511: Smart Growth with Keith Richards

511: Smart Growth with Keith Richards

Author: Inspiring interviews with todays most successful restaurateurs 2-days a wee August 1, 2018 Duration: 1:38:39

After a life changing trip to Greece, Keith Richards and his wife Amy founded Taziki's Cafe in 1998. Over the proceeding 30 years they have since "smartly" grow this "fresh-casual" franchise to 85 locations in 17 states. Richards also heads the company's signature charity, the Hope Program, helping children with special needs.

Show notes…

Favorite Success Quote or Mantra.

"Combine extraordinary food with meaningful connection."

In this conversation with Keith Richards, we discuss:

  • The power of human connection and treating your guest like family.
  • Failure, not being an option.
  • Putting others first.
  • Why you should always donate food instead of money to charitable causes. Donate food is better marketing.
  • Leveraging technology to tighten systems.
  • How technology can weed out the dishonest employees.
  • The story and heart behind the branding and the impact it has.
  • Providing purpose for special needs individuals.
  • Connecting with other restaurateurs in your community to share knowledge and support.

Today's Sponsor

Soundtrackyourbrand.com

Soundtrack Business lets you play 250 music channels guaranteed to fit any type of business. An easy-to-use dashboard lets you find great music, control all your locations and schedule your sound.

BarRestaurantSuccess.com

Discover How To Get New Customers In Your DoorsAt A Profit In 48 Hours Or Less, Without Spending A Penny On Advertising Using The "VOP" Strategy! For a limited time receive a 15 minute case study video that reveals how 4 different bar and restaurant owners from around the country brought in between $5,213 to nearly $15,000 in sales using the all new "VOP" strategy! Best part is, this takes zero marketing dollars

Knowledge bombs

  1. Which "it factor" habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success?

    • Being kind to others.
  2. What is your biggest weakness?

    • Focus.
      • Living off a list has helped with this challenge
  3. What's one question you ask or thing you look for during an interview?

    • Are you coordinated?
    • Are you a team player?
  4. What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it?

    • Maintaining the same culture while scaling the Tazikis brand.
  5. Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team.

    • Respect others.
    • Work together.
  6. What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff?

    • Greet people at the door.
    • Pre clearing , even in a fast-casual setting.
  7. What's one book we must read to become a better person or restaurant owner?
    GET THIS BOOK FOR FREE AT AUDIBLE.COM 

  8. Share an online resource or tool.

  9. What's one piece of technology you've adopted in your restaurant and how has it influence operations?

  10. 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?

    1. Take care of others.
    2. Show that your faith will make you successful.
    3. Be a great father.

Contact Info

TazikisCafe.com

@Tazikis

 

Thanks for Listening!

Thanks so much for joining today! Have some feedback you'd like to share? Leave a note in the comment section below!

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post.

Also, please leave an honest review for the Restaurant Unstoppable Podcast on iTunes! Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated! They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.

And finally, don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates.

Huge thanks to Keith Richards for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time!

 

Restaurant Unstoppable is a free podcast. One of the ways I'm able to make it free is by earning a commission when sharing certain products with you. I've made it a core value to only share tools, resources, and services my guest mentors have recommend, first. If you're finding value in my podcast, please use my links!

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
1213: Avi Goren, Co-Founder and CEO of Marqii [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:20:25
Avi Goren is the CEO and Co-Founder of Marqii. Marqii is a digital operations platform for the hospitality industry that simplifies online presence management for restaurants and other food service businesses. It automat…
1212: The Evolution of AI and Content Marketing with Kelly Mirabella [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:29:01
Kelly Mirabella is an award-winning digital marketing educator and consultant, and the owner of Stellar Media Marketing. She has been in the digital marketing space for 17 years and started her business, Stellar Media Ma…
1211: Patrick Terry, CEO and Co-Founder of P. Terry's [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:09:35
Patrick Terry is the CEO and Co-Founder of P. Terry's, based in Austin, TX. Patrick was previously on the show in early 2020 for episode 691. At that time, P. Terry's had 16 locations in and around Austin. Today there ar…
1209: Jae Kim, Founder and CEO of Chi'Lantro [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:53:16
Jae Kim is the Founder and CEO of Chi'Lantro, based in Austin, TX. Jae Kim was previously on the show for episode 701 in 2020 when Chi'Lantro was up to 8 locations. Today, after gaining some investment from Chewy, the Ko…
1208: Using AI for Chatbots in Your Restaurant with Kelly Mirabella [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:33:39
Kelly Mirabella is an award-winning digital marketing educator and consultant, and the owner of Stellar Media Marketing. She has been in the digital marketing space for 17 years and started her business, Stellar Media Ma…