Own Your Own Winner speaks out about split with organizers

BURGAW, NC (WWAY) — It’s been a few weeks since the announcement that the winner of the Own Your Own Restaurant competition was backing out.

However, the competition’s winner, Karoline Schwartz said she was never thinking about backing out.

Schwartz was named the winner of the competition back in October, beating out more than 500 competitors.

As winner, she would have been given $1 million to design and operate a restaurant in Burgaw, in partnership with the Own Your Own team.

But Schwartz said some of the exact details in the contract weren’t very clear.

“I didn’t feel like it was clearly outlined as what it was and so I was like this is, I’m not sure, but I never officially said, I’m officially backing out, Richard,” Schwartz said.

Schwartz said she doesn’t hold anything against Own Your Own or the competition’s organizers.

She’s happy to have met so many great people through the competition and is excited about the next opportunity that comes her way.