Connect Who or what is your inspiration in business?

My desire to help others started as a boy seeing people live in extreme poverty—it really stuck with me. I remember thinking that being hungry would be the worst thing ever. Luckily enough, I did not experience that, but it’s something that’s stayed with me as I’ve gotten older. It inspired me to make my restaurant a way to give back. Now, my inspiration comes from all the amazing people I meet every day who are all doing their part to make the world a better place.

How do you stay motivated?

I’m motivated by seeing the ripple effect of my work, especially through our monthly food bank donations. It’s inspiring to watch volunteers come together each month to help portion food, work directly with the food banks to see the impact on those in need, and connect with community leaders who share the positive results. I hope our efforts encourage other businesses to do something similar.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I’d use the money to enclose our patio, our only dine-in space, so we can keep serving customers all year round—especially during the winter when we see a 30% drop in business. This upgrade would help us maintain a steady flow of dine-in customers even when it’s cold outside. Plus, it would make the space much more comfortable for our volunteers as they work hard to help portion fresh food each month on the patio, all while keeping warm!