L.D. Arrington honored for 50 years in business
Posted: Monday, September 21, 2015
By MORRIS STEPHENSON, Special to the News-Post
Mention the name L.D. Arrington to people in Franklin County, and the first thing many will say is, “He’s a self-made man. I remember when he was a meat cutter at Virginia Markets.”
The description best sums up the story of the Rocky Mount man who climbed the fast food industry’s ladder to success. He started with Dairy Queen and later added Bojangle’s franchises.
Last week, the Franklin County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution honoring Arrington for 50 years in business. Rocky Mount Supervisor Charles Wagner and county Administrator Brent Robertson presented Arrington with a plaque at the Arrington Enterprises Inc. office.
Also on hand for the presentation were his wife of 61 years, Ruth; son David; daughter, Deborah; and long-time employees Shelby Brooks and Darlene Blankenship.
“It is a great honor I never expected and will be forever grateful to Franklin County and its residents for supporting our efforts over the past 50 years,” he said.
Arrington Enterprises (AEI) employs between 200-300 people and has an annual payroll of more than $4 million. Retail sales are in excess of $12 million at its three county Dairy Queen locations and one in Danville, along with the three Bojangle’s restaurants.
In addition to his business interests, Arrington was recognized for his community service. Especially noted was his leadership in the “Lights for Life” project. The drive started on the heels of the July 26, 2010, fire truck crash that killed Rocky Mount Fire Chief Posey Dillon and veteran firefighter Danny Altice.
The effort raised $278,000 to help the Town of Rocky Mount purchase equipment that allows emergency response vehicles to change traffic signals to red as the vehicles approach intersections.
His Dairy Queen restaurants were also recognized as the number one national fundraiser for five consecutive years for the Children’s Miracle Network.
In addition to the Children’s Miracle Network, Arrington’s Dairy Queen restaurants have supported “We Care of Franklin County” for many years.
Arrington was born in Danville and raised in Bassett. He and his wife came to Franklin County in November 1956. The skilled meat-cutter was transferred from the Martinsville Virginia Markets supermarket to the one in Rocky Mount on Main Street. The store became later known as IGA.
Arrington was eventually promoted to supervisor with IGA, a position he held until 1965. That was when Arrington partnered with Carl Simpson to purchase Angle’s Supermarket. It was located beside the current Dairy Queen restaurant on Route 40 West.
Arrington and Simpson renamed the supermarket Foodtown. Two years later, Arrington and his wife became sole owners, and the name was changed to Thriftway. A year later, the couple purchased the popular drive-in restaurant, known as Hugh’s Snack Bar, from county treasurer Hugh Turner.
In 1970, the Arringtons purchased Dairy Queen, the county’s first national chain restaurant, from Rev. Joe Lindsoe. It was located on Route 40 East. Two years later, Hugh’s was converted to a Dairy Queen.
The couple continued to expand by incorporating their businesses into Arrington Enterprises Inc. A new Dairy Queen was built on Route 40 in Ferrum in 1993. The last DQ, this one in Danville, was added to the corporation in 1998.
The Arringtons acquired the Bojangle’s franchise in 1996. It was incorporated into the new Plateau Plaza plans when it was constructed on U.S. 220 North. Arrington-owned Bojangle’s restaurants have been named winner of the national “BoFest” contest four times in five years.
A second Bojangle’s was built on Route 40 East in Rocky Mount in 2003 and the third franchise store was constructed at Lake Watch in 2008.
Over the years, the Arringtons have also owned DQs in Chatham, Collinsville, Martinsville, Laurel Park and Penhook, along with Just Subs in Rocky Mount and Martinsville.
AEI “family employees” include David Arrington, Deborah Arrington Russell, Brian Arrington and Jaime Arrington Manning. Shelby J. Brooks has been with the company for 49 years, while Darlene Blankenship has 41 years of service.
The Arrington’s younger son, Doug, and his wife, Karen, went out on their own in 1990 to form Hometown Ice in Rocky Mount.
The Arringtons are long-time members of Sandy Ridge Baptist Church, where L.D. serves as a deacon.
The description best sums up the story of the Rocky Mount man who climbed the fast food industry’s ladder to success. He started with Dairy Queen and later added Bojangle’s franchises.
Last week, the Franklin County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution honoring Arrington for 50 years in business. Rocky Mount Supervisor Charles Wagner and county Administrator Brent Robertson presented Arrington with a plaque at the Arrington Enterprises Inc. office.
Also on hand for the presentation were his wife of 61 years, Ruth; son David; daughter, Deborah; and long-time employees Shelby Brooks and Darlene Blankenship.
“It is a great honor I never expected and will be forever grateful to Franklin County and its residents for supporting our efforts over the past 50 years,” he said.
Arrington Enterprises (AEI) employs between 200-300 people and has an annual payroll of more than $4 million. Retail sales are in excess of $12 million at its three county Dairy Queen locations and one in Danville, along with the three Bojangle’s restaurants.
In addition to his business interests, Arrington was recognized for his community service. Especially noted was his leadership in the “Lights for Life” project. The drive started on the heels of the July 26, 2010, fire truck crash that killed Rocky Mount Fire Chief Posey Dillon and veteran firefighter Danny Altice.
The effort raised $278,000 to help the Town of Rocky Mount purchase equipment that allows emergency response vehicles to change traffic signals to red as the vehicles approach intersections.
His Dairy Queen restaurants were also recognized as the number one national fundraiser for five consecutive years for the Children’s Miracle Network.
In addition to the Children’s Miracle Network, Arrington’s Dairy Queen restaurants have supported “We Care of Franklin County” for many years.
Arrington was born in Danville and raised in Bassett. He and his wife came to Franklin County in November 1956. The skilled meat-cutter was transferred from the Martinsville Virginia Markets supermarket to the one in Rocky Mount on Main Street. The store became later known as IGA.
Arrington was eventually promoted to supervisor with IGA, a position he held until 1965. That was when Arrington partnered with Carl Simpson to purchase Angle’s Supermarket. It was located beside the current Dairy Queen restaurant on Route 40 West.
Arrington and Simpson renamed the supermarket Foodtown. Two years later, Arrington and his wife became sole owners, and the name was changed to Thriftway. A year later, the couple purchased the popular drive-in restaurant, known as Hugh’s Snack Bar, from county treasurer Hugh Turner.
In 1970, the Arringtons purchased Dairy Queen, the county’s first national chain restaurant, from Rev. Joe Lindsoe. It was located on Route 40 East. Two years later, Hugh’s was converted to a Dairy Queen.
The couple continued to expand by incorporating their businesses into Arrington Enterprises Inc. A new Dairy Queen was built on Route 40 in Ferrum in 1993. The last DQ, this one in Danville, was added to the corporation in 1998.
The Arringtons acquired the Bojangle’s franchise in 1996. It was incorporated into the new Plateau Plaza plans when it was constructed on U.S. 220 North. Arrington-owned Bojangle’s restaurants have been named winner of the national “BoFest” contest four times in five years.
A second Bojangle’s was built on Route 40 East in Rocky Mount in 2003 and the third franchise store was constructed at Lake Watch in 2008.
Over the years, the Arringtons have also owned DQs in Chatham, Collinsville, Martinsville, Laurel Park and Penhook, along with Just Subs in Rocky Mount and Martinsville.
AEI “family employees” include David Arrington, Deborah Arrington Russell, Brian Arrington and Jaime Arrington Manning. Shelby J. Brooks has been with the company for 49 years, while Darlene Blankenship has 41 years of service.
The Arrington’s younger son, Doug, and his wife, Karen, went out on their own in 1990 to form Hometown Ice in Rocky Mount.
The Arringtons are long-time members of Sandy Ridge Baptist Church, where L.D. serves as a deacon.