Aleeah Smith is a wife, mother of four, and first-generation franchisee. She is the youngest Black woman to hold not one, but two Peach Cobbler Factory franchises at the age of 26. Aleeah purchased her first restaurant franchise in 2022, and her facilities are located in Dalton, Georgia. Her second restaurant will open in Fayetteville, Georgia in the fall of 2023.
The Peach Cobbler Factory is a renowned dessert destination on the east and south coasts. It is well-known for its 12 variations of excellent cobblers, 12 varieties of banana pudding, and delectable cinnamon buns, cookies, and milkshakes.
Aleeah has been interested in business since she was 14 years old. She used to run a dessert catering business for local events while growing up on Lansing’s south side. She ran the firm until she was 25 years old, serving customers in both Michigan and Georgia. Along the way, she opted to marry and have children while continuing to pursue her entrepreneurial dreams. She even studied Business Management at Michigan State University for a short time.
Aleeah did not hesitate when the opportunity to become a franchise owner of The Peach Cobbler Factory in 2022 came itself. She was even financially equipped to self-fund her own restaurants. This included funding the build-outs, paying the franchise fees, and purchasing the necessary equipment and inventory. Her first store’s sales had increased by 34%, resulting in six figures in revenue by the end of the year. She expects to earn millions of dollars every year in the long run.
Aleeah’s restaurants both provide late-night delivery through Uber Eats, GrubHub, and DoorDash. Her restaurants also provide gourmet catering for business and private events such as graduations and parties.