakhouse.com

Address: 1918 Almaville Road, Smyrna

Time in current position: Since I was 18 years pld

What does your company produce? We own and operate five Legends Steakhouse Restaurants in Middle Tennessee and Alabama, The Brass Lantern Road House in Lawrenceburg and several convenience stores in Middle Tennessee. We also make and distribute a line of salad dressings, steak marinades and barbecue sauces.

What is your basic business philosophy? A line at your door is a sign of success. If you don’t have that going for you then you’re doing something wrong.

Give us a sales pitch in 25 words or less: We start with family recipes, use quality products and follow up with customer-focused service. It’s a formula that has made us ‘legends’ in six Middle Tennessee and Alabama communities.

What is your proudest business achievement? One day I walked into a grocery store in Little Rock, Arkansas and saw my salad dressings and marinade on the shelf.

What led you to Murfreesboro? The growing area and the challenge of going head to head with the major restaurant chains.

What is your educational background? Lawrence County High School

Where are you originally from? Lawrenceburg, Tenn.

What do you do for fun? Traveling the back roads in my convertible and finding locally owned diners and cafes off the beaten path.

Tell us about your family: John and Faye Fleeman are my parents, and I have a brother and sister, Jim and Holly. I have two dear people in my life now, Jackie Keeton from Lawrenceburg and her daughter, Cheyenne who is 13 years old.

Who was your mentor? I have two mentors, my father and the late Mr. T.L Simms. I have to thank Mr. Simms for selling me his business when I was 18 years old. He taught me how to be successful running a business early on. My father, being a business owner himself, gave me support whenever I needed it. It has always been needed on a regular basis.

What is the most important thing going on now at your operation? There are two exciting things happening at Legend’s Restaurants. First, we are introducing Legend’s dinner packs. We’ve selected several dinner items to choose from that will feed from two to four people. Call ahead, pick it up at our drive-through window and be eating some of our best recipes around your own table. The second big thing is that I recently brought Navigation Advertising on board to help guide my company in a new direction. This gives me more time to run my businesses and communicate with my customers on a daily basis.