784: Thomas Kelly Co-Founder of Mexicue

784: Thomas Kelly Co-Founder of Mexicue

Author: Inspiring interviews with todays most successful restaurateurs 2-days a wee March 8, 2021 Duration: 1:39:02

With excitement allow me to introduce today's guest, the Co-Founder of Mexicue, Thomas Kelly!

Check out Restaurant365 as mentioned in today's episode.

Check out episode 774 with Bruce Irving as mentioned in today's episode!

Check out Clubhouse: Drop-in audio chat as mentioned in today's episode.

Check out Toast POS as mentioned in today's episode!

Show notes…

Calls to ACTION!!!

Favorite success quote or mantra:

  • "The key to success is finding value in collaboration.."

In today's episode with Thomas Kelly we will discuss:

  • Digital marketing
  • Fast-casual
  • Fine dining
  • Staging in NYC
  • Setting new, more reasonable, standard for our industry
  • Operations
  • Food trucks
  • Catering
  • Commissary kitchens
  • The people behind the brand
  • Pivoting early on
  • Finding the right collaborators, investors, and partners
  • You NEED a partner
  • Inventory
  • Labor management
  • Instagram marketing/branding

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.

P&G ProfessionalTM offers innovative total foodservice solutions featuring trusted brands such as Dawn® Professional, Cascade® Professional, Spic and Span® and Comet®. We are unique in that our total solutions are founded in customer and patron understanding, superior products that help save time and cut overall costs, and a five-star service group that is compensated based on customer satisfaction, not commissions. Visit www.pgpro.com for the latest information about P&G Professional's solutions and services.

 

Knowledge bombs

  1. Which "it factor" habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success?
    • Empathy
  2. What is your biggest weakness?
    • Operations
  3. What's one question you ask or thing you look for during an interview?
    • What's your favorite food?
  4. What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it?
    • Finding exciting real estate
  5. Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team.
    • Treat people well
  6. What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff?
    • Don't be scripted
  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?
    • Focus on systems and processes
  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 influence 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?
    • Slow down and enjoy the people are are physically close to you

Contact info:

Instagram: @mexicue  -OR-  @thomaskelly3

Email: tk@mexicue.com

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 Thomas Kelly 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
1266: Randy Hines, CEO and Partner at The Kolache Shoppe [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:56:50
Randy Hines joins the Restaurant Unstoppable Network for a live Q+A on May 4th, 2026 at 11AM EST. To join us and engage with all our guests and events, go to restaurantunstoppable.com/live -OR- to just catch today's gues…
1265: Christian Wiens, Founder and CEO of Loman AI [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:46:16
Christian Wiens joins the Restaurant Unstoppable Network for a live Q+A on May 4th, 2026 at 11AM EST. To join us and engage with all our guests and events, go to restaurantunstoppable.com/live -OR- to just catch today's…
1263: Eric Reed, Chief Development Officer at Layne's Chicken Fingers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:56:31
Eric Reed and Natalie Hurley (also of Layne's) join the Restaurant Unstoppable Network for a live Q+A on April 20th, 2026 at 11AM EST. To join us and engage with all our guests and events, go to restaurantunstoppable.com…
1262: Natalie Hurley, VP of Marketing at Layne's Chicken Fingers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:52:29
Natalie Hurley and Eric Reed (also of Layne's) join the Restaurant Unstoppable Network for a live Q+A on April 20th, 2026 at 11AM EST. To join us and engage with all our guests and events, go to restaurantunstoppable.com…
1260: Albert Sanchez, Co-Founder of Beto's Mexican Restaurant [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:57:02
Albert Sanchez and Chris Schultz join the Restaurant Unstoppable Network for a live Q+A on April 6th, 2026 at 11AM EST. To join us and engage with all our guests and events, go to restaurantunstoppable.com/live -OR- to j…
1259: Chris Schultz, CEO of Velvet Taco [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:07:06
Chris Schultz joins the Restaurant Unstoppable Network for a live Q+A on April 6th, 2026 at 11AM EST. To join us and engage with all our guests and events, go to restaurantunstoppable.com/live -OR- to just catch today's…