Featured Franchise: Kitchen Tune-Up La Grange, IL

This week's feature puts the spotlight on the Chicago suburbs.  Ryan and Elizabeth Dean purchased Kitchen Tune-Up La Grange, IL in June of 2016, and the business had been operated by previous owners since 2005. We are thrilled that the Dean’s and their team jumped right in and continued the amazing customer service that locals knew Kitchen Tune-Up provided, and they have won numerous National Project of the Month Awards for their workmanship and the creativity of their kitchen updates. 

View some before and after photos on their website by clicking here. Thanks again Ryan & Elizabeth for the interview!

What were your careers before becoming Tunies?
Ryan worked in sales for many years in many industries including fitness, medical, and home improvement. Elizabeth worked in the travel industry before staying at home with our two children.

What is your favorite part of owning your own business?
It is wonderful to be in charge of your own success!

What comes to mind as your most memorable kitchen update?
A customer hired us to remodel his kitchen as a surprise for his wife. When they came home from their winter home to a gorgeous new kitchen, she was so excited and surprised! She said that it was the best gift she had ever received!

Any advice for someone thinking about making the leap and buying their own franchise?
Do it! Owning your own business is so fulfilling.

When you’re not working, what is your favorite hobby or pastime? 
We love spending time at home with our 2 children, Carter and Ella. They keep us busy with baseball, basketball, dance lessons, art class, piano lessons, and more. We have tons of fun with our young family. We live in a fantastic community where we stay very active cheering for our kids’ sports teams and activities, volunteering, and having fun together. We both grew up in the area, so our extended families are nearby, which allows us an occasional date night out. We are so proud that Kitchen Tune-Up has quickly become part of our amazing community!

What’s something unique about your area? 
Downtown La Grange offers a very friendly vibe, with lots of great restaurants, shopping, and small businesses.

We switch up our National Reunion location each year.  What has been your favorite city to visit or most memorable Reunion so far?
We have been to two reunions and enjoyed them both. We made the Orlando trip into a family Disney vacation, so that was a lot of fun, but we also enjoyed a little getaway to Aberdeen on our own. It was a great learning experience for both of us.

Do you have a favorite cabinet door style?
Ryan likes the modern design style - the slab doors in 3-dimensional profiles and acrylics. Elizabeth likes the more traditional styles. Opposites attract!

What was the biggest motivator to WHY you bought your own franchise?
Ryan was unhappy in corporate America. He knew that he wanted to be his own boss and that he could do great things! The Kitchen Tune-Up Franchise System was a great match because it provides so many tools to help entrepreneurs succeed.

What have you found to be the biggest benefit to franchise ownership? 
Knowing that we have an amazing team supporting us, and providing us with so much knowledge and insight.  The kitchen really is the heart of the home. It is an important place for families and friends to gather and connect. We love helping to make this area the very best that it can be!

To view comments and pictures of projects the Dean’s have worked on watch this video.