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
701: Jae Kim on Food Trucks and Loyalty Programs [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:22:19
Jae Kim got his start in the food and beverage industry as the owner of a coffee shop -- while in college! Unfortunately, that business failed, but it left him with a burning desire to try again. In 2010 Chi'Lantro was f…
700: Mario Del Pero on 3 Ways to Scale Culture [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:13:09
Mario Del Pero grew up in his family's meat processing business. He would go on to study International Relations at the University of Southern California and was on the path to becoming a career lawyer. Instead, he took…
699: Kyle Gordon on How To Become Investable [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:32:02
As a student at the University of Texas, Kyle Gorden developed a romance... with quesadillas. In 2006, At the age of 23, Kyle decided to pursue his dream to open his own restaurant-- not just any restaurant-- a quesadill…
697: Eric Wilkerson on Being the Best at What You Do [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:23:53
Co-owners Roberto Espinosa and Eric Wilkerson both went to the University of Texas and met after Espinosa opened the original Tacodeli location in Austin, TX in 1999. Over the past twenty years, Tacodeli has expanded the…
696: Jon Alexis on 4 Ways to Improve Hospitality with Technology [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:44:12
Jon Alexis is the owner of TJ's Seafood Market (2 locations) and Malibu Poke (2 Dallas locations and 1 Austin location). TJ's Seafood Market is celebrating 30 years as a family-owned business. Under Alexis's vision, TJ's…
694: Kulsoom Klavon on The Future of Food Halls [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:32
Kulsoom Klavon is the Vice President of Curation at The Food Hall Company (owned and operated by Front Burner Group) and today we're here to tap into her unique perspective on F&B in the food hall world. Kulsoom is respo…
693: Terry Pham on Failure is Not Trying [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:24:37
Terry and Jennifer Pham opened the first Fat Straws in 2002 and, despite a challenging economic climate, grew 15-20% each year. In 2007, Fat Straws launched its second store in north Dallas. Even the 2008 recession didn'…
692: Todd Coerver on 3 Steps to Recovering a Lost Brand [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:43:41
Todd Coerver is the recently-announced CEO of the Austin, Texas, hamburger chain, P.Terry's. Prior to his current role, Todd served Larkburger as CEO and Taco Cabana as chief brand officer and Chief Operations Officer. A…