Principals Elliott and Kathryn Threatt started their entrepreneurial venture when they opened their first GNC store in Salina Kansas in 1992. From 1992 to 2001 they grew to operate 6 GNC stores in Missouri and Kansas. In 2001 E&K expanded in the airport concessions partnering with Paradies Lagardere in the Kansas City airport (MCI) to operate the travel necessities, E&K moved completely out of the GNC business in 2014 to focus on expanding into new airports. Partnering with Elevate Gourmet Brands to operate 2 Green Beans Coffee locations at Newark airport (ERW). In 2016 E&K expanded into Minneapolis St Paul (MSP), Madison (MSN), and Cedar Rapids (CID) partnering with SSP American to open 12 restaurant locations “AND 2 RETAIL LOCATIONS”. In 2018 E&K teamed with Elevate Gourmet brands again to open 2 Whisk & Bowl locations at Dallas Fort Worth Airport (DFW).