718:Kristina Zhao on The Pivot to 3rd-party-less pickup/delivery
Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore
Release Date: 05/28/2020
1077: Jeff Good Owner & President Mangia Bene
Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore
Jeff Good is the owner and President of Mangia Bene (and 2 other restaurants) in the Jackson, MS area. Jeff started in the industry as a teen, and also at that time he met his business partner in high school. After college, Jeff went into sales. He left that industry and decided to open a restaurant with his childhood friend, who is a chef. In order to convince investors to invest, he held dinners out of his home. Today, he owns 3 restaurants in the Jackson, MS area. Favorite success quote/mantra: "I ask God to help me do the right thing." In this episode we will discuss: Raising...
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1076: Charles Morgan, a “Restaurant Guy”
Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore
Charles Morgan considers himself simply a "restaurant guy" from Atlanta. Charles started in the restaurant business in Gulf coast Florida in 1979. Today he owns approximately 12 restaurants all over the Florida panhandle and the surrounding areas. Favorite success quote/mantra: "Common sense in an uncommon degree is what the world calls wisdom." In this episode we will discuss: Expanding Restaurants in the 70s/80s/90s Commercial fishing and restaurants Profit sharing Labor markets Today's sponsor: : Are you a chef, owner, operator, or manage recipes in professional kitchens? meez is...
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1075: Faras Kargar Owner Delbar Restaurant and Bar
Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore
Fares Kargar is the Owner of and in Atlanta, Georgia. Fares was born in Iran and grew up there until he was 18 when he moved to the US. Once in Atlanta, he went to school for hospitality management and while in school, he began working in restaurants. Once he graduated, he moved on to work in many restaurants, including Waffle House, until he landed at Rumi's Kitchen where he quickly became a GM. Finally, in 2020, he opened his first restaurant, Delbar. Today, there are 4 Delbar locations. Favorite success quote/mantra: "This too shall pass." In this episode we will discuss: ...
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1074: Doug Turbush Chef & Owner Seed Kitchen and Bar
Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore
Doug Turbush is the Chef & Owner of in Atlanta, GA. Doug started in the business as a 15 year old washing dishes. He went to school for hotel managment and went to the C.I.A. after that. His goal was to open his own restaurant by his early 30s. He lived and cooked in Thailand and lived and cooked in Atlanta until at 39 he opened Seed Kitchen and Bar in Atlanta in 2011. In 2013 he opened Stem Wine Bar next to Seed, and in 2016 he opened another restaurant which then closed in 2024. Favorite success quote/mantra: "Make it nice or make it twice." In this episode we will discuss: ...
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1073: Jen Hidinger-Kendrick Founder of Giving Kitchen
Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore
Jen Hidinger-Kendrick is the Founder of . Jen and her late husband, Ryan, started a supper club in Atlanta around 2012. The supper club was incredibly successful and finally, four years later, they opened Staplehouse together. Staplehouse was also a great success. However, before the restaurant opened, Ryan was disgnosed with cancer and passed away in 2014. Jen sold her share of the restaurant to her partners and started Giving Kitchen, a nonprofit with this mission: "to provide emergency assitance to food service workers through financial support and a network of community resources."...
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1072: Damian Otero and Miguel Hernandez, CEO and COO at Rreal Tacos
Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore
Damian Otero is the CEO of Rreal Tacos and Miguel Hernandez is the company's COO. Damian and Rreal Tacos were previously on the show for episode 945 back in 2022. At that time, Rreal Tacos was opening their third location. Today there are 8 locations with more on the way. They are based in Atlanta, GA. Favorite success quote/mantra: "Create an opportunity biug enough for everybody to get a piece of the action." In this episode we will discuss: Negotiating leases Real estate and restaurants Growth/expansion Sharing equity with employees Marketing Today's sponsor: : Are you a chef, owner,...
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1071: Shuai & Corrie Wang Co-Owners of Super Happy Fun Time Group
Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore
Corrie and Shuai Wang are the co-owners of Super Happy Fun Time Group which operates and in Charleston, SC. Shuai is a Chinese immigrant who grew up in NYC. There he met Corrie while working in restaurants. Corrie is from upstate NY and is also an author. They moved to Charleston together in 2014 and soon after started a foodtruck and popups to test their culinary concepts. Jackrabbirt Filly opened in 2019 with King BBQ opening in November of 2023. Favorite success quote/mantra: Shuai: "You have yet to experience your best days." Corrie: "Like attracts like." In this episode we...
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1070: Bret Oliverio Owner of Sup Dogs
Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore
Bret Oliverio is the Owner of Sup Dogs, based in Greenville, NC. Bret began his post-school career as a radio broadcaster. His brother started Sup Dogs back in 2008 but tragically passed away a few years later. That's when, in 2012, Bret took over the restaurant and continues to own it today. Now, there are two Sup Dogs locations, plus a distillery and a cocktail bar. Favorite success quote/mantra: "If you let up, you lose." In this episode we will discuss: Marketing Leaving another industry for restaurants Get an accountant Profit-first Menu engineering Verticle integration...
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1069: Sother Teague Creative Drunk and Founder of Sother Hospitality
Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore
Sother Teague is the "Creative Drunk." He is the Founder of Sother Hospitality, Beverage Director at Amor y Amargo, Cohost of the Speakeasy Podcast, author of "I'm Just Here For The Drinks", and most importantly, a bar tender. Favorite success quote/mantra: "If you're the smartest guy in the room, you're in the wrong room." In this episode we will discuss: Partnerships Theater of hospitality Lawyers Popups Bars/bartending Today's sponsor: : Are you a chef, owner, operator, or manage recipes in professional kitchens? meez is built just for you. Organize, share, prep, and scale recipes...
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1068: Kate Holowchik Chef/Owner of Lionheart Confections
Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore
Kate Holowchik is the chef/owner of Lionheart Confections. Kate grew up baking with her family and began baking in corporate kitchens, such as Panera Bread, during college. After going from kitchen to kitchen, from FOH to baking in BOH, she eventually started Lionheart Confections, a baking popup based in New Hampshire, in 2020. Favorite success quote/mantra: "Lead with a kind heart and live unapologetically." In this episode we will discuss: Mentors Popups Toxic kitchens Today's sponsor: : Are you a chef, owner, operator, or manage recipes in professional kitchens? meez is built just for...
info_outlineKirstina Zhao calls San Antonio, TX home. Prior to taking over the family restaurant, Sichuan House, Kristina was being groomed for the medical field... that didn't happen. Zhao ended up at the University of Texas where she studied Communications and Public Relations. Next, she went into the wireless industry on the B2B side. In 2015, Kristina came back home to San Antonio to help her father with the family restaurant. It didn't take long for her to get her millennial hands knuckle deep into the day-to-day operations. 5 years later she runs the show.
Kristina came on my radar by way of Anna Tauzin. Anna is my go-to authority for all things delivery and take-out. So, when she tells me I need to get someone on the show-- I listen. Today we're here to make an example of Zhao's solution for delivery and take out. We share how she came up with her idea and what tools she's using.
Show notes…
Check out Blinkist: Big Ideas in Small Packages as mentioned in today's episode!
Check out Toast POS as mentioned in today's episode!
Check out Summer Glen Creative as mentioned in today's episode!
Check out Re-turnz app as mentioned in today's episode!
Calls to ACTION!!!
- Subscribe to the Restaurant Unstoppable YouTube Channel
- Join the private Unstoppable Facebook Group
- Join the email list! (Scroll Down to get the Vendor List!)
Favorite success quote or mantra:
- "Rule your mind or it will rule you."
- "Happiness is a state of mind, a way of living; it is not a destination."
- " Don't take 'no' for an answer."
- Online ordering during COVID-19
- The pivot to online ordering - best practices
- The only person you can control is yourself
- Proving yourself to your parents/mentors
- Immigrating to the US (immigrant parents)
- Communication is key
- Empathy
- Food as medicine
- Mentors
- The benefit of having a little experience when entering the industry
- Why Kristina chose Toast POS
- Using built-in iOS technology to forward your telephone to your cell phone. This allows you to text your guest.
- How Kristina is using Summer Glen Creative for website hosting and web design. This is just for their landing page. Currently offering complimentary landing pages if you use their hosting***
- Using Re-turnz app as their delivery component
- Social media
- COVID-19 best practices
Today's sponsor:
Restaurant365 is a cloud-based, all-in-one, restaurant-specific accounting and back-office platform that seamlessly integrates with POS systems, payroll providers, food and beverage vendors. It generates accurate real-time reporting and analysis in user-friendly dashboards, facilitating immediate, data-driven decision making. Restaurant365 eliminates manual, error-prone processes and is designed to help restaurant businesses grow with functionality that helps optimize labor costs, reduce food costs and increase revenue.
Toast - A POS built for restaurants by restaurant people Adapt fast with Toast's cloud-based restaurant POS system that updates to evolve your POS along with changing industry trends and guest expectations. Toast is built exclusively for restaurants of all shapes and sizes, with over 2/3 of our employees having restaurant experience to serve you better. Online Ordering - Let guests easily order directly from your restaurant for pickup or contactless delivery to keep revenue flowing during these uncertain times. Toast Delivery Services Dispatch local drivers through an on-demand network to keep your community fed and revenue coming in.
Contact info:
The Sichuan House Instagram: @sichuaneats
Kristina's Instagram: @xtinazeeeee
Thanks for listening!
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Huge thanks to Kristina Zhao for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time!