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Statesboro Newk's holds official grand opening
Restaurant bringing its sandwiches, salads, soups, pizzas to Statesboro
Rick Howard, center, holding scissors, the principal owner of Newk's on Highway 80 East, officially opens the restaurant Wednesday along with GS mascot Gus, eatery manager Ron Flott, next to Gus, and Howard's business partner Tiko Shroff.
Rick Howard, center, holding scissors, the principal owner of Newk's on Highway 80 East, officially opens the restaurant Wednesday along with GS mascot Gus, eatery manager Ron Flott, next to Gus, and Howard's business partner Tiko Shroff. - photo by JIM HEALY/staff

Newk’s Eatery held its official grand opening Wednesday morning where the restaurant’s principal owner Rick Howard told a story about when he decided to bring the franchise to Statesboro.

“It's interesting because I had never really heard of Newk’s,” said Howard, a Georgia Southern graduate and former law enforcement officer. “I'd seen it in training magazines and things like that. That same week, the first time I heard about it, I had a commercial real estate broker in Macon suggest opening a Newk’s in Macon. 

“Well, I didn't pay much attention to it. And the same week, I was on the plane with Chris Davidson. We just got out there and the first thing he said was, ‘Want to bring a Newk’s to Statesboro?’ I said, ‘Well, I'm going to have to look at it.’ 

“Then I happened to be on the plane with the CEO of Newk’s, didn't know it, and his bag was above my seat, and I got it down for him. The next morning, I walked in the headquarters and there he is, the same guy, so I was like, ‘I think I'm destined to open a Newk’s.’”

Joel Hanner, left, area manager for Georgia Power, and Newk's Eatery partners Tiku Shroff, center, and Rick Howard talk prior to the restaurant's official grand opening.
Joel Hanner, left, area manager for Georgia Power, and Newk's Eatery partners Tiku Shroff, center, and Rick Howard talk prior to the restaurant's official grand opening. - photo by JIM HEALY/staff

Newk’s, located next to Popeyes and Dunkin’ on Highway 80 East, across from Lowe’s, opened to the public on Labor Day. Described as a fresh/casual restaurant, Newk’s offers salads, sandwiches, soups and pizzas, all made daily in the restaurant’s kitchen without fryers or microwaves. 

Howard also is a minority owner in both the Popeyes and Dunkin’ that are majority owned by Tiku Shroff. Howard and Shroff met while both attending Georgia Southern and have worked together for decades.

The Statesboro Newk’s is managed by Ron Flott, a Southeast Bulloch High graduate, who owned the Larry’s Giant Subs franchise off Brannen St.

Schroff closed on the three-acre parcel where Newk’s sits next to the entrance of Bel-Air Estates in August 2023. Both Popeyes and Dunkin’ opened in December 2024. Land clearing for the Statesboro Newk’s began earlier in 2025 and actual construction began in March.

Newk's Eatery has about 100 units in 12 states. It was founded in 2004 and named after co-founder Chris "Newk" Newcomb. 

The Statesboro location is the 14th Newk’s to open in Georgia.