Family opens Pollard's Chicken for new start

By Staci Dennis
Correspondent

KEMPSVILLE

Tim Travitz is using chicken to catapult him into a new career.

"I have to do something, and this seemed like a great opportunity," the 43-year-old said. "I'm excited about the possibilities."

Travitz and his wife, Melissa, teamed up with his sister, Stacey Maslyn, and her husband, Robert, to open the first Pollard's Chicken & Catering franchise on Centerville Turnpike in the Woods Corner Shopping Center.

The grand opening is scheduled for this week.

"We were brainstorming for several years on what kind of business we wanted to open," said Travitz, of Great Bridge. "When this came along, we knew it was time to act."

Helping to spur the decision, Travitz was laid off from his job as the vice president of credit card operations at HSBC in April 2009. He had worked with the company for 16 years.

"I needed a job, and this opportunity came up, so we jumped on it," he said. "It was perfect timing."

One of the main draws for the brother-and-sister team was the family-oriented business, and the fact that Pollard's Chicken was run by Johnny Pollard and his sister, Betty Ann Pollard Gravely.

"We thought that was a good sign - they are brother and sister," said Stacey Maslyn, of Hickory. "Plus, the owners have been accessible - hands-on and with us every step of the way."

Pollard's Chicken has six locations in Virginia Beach, Norfolk and Chesapeake, all owned by family members. Johnny Pollard said he hopes to have 15 franchised locations in the next five years.

"We don't want one on every corner," Pollard said. "We want to be selective on when they open and where the restaurants are."

The Centerville Turnpike location will be the first franchise to open. Close on its heels is a second location opening in College Park Shopping Center in Virginia Beach.

Travitz and Maslyn paid about $400,000 to start the business, which included the franchise fee and construction costs. The duo leased an old bank and refurbished the 3,600 square feet to include a banquet room that can be used for birthday parties, meetings and more.

"I think it was ironic I got laid off from my bank job, only to go back and tear down a bank for my new job," Travitz said. "It was a fun demolition day."

Travitz and Maslyn said they hope to eventually open more Pollard's Chicken locations. Their goal is to have three more locations in the next five years. The duo's parents, Don and Bev Travitz, are encouraging them along the way.

"They have helped in every way imaginable," Travitz said.

That's the kind of family teamwork Pollard likes to see.

"We are very happy with how it has gone so far," Pollard said about franchising his 40-year-old family business. "We hope to get more people like Tim and Stacey."

Staci Dennis, sdennis@cox.net