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High Steaks Win the lottery...open a steak franchise.

By Jessica Goins

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Some people might think Bob Dille is lucky. TheAshtabula, Ohio, entrepreneur won the lottery and openedeight Steak Escape franchises--all before his 26th birthday.

After winning $10,000 in Ohio's lottery in 1991, Dillebought his first Steak Escape franchise with partners MarkAstorino, 32, and his sister, Tina Dille-Cameron, 31. All luck?Hardly: Planning and dedication have also helped Dille, who'sopened a store each year since 1992 and three stores last year.Sales for 1997 reached $3.5 million; Dille expects $4.5 million insales this year.

The partners plan to open another store in Erie, Pennsylvania,and Dille would like to open a sit-down restaurant someday. But fornow, he'll continue running Steak Escapes--and playing thelottery.

"I haven't won the big one," Dille says. "Andyou can't win if you don't play." Spoken like a trueentrepreneur.

Contact Sources

Steak Escape, P.O. Box 2105, Ashtabula, OH 44005-2105,(440) 998-3699

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