618: Chris Simms on Emotional Capital
Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore
Release Date: 05/27/2019
1079: John Currence Chef/Owner City Grocery Restaurant Group
Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore
John Currence is the Executive Chef and Owner of , HQ'd in Oxford, MS. John opened his first restaurant, City Grocery, at 26 in 1992. John later opened which has scaled to 22 locations today. The company has its sights currently set on 50 locations nationwide. Favorite success quote/mantra: “Everything is everybody’s job all the time.” “Don’t your own press.” “Never forget that it’s your people that give you the ability to make the living that you do. In this episode we will discuss: Partners Labor markets Cooking Leadership Scaling Tech stack...
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1078: Vishwesh Bhatt Executive Chef and Co-Owner of Snackbar
Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore
Vishwesh Bhatt is the Co-Owner and Executive Chef at Snackbar, located in Oxford, MS. Vishwesh immigrated to the US from India and in college, he studied biology. It wasn't until he worked at a restaurant that he decided to become a chef, then went to culinary school in Miami. He worked in the City Grocery family of restaurants, which includes Snackbar (opened in 2009), until he took over as head chef and become part owner around 2017. Favorite success quote/mantra: "Respect." In this episode we will discuss: Culinary school Partners Respect Equity Opening and closing restaurants Today's...
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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...
info_outlineShow notes…
Favorite success quote or mantra:
- "Never settle"
In this episode with Chris Simms, we will discuss:
- Making people happy with food and what it means to Chris
- The hospitality gene
- Going above and beyond
- Exceeding expectations
- The definition of hospitality
- The importance of knowing more than just food and hospitality in your restaurant endeavors
- Chris's time with PF Chang's
- The importance of keeping your cool in heated situations
- Emotional capital
- Being humble
- People over numbers
- The opposite of hospitality
- Understanding when to scale
- Profitability
- Compiling a business plan prior to opening
- Maintaining culture as you scale and why it's important
Today's sponsor:
Revel Systems integrates front of house and back of house operations into a single dashboard. Designed to increase security, stability, ease of use, and speed of service, Revel’s streamlined ecosystem provides businesses with the right tools to grow. Learn more at revelsystems.com/unstoppable.
BentoBox helps restaurants grow their business through a connected suite of tools, offering them an integrated website to connect with their guests and drive revenue online. Restaurant owners and operators are able to easily update menus, promote specials, take catering and event inquiries, sell merchandise, gift cards and more.
Knowledge bombs
- Which "it factor" habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success?
- Emotional intelligence
- What is your biggest weakness?
- Emotional intelligence
- What's one question you ask or thing you look for during an interview?
- Look for givers, natural-born, hospitality-driven people
- What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it?
- Building 14 restaurants across the country in the next 15 months
- Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team.
- Never settle
- What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff?
- Empowerment, empowering our teammates to take care of our guests
- What's one book we must read to become a better person or restaurant owner?
- The Coaching Habit
GET THIS BOOK FOR FREE AT AUDIBLE.COM
- The Coaching Habit
- What's the one thing you feel restaurateurs don't know well enough or do often enough?
- Listen to the guests and listen to your teammates
- What's one piece of technology you've adopted within your four walls restaurant and how has it influence operations?
- Wisely - Smarter Front-of-House
- If you got the news that you'd be leaving this world tomorrow and all memories of you, your work, and your restaurants would be lost with your departure with the exception of 3 pieces of wisdom you could leave behind for the good of humanity, what would they be?
- Never settle
- Be humble
- Empathize
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Thanks for listening!
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Huge thanks to Chris Simms for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time!