Brad Parker is the Founder and CEO of Parker Hospitality in Chicago, IL. Brad worked at Starbucks as a teenager and needed up getting into real estate after college. He started his entrepreneur journey by starting a luxury car rental service in Chicago. He eventually, along with his business partner, decided to open a bar. American Junkie opened in 2013 and Brad and his partner sold the business in 2015. That same year, Brad opened The Hampton Social as a sole proprietor. The Hampton Social intentionally targets women 25-40 because Brad's sister claimed American Junkie was too male-oriented. Brad also puts an emphasis on making his restaurant spaces Instagram-friendly, so that guests naturally and enthusiastically do his marketing for him. The Hampton Social currently has 8 locations with more on the way in cities such as Miami and Nashville.
Show notes…
Calls to ACTION!!!
Favor success quote/mantra:
- "Anything is possible, but you need to put one foot in front of the other."
In this episode with Brad Parker we will discuss:
- Opening a bar with a partner
- Operating a bar
- Systems, systems, systems
- Food costing
- Importance of checklists
- Public perception
- Raising capital
- Growing too fast
- Changing customer habits
- Dealing with online review culture
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Knowledge bombs
- Which "it factor" habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success?
- What is your biggest weakness?
- What's one thing you ask or look for when interviewing/growing your team?
- What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it?
- Labor and consistent culture
- Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team.
- What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff?
- Every customer leaves happy
- What's one book we must read to become a better person or restaurant owner?
- What's one piece of technology you've adopted within your restaurant walls and how has it influence operations?
- What is one thing you feel restaurateurs don't do well enough or often enough?
- Focus on the asset and not the people
- 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?
- Take a chance and do it
- You can't take your money with you
- You want to be known for how you treat people, not what you built
Contact:
Website: https://www.parkerhospitality.com
Instagram...
Parker Hospitality: @parkerhospitality
Hampton Social: @thehamptonsocial
Brad: @bradparker_hospitality
Thanks for listening!
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Huge thanks to Brad Parker for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time!
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