1245: Eric Scheffer, Founder and CEO of The Scheffer Group

1245: Eric Scheffer, Founder and CEO of The Scheffer Group

Author: Inspiring interviews with todays most successful restaurateurs 2-days a wee January 15, 2026 Duration: 2:04:29

Eric Scheffer is the Founder and CEO of The Scheffer Group, based in Asheville, North Carolina. Eric comes from a family that worked in the entertainment business in NYC and LA and he too joined them in that business at a young age. Eventually, he decided to pivot to restaurateur. Eric opened his first restaurant in Asheville in 2000 and has owned 7 concepts in the city since then. Today, The Scheffer Group consists of 2 Vinnie's neighborhood Italian locations, 1 Jettie Rea's Oyster House location, and 1 Gan Shan Neighborhood Asian location. 

Join RULibrary: www.restaurantunstoppable.com/RULibrary

Join RULive: www.restaurantunstoppable.com/live

Set Up your RUEvolve 1:1: www.restaurantunstoppable.com/evolve

Subscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.com/restaurantunstoppable

Subscribe to our email newsletter: https://www.restaurantunstoppable.com/

Today's sponsors:

-

Restaurant Technologies — the leader in automated cooking oil management. Their Total Oil Management solution is an end-to-end closed loop automated system that delivers, monitors, filters, collects, and recycles your cooking oil eliminating one of the dirtiest jobs in the kitchen.. Automate your oil and elevate your kitchen by visiting rti-inc.com or call 888-779-5314 to get started!

-

Cerboni - Cerboni is an all-in-one financial solution for restaurants. Reliable tax preparation & Business incorporation. Seamless Payroll and compliance report. Strategic CFO Services That Drive Business Growth. Detailed, custom reporting for complete financial clarity. Dedicated support for restaurants & Multi-location businesses. End-to-end financial management under one roof.

-

US Foods®. Running a restaurant takes MORE than great food—it takes reliable deliveries, quality products, and smart tools. US Foods® helps you make it. Ready to level up?

Visit: usfoods.com/expectmore.

-

Today's guest recommends:

Guest contact info: 

  • Email: eric@thescheffergroup.com

Thanks for listening! Rate the podcast, subscribe, and share! 


Eric Cacciatore sits down with the people who actually run the show in the world of food service. Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore is built on conversations with established restaurateurs and seasoned professionals who have navigated the intense realities of the industry. Twice a week, these interviews dig past the surface, focusing on the tangible details of leadership, team management, and effective marketing that separate a thriving venue from a struggling one. You’ll hear firsthand accounts of what worked, what didn’t, and the often-overlooked decisions that shape a restaurant's path. This podcast serves as a direct line to collective experience, whether you're dreaming of your first opening or steering a multi-location group. The dialogue is practical, centered on the daily grind and long-term strategy needed to build something lasting. For anyone invested in the business of hospitality, these regular episodes compile a vital resource, turning shared insights into actionable knowledge for your own journey.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 1000

Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore
Podcast Episodes
380: It's about sharing knowledge with Ian Boden [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:19:25
In this episode with Ian Boden, we discuss the power of gathering and sharing knowledge, how this industry is filled with misfits- which makes it awesome, why abusing your mind and body needs to be a way of the past, cor…
379: Strategic risk taking with Jenny Peterson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:36
In this episode, how Jenny Peterson got her start as a baker, getting work experience before opening your own restaurant, learning what not to do from previous experiences, being a strategic/calculated risk taker, making…
378: You get out what you put in with Charles Bililies [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:27:03
In this episode, we discuss the path Charles Bililies took to get to where he is today, the value of working both FOH and BOH to get the "big picture", how Charles landed a job for Thomas Keller straight out of college,…
377: Creating a culture that supports growth Kirk Kelewae [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:54
In this episode, we discuss how Kirk Kelewae got his start in hospitality, never-ending transitional moments, rewarding ambition, taking initiative, creating opportunities for yourself, creating a culture where people fe…
376: Choosing to be great with Tristan Wraight [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17:06
In this episode, we discuss why you need to "make it exciting", how there is job security in hospitality, how turning your life around is as simple as making the choice to, showing up to work with enthusiasm, using enthu…
375: Become a "Who" not a "What" with Mark Canlis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:45
In this episode, we discuss the Canlis family history, what mark has learned from his family history, highering people who inspire, the difference between being a "what" and a "who", The biggest lessons Mark learned work…
373: Books to improve your systems, culture, and finances [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:04
In this episode, I'm going to solo and sharing the books I most often recommend to learn about systems, culture, finances and more. People often ask me what books I have to suggest. So, in this episode, I'm sharing the b…
372: Overcoming the fear of failure  with Christopher Bates [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:21:23
In this episode, we discuss the value of getting work experience before attending hospitality or culinary school, getting experience working for others before opening your own restaurant, the definition of service, how t…
371: Getting your people to buy in with Jack O'Sullivan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:24
In this episode, we discuss how a "chip on the shoulder" can serve you, working in the industry before opening your own restaurant, how a partnership can work, starting lean and bootstrapping, leveraging your network and…