45 : From One to Twenty-One: Scaling a Restaurant Empire with Juan Padro of Culinary Creative Group

No Hesitations Restaurant Leadership Podcast : The show that teaches restaurant owners and operators how to be world-class leaders without wasting time and energy.

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This is how you transform a single restaurant into a thriving empire with 21 locations across Denver and New Orleans.
Join us in a captivating conversation with Juan Padro, the visionary leader behind the Culinary Creative Group, as he shares his remarkable journey from one restaurant in 2010 to a culinary powerhouse today. Juan reveals his secrets to success, including aligning values with partners, restructuring his company for scalable growth, and the critical importance of cultivating a strong company culture.
Chapters:
00:00:08 - Scaling a Restaurant Group Successfully

00:11:53 - Developing and Scaling Restaurant Concepts

00:19:25 - Structuring Investments and Management in Restaurants

00:26:13 - Investing and Cultivating Strong Teams

00:34:22 - Cultivating Leadership and Operational Success

In this episode, Juan delves into the innovative strategies inspired by the late 90s dot-com era that fueled his restaurant group's expansion. Drawing parallels with the tech incubator model, he discusses the intricate balance of launching multiple concepts while maintaining creative ownership and equity for artists. Juan also opens up about the evolution of his financial strategies—from securing friends and family investments to navigating structured deals and institutional funding—all while preserving control and fostering sustainable growth.
We also uncover the nuts and bolts of structuring investments, managing top-line revenue, and building personal relationships within the community. Juan shares invaluable lessons on identifying the right investors, avoiding costly mistakes, and investing in strong leadership. Discover his methods for training and developing teams, especially in challenging high labor-cost environments like Colorado. Learn how personal development, empathy, and intellectual curiosity can shape a successful restaurant group, and why surrounding yourself with a diverse and supportive board of directors is essential for long-term success.
Resources:
Juan Padro
Culinary Creative
Michelin Guide 2023
Restaurant Hospitality 10 founders & entrepreneurs changing the restaurant industry
Carrie Baird-Top Chef

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Podcast Production: https://www.lconnorvoice.com/

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1. 45 : From One to Twenty-One: Scaling a Restaurant Empire with Juan Padro of Culinary Creative Group (00:00:00)

2. Scaling a Restaurant Group Successfully (00:00:08)

3. Developing and Scaling Restaurant Concepts (00:11:53)

4. Structuring Investments and Management in Restaurants (00:19:25)

5. Investing and Cultivating Strong Teams (00:26:13)

6. Cultivating Leadership and Operational Success (00:34:22)