Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Garcia.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Chris. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I’ve always had a passion for food and empowering others. Food has the power to bring people from all different walks of life together. My first job at the age of 15 was as a busboy in a local country-style restaurant. It was there I learned the value of a dollar and started to develop a love for the industry. Since then, I’ve been a cashier, waiter, barista, line cook, and even General Manager of all kinds of different restaurants from food trucks to fine dining. My perspective has changed a great deal over the years, but one thing that never changed was my love for sharing great food with people. Fast forward 12 years into the future and the passions have finally had a full-on collision to manifest themselves into Bao Bros. Bistro.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road to get where we are today has been anything but smooth. Cynics and skeptics were present from day one, doubting every move we made and trying to convince us to throw the towel in. We were rejected by three banks for loans, encountered costly change orders during construction, and our project manager even got COVID (thankfully, he’s since made a full recovery). The deck was consistently stacked against us in so many ways, but against all odds we pushed forward. At the end of the day, there are no obstacles that faith and hard work can’t overcome.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Bao Bros Bistro – what should we know?
Bao Bros. Bistro is a fast-casual restaurant centered around Hong Kong and Taiwanese style steamed buns (bao), boba tea, and beer. We strive to create products that fuse unique flavors and cooking techniques from all around the globe. We’re proud to challenge the status quo, not just in our food but in our entire business model. We have publicly stated goals (our 20/20 Vision) to give back 20% of our profits to our employees and communities.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
There are two characteristics I would say are the most important to my success: faith and grit. There are so many days where you cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel, but you have to have faith. God wants you to succeed and you wouldn’t be somewhere unless there was a reason. Embrace challenges with open arms and an open mind and you will manifest anything your heart desires. Angela Duckworth defines grit as “passion and perseverance for long term goals.” In my opinion, it is easily the X factor in not only my success but of successful people in general. Having passion injects love and energy into everything you do, and perseverance means that you can keep the flame burning long after most people would have burned out.
Contact Info:
- Address: 8574 Highway 6 N
- Website: baobrosbistro.com
- Phone: 832-674-8343
- Email: info@baobrosbistro.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/baobrosbistro/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/baobrosbistro
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/baobrosbistro
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/bao-bros-houston-2
Image Credit:
Maximillian Marin, Nashelli Quintana, Blanca Quintana
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