Today we’d like to introduce you to Ahmad Kilani
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I came to America in 2015 with the vision to live the American Dream.
When I first came to America I worked in different restaurants and food trucks. This helped me gain a lot of experience and made me work harder to accomplish the goals I had set for myself. In 2015, I took a leap of faith and decided to open my own food truck. This was a big step for me in my success in the food industry. The success definitely came with a price, but I look at it all as opportunities that allowed me to grow and change my vision.
I opened 4 food trucks under my first concept and then opened Houston’s favorite hot chicken , Clutch City Cluckers.
The opening of Clutch City was a turning point in both my work and personal life. This was my American Dream. I developed a big brand with an amazing team and was able to open 13 locations nationwide just 3 years after my first opening. With more locations coming soon to every state.
In 2024, I opened Juicy Joint to serve Houston with the best halal wagyu hotdogs and burgers. We have 1 location open and a couple of locations coming soon. Katy will be our second location opening in April 2025.
I am extremely grateful that I am able to give back to the city that gave me the opportunity to achieve my goals. Houston is the start of my success and I am fortunate enough to be able to give business opportunities to people following their dreams.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
With success comes obstacles and with no doubt I had my fair share of them in the food industry. With every obstacle I faced, I became more determined to reach my goals. One of the many obstacles I faced, was when my first food truck flipped and was completely destroyed. This made me start all over again, but I was persistent and I knew it would be worth it.
With growing businesses, I also faced some problems with being able to manage many locations and making sure all my trucks were delivering the best quality food that people were used to having from us.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Clutch City Cluckers Juicy Joint?
Clutch City Cluckers brand is part of my mission to give back to Houston, the city which gave my career a major boost. Hence, the “Clutch City” part of the name was inspired by the nickname given to the Houston Rockets after winning both the 1994 and 1995 NBA championships. Even the logo, consisting of a chicken on a rocket, not only pays homage to the space city, but also my vision for the business to skyrocket and represent Clutch City nationwide.
With my Juicy Joint brand , I wanted to stand out with the type of meat we were using for our hotdogs and burgers. We were the first halal wagyu meat foodtruck in Houston.
How do you define success?
Success is the achievement of meaningful goals through consistent effort, strategic thinking, and adaptability. It goes beyond mere outcomes, encompassing growth, purpose, and positive impact. It’s also about balancing tangible results with intangible factors such as leadership, teamwork, and societal contribution. True success involves aligning actions with values, navigating challenges, and leaving a lasting, sustainable legacy that benefits both individuals and communities.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.clutchcitycluckers.com and https://juicy-joint.com/
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/clutchcitycluckers/ and https://www.instagram.com/juicy_joint_burgers
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/ClutchCityCluckers/ and https://www.facebook.com/share/1JxRcbFSB9/
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/ClutchCityCluck
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ClutchCityCluckers
