945: Damian Otero Owner/Operator of Rreal Tacos and Sabores del Plata

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Damián Otero is the Owner/Operator of Rreal Tacos, Sabores del Plata, and Cafe At Pharr in Atlanta, Georgia. Damián Otero is a serial entrepreneur. Prior to entering the restaurant industry, he was a business owner and salesman. In August of 2014, he purchased an existing restaurant called Sabores del Plata in Atlanta, GA that he was personally a fan of. He purchased the restaurant for $75,000, and reopened it as the owner/operator after spending only $105,000.  At that time, he was only 21 years old. His mother was, and still is, the manager of Sabores del Plata. Later, in 2021, he purchased Rreal Tacos, also in Atlanta, which he has grown to multiple locations, quadrupled sales, and gained over 24,000 Instagram followers in under 2 years.

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Favor success quote/mantra:

• "You have to create a vision large enough that other people's dreams can fit into it, where you can bring A-players into it with you, and everyone comes out better in the end."

In this episode with Damián Otero we will discuss:

• The differences between the industry 10 years ago vs. today
• Branding
• Sales
• Instagram marketing
• The benefits of Toast POS
• Growing too fast
• Menu engineering
• Digital menu engineering
• Restaurant marketing

Today's sponsor:

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Knowledge bombs

1. Which "it factor" habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success?
   • Uncorruptable character
2. What is your biggest weakness?
   • Opening up
3. What's one thing you ask or look for when interviewing/growing your team?
   • Does this person fit into the position 10 years from now?
4. What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it?
   • Not growing too fast
5. Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team.
   • Be happy, uncorupatble character
6. What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff?
   • Integrating technologies in a natural way in the restaurant
7. What's one piece of technology you've adopted within your restaurant walls and how has it influence operations?
   • Toast
   • Ovation
   • 7shifts
   • MarginEdge
8. What is one thing you feel restaurateurs don't do well enough or often enough?
   • Marketing
9. If you got the news that you'd be leaving this world tomorrow and all memories of you, your work, and your restaurants would be lost with your departure with the exception of 3 pieces of wisdom you could leave behind for the good of humanity, what would they be?
   • Be a good person
   • Uncorruptable character
   • Go above and beyond

Contact:

Instagram:

• Personal: @damianceo
• Cafe At Pharr: @cafeatpharr_vinings
• Sabores del Plata: @saboresdelplata
• Rreal Tacos: @rrealtacos

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for joining today! Have some feedback you’d like to share? Leave a note in the comment section below!

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Huge thanks to Damián Otero for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time!

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