Restaurant executives with The Winning Team broke ground on their first Bojangles restaurant for a newly-created district in East Tennessee on Friday off Cosby Highway. The Cocke County Partnership and local officials welcomed the business visitors and investment in Newport. The restaurant is now under construction at the Lowe's development site. The Winning Team (TWT) President Edward McCammon took up one of the shovels to break ground that morning and said, "We feel like we are part of the family." He echoed a comment by Cocke County Mayor Iliff McMahan Jr., who said, "We know you on a first name basis and now you're family. Thanks for investing and being a partner. We are now your extended family." Also extending support and welcomes were Partnership interim executive Sherry Butler, Newport Aldermen Kenny Morgan and Johnny Bugg along with City Administrator Scott Collins, and Cocke County Property Assessor Margaret Sorrell. Chamber executive Kandee Veridal and tourism executive Linda Lewanski were also at the 10 a.m. event. Jerald Barrett, who will be district manager in Tennessee, said "It's gratifying when I come into town. You make me feel at home." He will be on site next week during the employee recruitment phase. Also representing TWT and Bojangles was Executive Vice-President of the Winning Team JoAnn Yoder, and Gene Austin, director of marketing. Austin said, "It's really an exciting time for our company; a terrific move for us." He said the Newport Bojangles represents the company's first restaurant in Tennessee, although there are several other Bojangles restaurants owned by other companies in the state. The name is prominent in North and South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, and Florida. TWT owns and operates 34 Arby's restaurants in Western North Carolina with headquarters in Asheville were it started about 20 years ago. Once the Newport restaurant is opened sometime around July 1, it will become the training facility as the investors build more facilities in East Tennessee. "Cocke County is the gateway to the Smokies and gateway for Bojanges in Tennessee, said Barrett, who will be headquartered in Tenn. and work in this area. "We are a people-oriented business and like to develop people giving them an opportunity to succeed." The company will also use local contractors to build the restaurant and provide local employment opportunities. "The chamber of commerce has been absolutely wonderful to us," he said. McCammon explained that TWT is an environmentally responsible company. In fact, the Newport Bojangles will be its first restaurant to use solar energy. TWT practices power management, energy conservation, and believes in being pro-active to protect the environment, he said. The 3,200 square-feet restaurant will be a new prototype for Bonjangles and seats about 80 customers. Staffing varies from 60 to 75 employees. The operating hours are from 5 a.m. until 10 p.m. and Bojangles is known for its all-day breakfasts with biscuits. Executives have already been doing interviews in Newport after advertising in the Newport Plain Talk classified for future job opportunities. Applications are also being taken at the Tennessee Career Center in Newport.