After several years in the military, Cody McPherson found a new mission thanks to Rock N’ Roll Sushi’s Franchise Deal for Veterans
Cody McPherson didn’t grow up dreaming of owning a restaurant, but after nearly six years serving his country in the U.S. Air Force, he’s now serving sushi to civilians in Arkansas at the state’s newest Rock N Roll Sushi location in Jonesboro—with two more on the way.
McPherson’s path to the armed forces—and his eventual path to entrepreneurship—started with a gut instinct. His father served nearly three decades in the military, and the idea of enlisting always lingered in the back of his mind. While in college, he saw a photo of a military working dog alongside a soldier and immediately knew what he wanted to do. “I signed up that day,” he said.
The young soldier originally spent time in security forces before eventually moving into K-9 work, which he described as one of the most rewarding experiences of his life. After six years of service, McPherson was honorably discharged from the United States Air Force.
McPherson didn’t just leave with memories of camaraderie and highly developed leadership skills. He also left with a rumble of ambition that was about to erupt.
“I wanted to own my own business,” he said. “I always had a knack for leadership and just wanted to be a good example for those that would work for me and around me.”
The first business he opened was a Crumbl Cookies franchise in Jonesboro, Arkansas. While still serving, he began the approval process and was eventually selected to bring the concept to his hometown. What started as a love of sweets turned into a thriving operation. He and a close college friend, Aaron Duty—who was planning to open a gym with McPherson—ended up expanding to multiple Crumbl locations instead. But McPherson wasn’t done.
A self-described foodie, he kept his eyes open for new concepts. One day, a Facebook ad caught his attention: Rock N Roll Sushi was offering to waive franchise fees for military veterans on Veteran’s Day last year. Even though that was a limited-time promotion, Rock N’ Roll Sushi offers a massive discount on franchise fees all year long.
“Franchise fees can be $30,000 per store,” he said. “That’s a big deal — especially for veterans getting out who don’t have that kind of money just sitting around.”
McPherson sent the ad to his business partner, and within weeks, they were trying the food, exploring the brand and committing to three stores. The first, in Jonesboro, opened earlier this year.
While McPherson is no stranger to franchising, he says the Rock N Roll Sushi experience has been different. While most sushi restaurants lean into low lighting, hushed tones and ambient music, Rock N Roll Sushi breaks the mold with a high-energy aesthetic, amped-up soundtrack and come-as-you-are vibe.
“It’s not like your typical sushi spot,” he said. “You don’t have to be quiet, and you don’t have to know a lot about sushi to enjoy it. It’s like Hard Rock Café — but with sushi.”
McPherson loves the fact that the brand’s energy matches his own, but he is also able to thrive due to its structure and leadership.
“Franchising isn’t a handout,” he said. “They give you the blueprints, but you still have to do everything—financing, construction, hiring. You’ve got to make it work.”
McPherson credits his military background for his ability to stay organized, lead a team and keep pushing forward. His Air Force training built habits that serve him well in business, from staying focused under pressure to communicating clearly with a diverse team.
“There’s a lot of stress in the military—physical, mental, emotional,” he said. “You come out of that with a mindset that’s hard to teach. Veterans have follow-through, they have integrity, they get things done.”
That mindset has helped McPherson juggle multiple brands while preparing for future growth, and while he is dreaming of future expansion, he isn’t interested in getting there too fast
“I want to make sure this first location is running efficiently and effectively,” he said. “Once we’re in a good place, we’ll open the next one.”
He holds the rights to open two more locations in Arkansas, including one in Fort Smith and a potential third in either Jonesboro or Paragould. For now, he’s focused on team development and community engagement.
“The goal is always to grow,” he said. “But it has to be done right.”
As Rock N Roll Sushi continues to expand, McPherson believes more veterans should consider the path he took.
“The brand supports the military, and the discount on the franchise fee makes it more accessible,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity for people coming out of the service who want to do something big.”
And while owning a sushi shop may not have been in his original plan, McPherson knows he’s exactly where he’s supposed to be.
“I’m still leading,” he said. “Still pushing myself. Still on a mission—it just looks a little different now.”