Tony Hickombottom Brings The Little Gym to Naperville

By Grace Kim
October 30, 2026

Black Enterprise reported that Tony Hickombottom and his wife, Kendele, opened The Little Gym franchise in Naperville, Illinois, in April 2025. The move brought the 50-year-old, development-focused children’s fitness brand to the local market for the first time. The franchise is part of youth enrichment platform Unleashed Brands.

What became the first-year test?

The Hickombottoms’ first year as owners brought Tony’s childhood dream within reach. Tony called the experience exciting, rewarding and eye-opening, but also more challenging than he and Kendele anticipated. They learned how much work goes into building and operating a business, even within an established franchise system.

Brand awareness proved their biggest challenge. The Little Gym had operated for 50 years, yet many families in their immediate market did not know the brand.

Tony told Black Enterprise: “We quickly realized that we needed to spend considerable time not only introducing ourselves to the community but also educating families on what The Little Gym is, what we offer, and how we’re different.”

Their marketing response included:

• Participating in community events.
• Holding events at the gym.
• Partnering with local organizations.
• Advertising through neighborhood and homeowners’ associations.

Tony said the marketing remained ongoing. The established brand still required direct, sustained education of local families.

How did Tony enter franchising?

Tony’s interest in franchising began in childhood. He attended school with children whose families owned a McDonald’s, while relatives owned a few franchises. Tony said that early exposure to ownership planted a seed, even though he did not yet understand the franchise model.

At graduate school at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, one professor encouraged him to connect with Jimmy John’s, then headquartered in Champaign. That connection led to an opportunity to work closely with the sandwich chain’s president and CEO for several years. After a move to Atlanta, Tony found himself in franchising again with Kids ‘R’ Kids, an early-childhood education and childcare center franchise.

Tony described the route as less deliberate than destined. The industry carried him from Jimmy John’s to Kids ‘R’ Kids and eventually to ownership of his own franchise. His career moved into franchising before his path to ownership became deliberate.

Why did the couple choose The Little Gym?

The Hickombottoms discovered The Little Gym in Atlanta as parents, enrolling their two children. Tony said the program affected the children’s physical, cognitive and social development, not merely a way to burn energy. A move brought the family back to the Chicago area, where they noticed nothing like The Little Gym nearby.

Tony saw a chance to bring an established brand to his hometown and realize a childhood ambition. Kendele’s work also aligned with the children’s sector. She managed marketing partnerships at Boys & Girls Clubs of America and currently runs a nonprofit supporting first-generation, low-income college students through mentoring technology.

Tony had spent years on the franchisor side, observing successful and struggling franchisees. He said he learned which characteristics, habits and approaches often separated the two, and he viewed franchisor support and franchisee positioning as central to success. He also knew that operating a business differed from shaping brand policy.

He had participated in meetings where brand direction was discussed and decided. Tony said the experience taught him how and why those choices happened, while recognizing that every franchise system operates differently.

He now applies those lessons, including what he learned about franchisee performance, to his own path as an owner. Their choice combined family experience with inside knowledge of franchising.

What has started to work?

Tony said their marketing work had begun to produce results. He identified the community they had built as their biggest win.

Tony told Black Enterprise: “We have some wonderful families who have embraced us, supported us, and made this journey incredibly rewarding. Seeing kids come through our doors each week, watching their progress and getting to know their families has been one of the most fulfilling parts of ownership.”

Their strongest first-year result was the community’s acceptance. Tony’s experience points to local families’ support as the practical measure of a new franchise’s early traction.

What should future franchisees examine?

Tony encourages people interested in franchising to pursue ownership, but he says buyers should do their homework before signing. His checklist was direct:

• Research the brand and understand its financial and operating commitments.
• Talk with existing franchisees.
• Hear from both successful operators and franchisees who struggled.
• Decide whether the owner wants active day-to-day involvement or a business that eventually needs less.
• Assess how much time the owner can realistically commit.
• Find a business that fits both personal passion and the owner’s desired lifestyle.

Tony also said passion matters, but fitting the franchise to the owner’s desired life is just as important. He advises future owners to prepare as much as possible, accept that some outcomes remain beyond their control, adapt and keep learning from the owner’s seat, and find enjoyment in the process. He says owners should celebrate wins both big and small because those moments sustain them through difficult periods.

Tony’s benchmark for buyers is blunt: complete the homework, hear from operators who struggled, and commit to the daily work of making an established brand familiar to local families.