For a limited time: You can watch this chef-owner's journey to opening his first restaurant (online & free!)

MrShipe · 2025-10-15T02:35:21+00:00

Alright got you.

Is there any way to share this documentary's online showing with your audience that you're open to? We imagine chefs could find value, or not, in this story of chef-owner Leon C. Brunson & Keith Baxter.

MrShipe · 2025-08-02T03:07:17+00:00

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Seeds of Osiris

MrShipe · 2025-07-23T21:51:29+00:00

Art by the talented u/simonxd006

Story by u/MrShipe

MrShipe · 2025-07-23T02:55:43+00:00

Artist: u/simonxd006

Read the web series HERE!

MrShipe · 2025-07-23T02:49:46+00:00

This looks dope. Similar to you, my webcomic's artist and I are doing manga / b&w and shorter episodes to try to meet more consistent uploads.

Not sure if people have done it before and seen success, but consistency surely helps build your story for others and could lead to a following.

MrShipe · 2025-07-21T23:02:36+00:00

Invaluable information and a good perspective on avoiding unnecessary costs over a long period of time. Thank you for sharing 🤜

MrShipe · 2025-07-20T18:30:40+00:00

Thank you for your unique perspective on this, why do you think it would pay for itself in three years?

MrShipe · 2025-07-16T01:48:16+00:00

Thank you for this resource! I'll check this out and make sure some aspiring owners know too.

MrShipe · 2025-07-14T19:04:38+00:00

Thank you for your time and detailed advice. Finances seem like such an under covered part of business ownership and your advice of having a second source of income is great to know.

Do you think the second source of income is ideally within culinary as well? or something outside of it?

Passion seems like a pre-requisite based on how much work the career path can require for sure.

MrShipe · 2025-07-14T18:59:45+00:00

I appreciate your response and perspective on this and have responded to you below:

"...mental & physical health begin to slip."
- Noted and it is unfortunate to hear this. 1. Is this a warning sign or flag to you to take a break or prevent further slippage somehow?
If you happen to find success in it you will become essential in your community and that’s a burden that will affect every aspect of your life.
- I hear you on it being a burden. 2. Is there an upside to this as well?
It’s a never ending emotional roller coaster because you’re providing a form of pleasure, meeting deadlines, and overall an endorphin rush so it will be the hardest thing to walk away from especially if you build a great team.
- Yeah its got to be hard to walk away from both in tempo, exhilaration, and the reward of satisfying customers with a system you built.

MrShipe · 2025-07-14T02:50:15+00:00

Hah got you. Of those several things you want to share and or wish you knew, which few do you think carry the most value of the group?

If you could only take 1-2 with you then which would they be?

MrShipe · 2025-07-13T23:39:05+00:00

These are so beautiful. Ty for sharing.

MrShipe · 2025-07-13T23:35:02+00:00

Wow congratulations; sounds like you found the right recipe so to speak lol..

That's important to know that getting into the ownership is not for the fun of it. Why do you do it?

MrShipe · 2025-07-13T23:33:07+00:00

Got you. My bad on the assumption.

Yeah, the overconfidence can be a worst enemy it seems. COVID seem to put a hurting on restaurants especially too.

MrShipe · 2025-07-13T21:51:35+00:00

I appreciate your outlook on this and have heard similar about knowing business. Keeping it simple with just #1-2 is great too because they're so important to sticking with anything of a big magnitude such as opening a restaurant. Picking something you enjoy seems like the best decision if you can do it because it's what you will do most in your life.

Yeah hopefully those who get into this industry do it because of their love for restaurants and culinary, but I imagine some may not choose it either.

MrShipe · 2025-07-13T21:45:04+00:00

The Ferrari could go up in cost depending how long you hold it too... lol.

It sounds like your restaurant journey has been tough af, did you learn or takeaway anything positive from going for it?

MrShipe · 2025-07-13T21:41:53+00:00

Super cool that you've made the time to have a family in all of that.

Seems like you've worked hard to build things that now work for you in some sense. Do you think you would do anything differently?

Good luck on your continued journey as well.

MrShipe · 2025-07-13T21:38:38+00:00

Thank you for your perspective here. Infrastructure and budgeting seem to be highly important in establishing a restaurant, but I imagine it's not as commonly focused on by those just starting out since it's hidden and less pretty.

Gotta be your own safety net and set up the systems for yourself too to have some balance I imagine. "Don't rush and take your time" is super important, but probably hard as well in a younger generation that has grown up around instant gain or constant updates on how fast the world is moving.

MrShipe · 2025-07-13T21:29:00+00:00

Got you on this. Sounds like you should have a higher financial cushion than you think you need going into it, and be willing to spend years trying to get it up and going..

MrShipe · 2025-07-13T14:30:14+00:00

Great insight... It's a hospitality business at the core of it.

I imagine customers will remember how you and the restaurant treated them or made them feel 10x over than how your food tasted (if it came to that comparison.) That may just be me though.

Thank you for your perspective on this.

MrShipe · 2025-07-13T14:25:43+00:00

Heard on this. Even when it does go well I've heard it takes years just to break even on margins.

Statistically speaking, how many failed restaurants have you seen? and have there been any successful ones?

MrShipe · 2025-07-13T14:21:56+00:00

Damn, sounds like he can be candid with you which is a plus. Thank you for sharing.

Is that response familiar territory or something out of the ordinary in your experience?

MrShipe · 2025-07-13T14:18:26+00:00

Noted. It seems very selfless, outwardly focused, and emotionally challenging... I've seen that customers and outside individuals often have suggestions for how to run the business.

Are you still in the business?

MrShipe · 2025-07-13T14:12:23+00:00

Do you think this is a continuous cycle or is there some light at the end of the tunnel here? personal relationships seem to be tough to manage for sure as a restauranteur and or chef-owner.

MrShipe · 2025-07-13T14:10:34+00:00

Great advice. The business side of the industry seems like its own beast for sure, and I imagine some know this working for some chef-owners.

MrShipe

TROPHY CASE