Shoney's Chairman & CEO David Davoudpour Contributes $100K to Veterans' Cemetery in Georgia

Mr. David Davoudpour, Chairman and CEO of restaurant industry icon Shoney's, CEO of Montaluce 

Winery & Resort and owner of 7Pie Pizzeria & Bar, has always believed that the relationship between 

America's military and American business depends on each other in a very foundational way: 

survival.

Recently, Mr. Davoudpour put his money where his mouth is, writing a personal check for $100,000 

to the Lumpkin County Veterans Affairs Committee, providing a meaningful boost to its efforts to raise 

funds for the local Veterans Cemetery in Dahlonega, Georgia. Mr. Davoudpour donated to the 

project, which is transforming 11.1 acres of County-owned land near Auburn Park into a memorial 

space for 3,000 veteran graves, a military interment center, a cremation garden, a parking lot and 

public restrooms. Mr. Davoudpour was among the early adopters of an industry-wide effort to honor 

veterans on Veterans Day, starting the tradition at Shoney's.

"Doing the right thing has always been my calling card," said Mr. Davoudpour. "It is my fiduciary 

responsibility as a brand owner and an American citizen to make impact allocations for our deserving 

veterans, whether it be dollars or meals, or both," said Mr. Davoudpour. Mr. Davoudpour said he 

hopes construction of the Veterans Cemetery will send an encouraging signal to the next generation 

of potential service members that this country honors its military veterans. He also talked about the 

crucial relationship between the American military and business. 

"American business and our American military cannot survive without the other," continued Mr. 

Davoudpour. "Without a strong military, you can't do business as a nation. Without a strong business, 

you can't help turn around the economy to pay for a strong military. My personal goal, for both my 

Shoney's brand and myself, is to encourage people to join any mission of building a stronger nation 

by supporting our veterans"