Parker’s Kitchen CEO reflects on 50 years of business | Parker’s at 50

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - A single gas station off I-95 helped launch what would become one of the region’s most recognizable convenience store brands.

The first episode of Parker’s at 50, a new WTOC+ series, looks back at the early days of Parker’s Kitchen as the company celebrates half a century of business. The episode features founder and CEO Greg Parker, who shared how the company got its start and grew from a single store into the regional brand known today.

Parker said the idea began in 1975 with his father, an Amoco distributor who saw potential along the newly opened I-95 corridor. Parker decided to capitalize on the opportunity by opening his first store in Midway.

At just 21 years old, Parker was planning to attend law school. Instead, he found himself running the new business.

“I was driven by fear of failure,” Parker said, adding that he faced many early challenges and barriers. Over time, as he gained confidence, that first store turned into a second - then a third and beyond.

The Midway location itself reflected a different era of convenience stores.

The store featured six full-service gas pumps and a carpeted interior - red, white and blue, chosen by Parker’s mother as part of the nation’s bicentennial celebration. While the company has evolved significantly since then, Parker said those early days laid the foundation for future growth.

Parker credits the company’s longevity in a competitive market to its ability to adapt in a highly competitive industry.

“It’s the most adaptive that survive,” he said. “We continue to adapt and we continue to innovate.”

That approach has helped Parker’s Kitchen navigate changing customer expectations and industry trends over the decades.

As the company has grown, Parker said its success has stayed rooted in its people. He pointed to longtime employees who started in the early years and helped build a culture centered on being “fast, fresh and friendly” - values he said remain core to the company today.

Looking ahead, Parker sees technology playing a key role in the company’s future growth. He highlighted investments in artificial intelligence and predictive kitchen systems designed to improve efficiency and food quality.

Parker also emphasized the company’s commitment to giving back, noting Parker’s Kitchen has donated more than $30 million to charitable causes over the years.

“If you give back in meaningful ways, your customers want to do business with you,” he said.

Parker’s at 50 will continue each month on WTOC+, highlighting the people and stories behind the homegrown company.

Next month’s episode will feature two of Parker’s earliest employees, as they share their memories from the company’s early days.