A Legacy Beyond Fried Chicken: Converge Celebrates Lewis Rudd on The Pop-Up! at the Colman Commons Backstage

Support Black BusinessThe Pop-Up!Keisha CreditFood & DrinkColman Commons

Oct 8

In a moment of pure community celebration and rich Seattle history, Lewis Rudd, co-founder and CEO of Ezell’s Famous Chicken, recently made a special appearance on The Pop-Up! at the Colman Commons Backstage.

Hosted by entrepreneur and media personality Keisha Credit, the conversation uplifted Rudd’s decades of entrepreneurial excellence, community leadership, and unwavering commitment to empowering local Black-owned businesses.

The set radiated warmth and mutual respect, showcasing a deep relationship between the iconic Pacific Northwest food brand and Converge Media, where Ezell’s logo proudly holds a permanent spot on the Black Media Matters studio wall.

Lewis Rudd poses with the Ezell’s logo on the Black Media Matters wall in September, 2025. (Photo: Jordan Somers)

From Marshall, Texas to Seattle

Rudd recounted the beginnings of what would grow into a nationally recognized household name with nearly 300 team members across 17 locations. The story began in Marshall, Texas, when 16-year-old Rudd took a job at Brown’s Fried Chicken, kickstarting his dream of opening his own fried chicken joint.

In 1984, after five years of securing financing, Ezell’s Famous Chicken opened its doors. Rudd summarized the foundation of the business’ success through the formula he calls the "Four Ds":

"I watched what I consider the Four Ds being on display—the formula for fulfilling a dream: Discipline, Determination, Dedication, and that burning desire to fulfill that dream,” he said.

Raising Up Black Businesses: The R.U.B.B. Initiative

Beyond building an empire around crispy, tender chicken and homemade rolls, Rudd’s focus remains steadfast on lifting others up. In 2021, he co-founded the R.U.B.B. Initiative (Raising Up Black Businesses) to provide capital, resources, and strategic mentorship to Black entrepreneurs across the region.

Through R.U.B.B., Rudd organizes the annual Black Business Leadership Conference, hosted at prestigious venues like the University of Washington. The conference offers a safe, accessible, and collaborative space for Black business leaders to tackle challenges and learn without fear of judgement.

When addressing initial criticisms or misunderstandings about the initiative focusing on Black businesses, Rudd shared thoughtful insight.

"This is not reverse racism. This is an opportunity to reverse the impact that racism has had on Black people,” he said.

Credit lauded Rudd for modeling executive excellence and professionalism, noting how his mentorship translates into tangible transformations, from landscaping companies securing major contracts to struggling business owners gaining strategic investment partners.

Business Strategy Grounded in Community Values

Rudd also discussed how Ezell’s balances fiscal sustainability with community care. Highlighting Ezell’s $3.99 special, Rudd explained that business decisions must reflect shifting economic realities when inflation affects consumer purchasing power.

"[The $3.99 special] was a business decision, but it was also driven by our values," Rudd said. "At the very core, we have three words in our value statement: honesty, loyalty, and relationships. And our relationship to the communities that we serve—we're very loyal."

To demonstrate this philosophy, Rudd recounted inviting a dissatisfied customer who complained online about menu prices into Ezell’s corporate headquarters. Over chicken tenders and honey mustard, Rudd explained the financial realities of running a business while maintaining high-quality standards. The transparent conversation turned a vocal critic into a lifelong brand advocate, he said.

The Future Culture of Excellence

When asked what core values will guide the next generation of company leaders, Rudd pointed to the "caring culture" he’s built over 40 years.

"As it takes a village to raise a kid, it takes a community to raise a business," he said. "I'm so thankful for the community of Seattle and abroad. When we started out until this day... because of the community, we're here."

A massive shoutout goes to the entire Converge family and the studio guests who gathered to celebrate and share in this historic occasion. Between the laughter, fresh merch, delicious meal, and storytelling, the room was filled with an undeniable spirit of unity that Colman Commons is all about.

This unforgettable afternoon was just the beginning of what the Colman Commons Backstage was designed to achieve. The Backstage exists as a sanctuary of gratitude, celebrating the visionaries, culture-shifters, and hometown heroes who dedicate their lives to lifting up our community.