At 9, Yonas Hagos arrived in America from a Sudan refugee camp; years later, he became a major Arby’s franchise owner after serving in the US Army

At nine years old, Yonas Hagos arrived in America after spending part of his childhood in a refugee camp in Sudan. He spoke little English and entered a life that was dramatically different from the one his family had known. In Illinois, Hagos and his four siblings shared a small two-bedroom apartment with their parents, who worked whatever jobs they could find to support the family. As a teenager, he began working in fast food and taking on odd jobs to earn money. Years later, the attacks of September 11 changed the direction of his life. Hagos enlisted in the US Army in 2002 and eventually served in Iraq, where he was critically wounded by a rocket-propelled grenade. He survived, recovered and received the Purple Heart. After leaving the military, he pursued another childhood ambition, becoming a business owner, eventually building a multi-brand franchise operation that included Arby’s.Yonas Hagos arrived in America as a refugee childYonas Hagos' journey began long before he became a franchise owner. In 1992, he travelled with his parents and four siblings from a refugee camp in Sudan to Chicago, beginning a new life in America. Hagos was only nine years old and remembered being amazed by everything around him, from the size of American houses to the speed of the cars. His family settled in Wheaton, Illinois, in a two-bedroom Section 8 apartment, with the children sharing two twin beds. According to Inspire Brands, Hagos grew up poor but watched his parents work relentlessly to provide for their family. That example shaped his own attitude towards work. At 14, he obtained permission to take his first fast-food job and also earned money by shovelling driveways, cutting grass and taking whatever work was available.From fast-food worker to US Army Purple Heart recipientHagos continued working in restaurants while attending high school and college, but his path changed after the September 11 attacks. Wanting to give something back to the country that had given his family a new opportunity, he decided to join the US Army. He enlisted in 2002, serving overseas in Germany and Kuwait before being deployed to Iraq in 2004. During his final tour, Hagos was travelling through Baghdad in a Howitzer when his unit came under attack. An RPG struck the vehicle, leaving him severely wounded and without a detectable pulse. His comrades initially considered him killed in action before he regained consciousness nearly a minute later. He underwent numerous surgeries and began rehabilitation in Germany. Doctors initially told him he might have only 50% mobility, but after a difficult recovery he ultimately reached about 95%. Hagos received the Purple Heart Medal for his injuries.After the Army, Yonas Hagos pursued his dream of owning a businessSurviving his injuries gave Hagos a renewed determination to pursue the ambition he had carried since childhood, becoming a businessman. He first established a painting company to save enough money to enter the franchise industry. His first franchised business was a 24-hour health and fitness club, which he purchased in 2009. From there, his operation grew rapidly. At one point, Hagos owned 17 Dunkin’ restaurants, demonstrating that the discipline and persistence he developed during his military career could translate into entrepreneurship. He eventually expanded into other restaurant brands, including Smoothie King, Chicken Salad Chick and Arby’s. His experience was built gradually rather than overnight, with each business providing the foundation for the next. His approach was rooted in hard work, patience and a willingness to follow established systems while continuing to look for opportunities to grow.Yonas Hagos became an Arby’s franchise owner after growing up poorArby’s had a personal connection for Hagos because he had grown up eating at the chain in Wheaton. After hearing a business associate discuss the brand, he returned to an Arby’s restaurant, tried its brisket and began considering the company as another opportunity for expansion. He travelled to Atlanta to meet Arby’s leadership and said the brand's vision convinced him to become part of its growth. Hagos opened his first Arby’s restaurant in 2019. His story had by then travelled a remarkable distance, from a refugee camp in Sudan and a crowded apartment in Illinois to military service, a Purple Heart and ownership of multiple restaurant businesses. His journey is an example of perseverance and the possibilities created through franchising. His career demonstrates how a childhood shaped by poverty and displacement ultimately became the foundation for a life built around work, service and entrepreneurship.Catch the latest World News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.