From Childhood Friends to Franchise Partners: Marine Corps Veterans Bring Huey Magoo’s to Rock Hill, Fort Mill, and Columbia, South Carolina

Six restaurant commitment from Jeremy Press and Grant McDowell will introduce the Filet Mignon of Chicken® across York, Richland, and Lexington counties

August 20, 2026 // FranchisePR.com // Rock Hill, SC — They met in middle school, both served in the Marine Corps and have now partnered to bring the Filet Mignon of Chicken® to two of South Carolina’s fastest-growing regions. Grant McDowell and Jeremy Press have committed to developing six locations of Huey Magoo’s, the fast casual brand known for its premium, handcrafted chicken tenders, across Rock Hill, Fort Mill, and Columbia, South Carolina. The first restaurant is planned to open by Spring of 2027 in Rock Hill, with a second location targeted near the University of South Carolina in Columbia.

McDowell and Press grew up together in South Carolina, attending middle school and high school together before both serving in the United States Marine Corps. They are joined by operating partner Jason Twitty, who brings more than 20 years of retail and food service experience to the group’s day-to-day operations.

The partners are experienced entrepreneurs with backgrounds spanning franchise ownership, restaurant operations, banking, real estate, sales, and community leadership. Press has owned and operated a Destination Athlete franchise for nine years, while McDowell has built a successful career in real estate. Along with proven business expertise, the partners bring knowledge of the local markets and a strong commitment to serving customers and their communities.

“We considered a number of brands while searching for a franchise to open together, with some not having ideal territories available and others just not leaving a great impression,” said Press. “Then a Huey Magoo’s ad popped up. After researching the brand, we had a really good feeling about it. We tried out the Greenville location for ourselves and all three of us loved it.”

The menu’s unique focus on the tenderloin resonated immediately (along with the banana pudding for dessert) and a visit to the brand’s Discovery Day in Orlando sealed the deal. Press and McDowell were impressed by the depth of the brand’s corporate leadership team and by how closely the company’s approach to quality matched their own standards.

Rock Hill was the group’s first choice for its debut restaurant. Press is in York County regularly for youth fastpitch softball tournaments and has watched the area’s growth. “Rock Hill is ideally located in Charlotte Hornets and Carolina Panthers territory, with a number of great schools and a growing business community,” added McDowell. “We can’t wait to open our doors to a new Huey Magoo’s fan base.”

With its 100th location opening later this year, Huey Magoo’s is expanding steadily across the country to meet the demand for premium, handcrafted chicken tenders made fresh using only the tenderloin, the best three percent of the chicken. The menu includes a variety of ways to enjoy the Filet Mignon of Chicken®, including the signature chicken tenders and Tender Bites, prepared either hand-breaded or grilled with a secret seasoning blend with sauces and sides to complete a meal or as part of a sandwich, wrap, or salad. Seasonal specials, a refreshing lineup of teas and handcrafted lemonades, and Magoo’s Rewards help turn new guests into regulars.

ABOUT HUEY MAGOO’S

Huey Magoo’s is known for its uncompromising commitment to quality, serving premium, handcrafted chicken tenders made from the best 3 percent of the chicken—the tenderloin—for unmatched taste and texture.

Guests can customize their experience with tender meals, fresh-made salads, sandwiches, wraps and 10 signature sauces. House-made specialties include hand-spun chips, freshly prepared coleslaw, banana pudding, and signature sauces like Magoo’s, Spicy Magoo’s and Ranch.

Founded in 2004, Huey Magoo’s is one of the fastest-growing fast-casual brands, earning multiple awards for its bold flavors and quality, most recently earning a spot on Fast Casual’s 2026 Top 100 Movers + Shakers list. With locations in 13 states and growing, Huey Magoo’s continues to bring premium ingredients and exceptional hospitality nationwide. Guests can order through Huey Magoo’s mobile app for easy pickup, delivery and rewards tracking. For more information, visit HueyMagoos.com.

Qualified candidates interested in bringing Huey Magoo’s to their community can learn more about franchising opportunities at HueyMagoos.com/franchising.

SOURCE Huey Magoo’s