Today we’d like to introduce you to Jerry Lasco.
Hi Jerry, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
In 2001 I was a pilot flying for Continental Airlines. My wife and I had moved to Houston right before 9/11/01 and shortly thereafter, I was furlough indefinitely from Continental. I had always wanted to start a business, so I followed my passion for food and wine and jumped in. Within a few years, we had grown to several locations and multiple concepts and I was really enjoying the entrepreneurial aspects of our business and decided not to return to flying. Twenty years later, we are still at it.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I would say that struggles, challenges, opportunities have been constant. From the very beginning, we adopted a “failure isn’t an option”, as well as a fast-growth mindset. As soon as we achieved one goal, we moved on to another. This pushed everyone hard and for some, it felt great, and for others, not so much. Finding people with a mindset that fits our culture has always been a priority for us as well as a challenge. It’s really hard for either side to know if the relationship is a fit until it’s tested. That’s why transparency during the interview is so important. At our peak growth rate, we got ourselves over-extended and were forced to begin shutting down some locations and re-trenching. This was extremely difficult, yet looking back, it provided valuable lessons. Now, our growth is more measured and we are focused on improvement more than new growth. We have also adopted a more balanced life approach for our entire team.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Lasco Enterprises is a family business that creates and operates restaurants. We currently have five restaurants in Texas as well as a popular wine club. The restaurant industry has always been challenging and now, it’s going through an evolutionary phase as the industry tries to adapt to changing consumer habits. In our early years, we were fortunate to develop concepts like The Tasting Room, Max’s Wine Dive, and Boiler House that were quickly embraced and supported by our communities. I feel very grateful for this, however, all of the lasting pride has come through the relationships that we’ve built with our communities, guests, and members of our team.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I feel like drive and self-discipline were key to succeeding as a start-up–basically, grit. Now, as an established company, our culture is our strength. We have a strong tie to our core values and we really work on living them each day. We treat everyone with respect, give back to the communities that support us, and emphasize a positive quality of life for everyone on our team and everyone we touch.
Contact Info:
- Email: mrblack@blackdoorwines.com
- Website: https://blackdoorwines.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackdoorwineclub/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlackDoorWineClub
Image Credits
Endicott PR
