Nobody Leaves Hungry: Mike Naifeh on Business, Faith, and the Power of Community

Mike Naifeh’s story is one of business, faith and a community that takes care of its own. In this episode of The Timeloop, Mike shares how his family’s journey began when his 13-year-old grandfather fled Lebanon, traveled through Ellis Island and eventually found his way to Oklahoma. Generations later, Mike entered the convenience-store business at just 20 years old, ultimately owning as many as 10 stores. Mike recounts how the economic downturn nearly exhausted his savings—and how a decision to close Pop Shop on Sundays preceded an extraordinary turnaround. That success opened the door to restaurant-quality food, catering, Print Shop and, eventually, the revival of a beloved Sapulpa name: Wimpy’s Sandwich Shop. Today, Wimpy’s is about much more than barbecue and burgers. Through the support of the Sapulpa community, it has provided more than 15,000 free meals and helped distribute hundreds of coats to people who needed them. Mike joins Micah Choquette to discuss the businesses he built, the people who helped him along the way and his belief that imperfect people can accomplish something remarkable when they work together. 00:00 Introducing Mike Naifeh 01:13 His Grandfather’s Journey From Lebanon to Oklahoma 03:35 Buying His First Convenience Store at 20 05:31 Working 18-Hour Days and Repaying the Loan 07:31 Growing to 10 Stores—and the People Behind the Success 09:23 Consulting for Other Convenience Stores 10:03 How the 2008 Downturn Threatened the Business 11:07 The Decision to Close on Sundays 12:02 How Sales Increased 700 Percent 13:30 Bringing Restaurant-Quality Food to Pop Shop