Welcome to Fifth & Broad Partners (5BP), where heritage meets franchising excellence. Established by Sean Thomas, the grandson of Dave Thomas, the legendary founder of Wendy's, 5BP is more than just an investment and operations platform—it's a testament to the enduring legacy of quality, integrity, and people that began at the corner of Fifth and Broad Streets in Columbus, Ohio.

At 5BP, we are passionately dedicated to fostering long-term growth and best-in-class performance within the Wendy's Company franchise system. Our commitment to setting new standards in top performance and innovation is unwavering. Just as the original Wendy's restaurant, from which our name derives, embodied the spirit of quality and community, we aim to carry forth that tradition into the future of Wendy's franchising.

Our story is deeply rooted in the history of Wendy's, and we take immense pride in our heritage. Fifth & Broad Partners pays homage to the iconic location where Dave Thomas opened the first Wendy's restaurant. Although the physical space may have closed, the values instilled there—quality, integrity, and a profound commitment to people—remain the driving force behind everything we do.

Our Team

  • SEAN THOMAS

    Sean is the Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Fresh Stack Burger Co and Minnie Bird. His experience in the food business runs deep, as his grandfather started Wendy’s. Sean is the former Co-Founder and COO at Sipp Brands, a nationally recognized wine company that produced, marketed, and invested in wine projects from around the world. Sean is a graduate of Auburn University and has his Culinary Degree from Le Cordon Bleu-Chicago.

  • FRANKLIN BUCHANAN

    Franklin is the co-founder of Venture Kitchen, Taqueria INVICTO, and nonprofit One Feeds Two USA. He is also a board member and partner at Blackwood BBQ and NaanSense. Formerly the COO of Naf Naf Grill he held accountability for profitability, infrastructure, and operational excellence. With a focus on strategy, operations, and branding he executed a strategy that grew the company from 3 – 38 locations across 7 states and from 25 employees to over 700. Franklin is a graduate of Tulane University and Vanderbilt University Law School.

  • STEPHANIE SIMPSON

    Stephanie is one of the founding partners of Blackwood BBQ and a board member. Previously the Head of Operations & Marketing for PerkSpot/Spotlite - two industry leading technology brands - one that they grew and sold to United Healthcare and the other to Susquehanna Growth Equity. Prior to that, Stephanie spent ten years at Kraft foods, running iconic brands, such as Kraft Jell-o and A-1. Stephanie has a BBA from the University of Michigan and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

  • DAVID SLOAN

    David Sloan is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Venture Kitchen, a creator and accelerator of innovative restaurant chains. He is a Board Member and Managing Partner of fast casual concepts Blackwood BBQ, NaanSense, and INVICTO. David is also the former CEO of Roark Capital Group’s Naf Naf Grill. David was ranked in Nation’s Restaurant News “Power 50” as one of the leading restaurateurs in America and led the company to win Nation’s Restaurant News 2016 Hottest Concept Award. David graduated from Austin Peay University and has his MBA from Loyola University Chicago.