672: Will Pacio on Preparation and Opportunity

672: Will Pacio on Preparation and Opportunity

Author: Inspiring interviews with todays most successful restaurateurs 2-days a wee December 2, 2019 Duration: 1:02:47

After graduating from Stanford, Will decided to go to culinary school instead of medical school. From there he went on to join the opening team of Thomas Keller's Per Se in New York City.

Following NYC he would come back to California to cook at The French Laundry in Yountville. Eventually, Thomas Keller saw Will's talent for tech and asked him to run all of IT for the Thomas Keller Restaurant Group.

After learning from the best, Will pursued his dream and opened his own chain of fast-casual restaurants as founder and CEO of Spice Kit restaurants in 2007 which scaled to multiple locations in the Bay Area.

Today, Will serves as founder and CEO of Pared, a leading hospitality and restaurant network with over 100,000 members.

Show notes…

Favorite success quote or mantra:

  • "Luck is where preparation meets opportunity."

In today's episode with Will Pacio we will discuss:

  • Setting yourself up for opportunity
  • Passion for food
  • Taking risks
  • Working for free in order to learn
  • What you do and don't learn in culinary school
  • Collaboration
  • Establishing good culture
  • The culture of Per Se
  • Cooking for a food critic
  • How a good review affects business
  • What is Pared?
  • How clients changed the direction of Pared
  • Labor issues today

 


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
1197: Samir Watter, COO of Layne's Chicken Fingers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:19:25
Samir Watter is the COO at Layne's Chicken Fingers based in Dallas, TX. Samir joined Layne's in 2021 when there were only 7 total locations. Before that, he held impressive roles and big franchise companies like Denny's,…
1196: Thom Crosby, CEO of Pal's Sudden Service [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:45:06
Thom Crosby is the CEO of Pal's Sudden Service, HQ'd in Kingstwon, TN. Pal's Sudden Service was first opened in 1956 in Kingstown, TN. Thom came on board in 1981 to help them grow. Thom's experience prior to Pal's was in…
1195: Zane and Brandon Hunt, Co-Founders of VIA 313 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:42:30
Zane and Brandon Hunt are the co-founders of VIA 313. VIA 313 is a Detroit-style pizza chain. This is The Hunt Bros. third time on the show. They first joined us for episode 560 in 2018 and again in 2021 for episode 826.…
1194: The Game of Restaurant Growth with Matthew Mabel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:37:26
Matthew Mabel is a consultant, advisor, coach and President of Surrender, Inc. Surrender is a hospitality and management-consulting firm based in Dallas, TX. Matthew was last on the show for episode 518! For this in-pers…
1193: Garrett Reed, CEO of Layne's Chicken Fingers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:16:05
Garrett Reed is the CEO of Layne's Chicken Fingers. Garrett got his start in the real estate business right out of college as a site selector for Radio Shack in he 90s. By the early 2000s he had moved on to Starbucks whe…
1192: How to Secure Funding with Michael Praver [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:22:43
Michael Praver is the founder of fundingfundingfunding.com Michael's company specializes in helping businesses secure capital without the stress of traditional lending. Their mission is to help businesses secure fast, re…
1191: Rachel Cope, Founder and CEO of 84 Hospitality [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:54:18
Rachel Cope is the Founder and CEO of 84 Hospitality based in Oklahoma City, OK. 84 Hospitality consists of 4 concepts in 10+ locations in and around OKC. The brand started with Empire Pizza and the newest restaurant is…
1190: Workers' Compensation Deep Dive with David DeLorenzo [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:26:47
David DeLorenzo is the CEO and Owner of Bar and Restaurant Insurance. David DeLorenzo specializes in bar and restaurant insurance, but he is also a speaker, author, coach, as well as host of a mastermind and more than on…