13-year-old US boy opens sandwich shop. His grandfather started saving money for him at birth. Now serves his community

At an age when many children are busy with school, games and social media, Tobey Chapman is spending his afternoons taking orders, making sandwiches and learning how to run a business. The 13-year-old from Manchester, Tennessee, is the owner of Tobey’s Sandwich Shack, a family-run restaurant that has already attracted more than 100 customers a day.

His Grandfather Started Saving When He Was Born

The story of Tobey’s restaurant began long before the sandwich shop opened. His grandfather, Glenn Chapman, started putting money aside every month from the day Tobey was born. When Tobey became old enough to understand investing, Glenn encouraged him to put the savings to work. According to WSMV, Tobey invested in a house, flipped it and later did the same with another property. The money eventually helped him buy the property where he established his restaurant. Tobey had already developed an interest in food after watching shows such as MasterChef. He chose sandwiches for his first business because he believed they would appeal to a wide range of customers.

A 13-Year-Old Business Owner Still Has School

Tobey may own the restaurant, but running it requires a team. Jess Roberts and Cat Myers manage the shop while he is at school, preparing food and serving customers. Roberts told WSMV that customers have been travelling from different parts of the area for sandwiches such as the Reuben. She said the restaurant tries to learn customers' names and remember their usual orders. “Each face is a part of our family,” Roberts said, describing the atmosphere inside the shop.

His Grandfather Handles The Paperwork

There is also a practical reason why Glenn plays such an important role. At 13, Tobey cannot handle certain legal and business responsibilities himself, so his grandfather takes care of paperwork, contracts and permits. But Tobey remains closely involved. Glenn said his grandson works on the computer, helps design documents, operates the cash register, takes orders and makes sandwiches. “He does pretty much all of it,” Glenn told WSMV.

The Sandwich Shop Is Already Busy

Tobey’s Sandwich Shack has now grown into a busy local business, serving more than 100 customers a day. Its menu includes an Italian sandwich and a loaded grilled cheese, with new specials added regularly. Tobey has also learned that owning a business involves much more than making food.

He told InvestigateTV that he has been learning “all the steps” involved in building a successful establishment.For now, Tobey is balancing school with his growing restaurant. But his ambitions extend beyond Manchester. He hopes his sandwich business can eventually expand across Tennessee and perhaps even the US, turning a childhood savings plan into something much bigger.