COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Fox News' Fox & Friends is offering a look into the Columbus, Ohio, convenience store owned and operated by Miami Dolphins wide receiver Brian Hartline.
Hartline made headlines last week when during a sports radio interview he revealed to the incredulous hosts that he was speaking from the drive-thru window of his Smart Stop c-store.
Fox News talked to Hartline about the experience of owning--and working at--the business.
Click here to watch the Fox & Friends segment.
When asked, "Why is this your dream?," he answered, "It's the dream, isn't it? To be an American small-business owners. Me and my best friend from high school always wanted to go into business, and this was our first opportunity. We bought our first [c-store] this past January. I signed [the Miami Dolphins] contract a couple weeks ago; the following week I had to get back to work."
He added, "It's interesting to see things from a small-business owner aspect for the first time. … It has been a growing experience."
Hartline said the best part about working in the store is meeting the customers.
"We have a lot of regulars, we have new people that come in; getting noticed in there is a lot of fun," he said. " We talk to football fans. Sometimes it's even incognito--I ask them what they think about the 'Fins or the Browns, since we're in Ohio. You get a feel for the different fans. ... The customers make it worthwhile."
He also said that it has been a learning experience.
"You get a different perspective, because in my mind, I feel like an employee, because the guy--my best buddy--really knows what he's doing, and I was learning from him how to do things," said Hartline.
Click here to listen to the March 13 interview by Dan LeBatard of 790 The Ticket in Miami (the relevant portion begins at about the 9:50 mark).
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