Lil Trent’s Grille & Pizzeria

After years as a franchisee for a frozen dessert chain, he decided to start cooking regional favorites like cheesesteaks, wings, and burgers under his own name. A few years later, when he learned about an opportunity to open a brick-and-mortar restaurant at Sullivan Progress Plaza, he was at a familiar crossroads for any entrepreneur, weighing ambition and risk

Middleton grew up near Temple University and liked the idea of a centralized location with parking. He was also excited about the potential to expand his menu. When he was introduced to us through NPF partner Progress Trust, Inc., he immediately felt a connection. As we guided him through some of the financial and logistical challenges of opening his new business—Lil Trent’s Grille and Pizzeria—his vision
started to unfold.

Since opening the bustling restaurant, Middleton has been able to expand his mobile presence, with food trucks positioned at events and festivals up and down the East Coast. The next step? Building more stores or starting to franchise, allowing others to find success under the Lil Trent’s umbrella.

I know business isn’t personal, but I was able to build a business relationship with NPF that felt personal to me. I don’t think you get that from a traditional bank. You can get money from a lot of places, but there isn’t really a connection. Sometimes life is about relationships.