773: Chad Grubbs on Creating Unique Experiences

773: Chad Grubbs on Creating Unique Experiences

Author: Inspiring interviews with todays most successful restaurateurs 2-days a wee January 18, 2021 Duration: 1:46:09

Stitch is a hospitality concept created by husband and wife team, Chad Grubbs and Jen Semmler Grubbs, with inspiration from key team members, close friends and mentors.  Chad, former owner of Okay Yeah Co. and previously BENT on Creativity, and Jen, owner of Plant Shoppe, are best known for their resourceful approach in creating unique experiences and offerings to the Oklahoma City scene. Born and raised in Oklahoma, the couple strives to make positive, inspiring impacts in the community through various craft ventures.

Check out Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear as mentioned in today's episode.

Check out Purple Cow: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable by Seth Godin as mentioned in today's episode.

Check out What I Know About Running Coffee Shops by Colin Harmon as mentioned in today's episode.

Check out Homebase: Free Employee Scheduling as mentioned in today's episode.

Show notes…

Calls to ACTION!!!

Favorite success quote or mantra:

  • "Shit'll buff out."

In today's episode with Chad Grubbs:

  • Psychology
  • Christianity/being a former pastor
  • Working in the tech industry
  • A coffee shop with a strong focus on food
  • The restaurant industry is a grind that you need to love
  • Making your indoor seating feel like outdoor seating
  • Losing your dream location
  • The pains of restaurant real estate
  • Better and more polished experiences
  • Confusing service with hospitality
  • Social media - Instagram
  • Restaurateur online/social media engagement
  • Coffee subscriptions
  • Cross-promotion/collaboration
  • Podcasting and podcasting about coffee
  • Constant self-improvment

Today's sponsor:

7shifts is a modern labor management platform, designed by restaurateurs, for restaurateurs. Effectively labor management is more important than ever to ensure profitability and restaurant success. Trusted by over 400,000 restaurant professionals, 7shifts gives you the tools you need to streamline labor operations, communicate with your team, and retain your talent. Best of all 7shifts integrates with the POS and Payroll systems you already use and trust (like Toast!) turning labor into a competitive advantage for your business. Restaurant Unstoppable members get 3 months, absolutely free.

RestaurantOwner.com is an online community of independent restaurant owners and managers who want training and tools to build a better restaurant and a more profitable, successful business. Resources include hundreds of downloadable templates, training videos and online courses on topics such as recipe costing, prime cost, improving the guest experience and building a positive culture. RestaurantOwner.com also conducts regular live webinars on a variety of timely and relevant topics. Whether you're thinking about opening a restaurant, in the planning stages, or already have multiple locations, RestaurantOwner.com has resources that can help you make better decisions, streamline operations and elevate the thinking and level of engagement of your team.

Ecolab: Streamline your clean with Ecolab's new EPA-registered 2-in-1 solution, Sink & Surface Cleaner Sanitizer. It will help reduce risk, simplify your procedures and help ensure compliance. This solution cleans and sanitizes hard non-porous surfaces with a single product, eliminates the rinse step and equips your staff to clean more efficiently. Clean simplified, confidence delivered.

Ecolab S&S Clean Simplifed Ad 300x300

Knowledge bombs

  1. Which "it factor" habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success?
    • Take punches well and dust myself off
  2. What is your biggest weakness?
    • Clarity on choosing the best path to what you want
  3. What's one question you ask or thing you look for during an interview?
    • Where do you want to be in 2 years?
  4. What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it?
    • minimizing goals and achieving smaller victories
  5. Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team.
    • 1% improvement, improve everyday
  6. What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff?
    • Caring about people, staff will write thank you notes on to-go containers/knowing frequent customer names
  7. What's one book we must read to become a better person or restaurant owner?
  8. What's one thing you feel restaurateurs don't know well enough or do often enough?
    • Engaging with their staff
  9. Name one service you've hired.
  10. What's one piece of technology you've adopted within your restaurant walls and how has it influenced operations?
  11. 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?
    • Engage with people
    • Be who you are and improve
    • Try things that are different for you

Contact info:

Instagram: @stitchokc

Stitch website

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 Chad Grubbs 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
908: Liz Solomon Dwyer Founder & CEO at King David Tacos [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:08:21
Liz Solomon Dwyer is the Founder and CEO od King David Tacos. Known for Austin-style breakfast tacos at carts and cafes across the city, King David Tacos was founded by Austin, TX native Liz Solomon Dwyer. She applied he…
907: Greg Provance Author of Butts In Seats [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:37:09
Greg Provance is the owner of GP Hospitality Partners LLC,. GP Hospitality Partners LLC is a full-service restaurant hospitality consulting firm. In addition to being a consulting partner of Everbowl, Southern California…
906: Sue Bette Founder and Head Coach at Bluebird Hospitality [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:14:15
With excitement allow me to introduce to you today's guest, Sue Bette. Sue Bette is the founder and head coach of Bluebird Hospitality, a Vermont-based company focused on creating community and joy through food and gathe…
905: Erik Shewmaker Founder/Partner of 30Hop [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:13:20
With excitement, allow me introduce today's guest, Founder/Partner at Blackstone, 30Hop, Tin Roost, Tribute, and The Iowa Athletic Club- Erik Shewmaker. After graduating from The University of Iowa Tippie College of Busi…
904: Nick Tillinghast founder of DMDT Hospitality [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:55:12
Nick Tillinghast is the Founder of DMDT Hospitality and Lifestyle. Nick has an untraditional pathway into the hospitality industry. Prior to founding the DMDT Hospitality and Lifestyle Group with partners Ryan Hutchinson…
902: Kevin Scharpf Chef/Owner at Brazen Open Kitchen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:03:01
With excitement allow me to introduce to you today's guest, Kevin Scharpf. Born and raised in Galena, Illinois, Kevin attended the Le Cordon Bleu of Culinary Arts in Minneapolis, MN. His past culinary experience includes…
901: Corey Mintz author of The Next Supper [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:42:07
Corey Mintz is a freelance food reporter (New York Times, Globe and Mail, Eater and others), focusing on the intersection between food with labor, politics, farming, ethics and culture. He has been a cook, a restaurant c…
900: Matthew Swift Founder of Big Grove Brewery [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:45:12
With Excitement allow me to introduce to you today's guest, the Founder of Big Grover Brewery, Matt Swift. Matt Swift grew up in the restaurant business. His mom, Faye Swift, opened Sluggers in Coralville, IA when Matt w…
899: Kelly Valentine on How to Get the Most Out of Pop-ups [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:14
With Excitement allow me to introduce to you today's guest, Kelly Valentine. Kelly Valentine is the Founder of Femmes in Food where she is a consultant + champion for #ladyowned Food & Beverage brands. She also has a dec…