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
651: Tanya Sanchez on Leading By Example [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:31:26
Albuquerque native, Tanya Sanchez, developed a passion for food at a young age while cooking with her father. Her dreams of becoming a restaurant owner began to bubble up during her years as a college student working in…
650: Damien Watel on Partnerships and Humility [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:35:03
French-born Damien Watel got his start in the restaurant industry at the age of 25 working for his uncle's two Dallas restaurants. In 1999 Chef Watel opened Bistro Vatel, which had an 18-year run and earned Watel recogni…
649:  Lisa Astorga-Watel on Taking Chances, Networking, and Presence. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:41
Chef/Owner Lisa Astorga-Watel grew up in Santiago, Chile, before moving to Houston, Texas where she attended The Culinary Art Institute. Astorga-Watel's ambition started early wit the opening of her own catering business…
648: Scott Roberts on Persistence and Hard Work [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:53
The Salt Lick has a story that dates back to the 1830s when Scott Robert's ancestors came to TX with Steven F Austin and moved to Driftwood, TX in the 1870s. Over the next 100 years, BBQ techniques were developed by Robe…
647: Ben Poremba on Transforming Communities One Block at a Time [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:27:06
Israeli native, Ben Poremba moved to St. Louis to earn a BA in philosophy from the University of Missouri. He also attended University of Gastronomic Studies in Parma, Italy. Today Poremba is Chef/Owner of Bengelina Hosp…
646: Nick Bogacz on Guerilla Marketing Tactics [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:32:12
After 16 years of working in the pizza biz from delivery driver to store manager, Nick Bogacz built the confidence to open his own pizza place in 2012. Today, Bogacz is the President and Founder of Caliente Pizza & Draft…
645: Ben Berg on Assuming Nothing While Anticipating Everything [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:05
Born in New York City, Ben Berg has been in the restaurant business for over 17 years working for upscale steakhouses in Las Vegas, Mexico City, and his hometown. Prior to his career in restaurants, Berg received a Maste…
644: Charles Clark and Grant Cooper on True Restaurant Etiquette [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17:19
Clark Cooper Concepts, lead by Chef Charles Clark and Grant Cooper, is the group behind Ibiza, Brasserie 19, Coppa Osteria, Punk's Simple Southern Food, and The Dunlavy, was brought to life in 2001, when they decided to…
643: Damian Mandola on Attention to Detail [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:28
Damian's 40+ years of experience started with "Damian's Fine Italian Food"- a restaurant he started as a college senior in 1975. Damian's experience took him from his first restaurant to becoming a fixture in the Houston…
642: Johnny Carrabba on Community, Family, and Enthusiasm [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:56
After attending college at St. Thomas University in Houston, Johnny began working in the local restaurants owned by members of his family. In 1986 he opened Carrabba's with his uncle, Damian Mandola. In 1993 they entered…