How Chris Aslam Made Jack in the Box History as a Trailblazing Franchisee

Chris Aslam wasn’t just another franchisee—he was a game-changer. At just 23 years old, he became the youngest franchisee in Jack in the Box history and the first ever to build a store from the ground up. His decision to launch in a neglected Dallas neighborhood transformed not only his own life but also the way Jack in the Box approaches development.

Despite warnings and low expectations from the company, Aslam believed in the location. “It was either going to go really well, or I’d be working the drive-thru for the rest of my life,” he recalls. The gamble paid off: that store is still one of the busiest in Texas nearly two decades later.

Breaking Barriers and Redefining What’s Possible

After opening a second store in 2008, opportunities multiplied. Today, Chris Aslam and his wife, Edith Diaz, oversee around 75 restaurants across Texas, Las Vegas, and Salt Lake City. Most are Jack in the Box units, with a handful of Golden Chick and Hawaiian Bros. locations rounding out the portfolio.

Their journey wasn’t easy. Aslam’s father once worked graveyard shifts at Jack in the Box, saving enough to buy his first store. When a fire nearly destroyed the family’s business, Aslam dropped out of school, acted as general contractor, and helped rebuild—igniting his love for development.

From Rejection to Revolution

Initially rejected by Jack in the Box due to his father’s late payments and his young age, Aslam was undeterred. He kept pushing until the company allowed him and Diaz to build their own store—something no franchisee had done before.

At one point, Jack in the Box even offered to return his $10,000 deposit, citing an internal study that projected poor performance. He refused the refund and secured 100% financing for the project, while Diaz maxed out her credit card to help cover costs.

That bold first step changed the franchise’s development model. Suddenly, prime territories were up for grabs, and others took notice. Aslam had rewritten the rulebook.

Expanding Beyond Jack in the Box

Although loyal to Jack in the Box, Aslam eventually added Golden Chick and Hawaiian Bros. to his portfolio. The move came from necessity: surrounding territories were saturated with other franchisees, limiting growth. These new brands proved complementary, with some units even built next to Jack in the Box locations—without cannibalizing sales.

“In fact, sales improved,” Aslam noted, explaining how the dual-brand locations created synergy rather than competition.

Advice for Future Franchisees

Aslam’s story is filled with setbacks and triumphs, but his advice is simple: “Trust your gut.” Many of his most successful stores didn’t pass traditional site analytics but thrived due to his instincts and dedication.

“If you’ve checked the boxes—good location, hard work—you’re going to do just fine,” he says.

Legacy of the Boldest Jack in the Box Franchisee

The legacy of Chris Aslam Jack in the Box franchisee is more than numbers. It’s about rewriting the playbook, taking calculated risks, and turning obstacles into opportunity. His story serves as a powerful example for aspiring franchisees looking to make their mark in the fast-food world.