Champion of Progress - Rachel Wallace
The franchisee of major Centralia businesses, Rachel Wallace has made an undeniable mark on the business community and economic climate of the region, promoting progress and partnerships with every new endeavor.
Wallace’s Subway restaurants in Centralia and Central City have been successful staples in the community, while Scooters Coffee has become a favorite for on-the-go orders, and the Best Western Plus Hotel & Suites serves as the community’s premiere location for tourists and out-of-town guests.
With other investors, she owns 25 Subway restaurants and 6 Scooters Coffee stores. She also serves on various community boards, such as the Centralia Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and the City of Centralia Tourism Committee.
“Centralia has always been very receptive to Subway,” said Wallace, noting that franchises are owned by a local person. “The people here in Centralia have always been very supportive. Everyone here tries to support the local businesses.”
A second-generation franchisee, Wallace crafted her continually growing enterprise, which is deeply rooted in family atmosphere and tight-knit relationships.
“We have a really great group of people. They would do anything for me, and I would do anything for them,” said Wallace. “They are all very close and have a great culture, and I think that makes a huge difference. You don’t do all of this without great people.”
Much of Wallace’s outlook was generated from her parents, franchisees Elvan and Carol Wallace, both of which worked in the hotel industry before investing in Subway restaurants in 1989.
Raised in Effingham, Wallace began working in the family businesses at the age of 14. After studying at Tulane University and Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, she returned in 2003, starting her journey at the bottom.
Wallace recalled. “I would go out with one of our district managers and learn how to manage stores.”
Working her way up the management ladder, Wallace eventually purchased her first Subway stores with her brother in 2010.
“In about 2012, my parents started to retire, and I started to spend more time in our office, which meant I was doing a lot more operational management,” Wallace said. “During that time, I really began to develop our management team.”
Subway wouldn’t be Wallace’s only local business venture, Wallace recalled. “My mom was always looking for more to do. My parents and grandparents came from the motel industry, and she wanted to get back to that. She felt Centralia had an opportunity for a hotel.”
After successfully building the Best Western Plus Hotel & Suites and the accompanying Crooked Creek Crossing shopping center with her family, Wallace partnered with co-worker Marcy Wallace (no relation) on their next franchise.
“One day I was looking through an industry magazine and found Scooters Coffee was an up-and-coming thing. We saw a need for it in some of the towns we’re in,” Wallace explained. “We got in touch with Scooters and really liked them.”
With three successful franchises to her name, continued work on community boards that help shape and strengthen the business community, and the countless sponsorships she offers to local events, such as the annual Centralia Balloon Fest, Wallace’s positive impact on the greater Centralia area only continues to grow.
