VIBE N SLURP founder Chef Wayne Carrington on Finding Inspiration and Acting On It

TL;DR

Chef Wayne Carrington shares his journey from being inspired by a movie to opening multiple successful ramen restaurants, partnering with Toast, and creating a family-oriented restaurant concept called Vibe N Slurp.

Transcript

Welcome to Restaurant Influencers presented by Entreprenuer Media. My name is Shawn Walchef, founder of Cali Barbecue and Cali Barbecue Media. I want to give a special shout out to Toast, our primary technology partner at our barbecue restaurants, for believing in storytelling, in life, in the restaurant business, and in the new creator economy. We... Read More

Key Insights

• 🥰 Chef Wayne Carrington's journey in the restaurant industry was inspired by a movie and his love for ramen.
• 🏛️ Building relationships, such as with Toast, helped him succeed in his ventures.
• 👻 Chef Wayne's dedication to mentorship and giving back has allowed him to help others while growing his businesses.
• 🔉 Embracing social media, such as Instagram and TikTok, has significantly impacted his brand's growth and reach.
• 🖐️ The importance of staying curious, seeking mentorship, and always learning played a significant role in Chef Wayne's success.
• 👪 Family support and involvement, especially from his daughters, have been instrumental in his achievements.
• 💠 Meeting and developing a relationship with hospitality icon Danny Meyer further shaped Chef Wayne's growth and opportunities.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did Chef Wayne Carrington first get into the ramen business?

Chef Wayne got inspired to learn about ramen after watching the movie "Ramen Girl" and visiting a popular ramen shop in Manhattan.

Q: How did Chef Wayne transition from being a police officer to working in the restaurant industry?

After his career in law enforcement, Chef Wayne worked with various companies, including Five Guys and Fatburger, before venturing into the ramen business.

Q: What role did Toast play in Chef Wayne's journey?

Toast became Chef Wayne's primary technology partner, providing him with the necessary tools to run his restaurants successfully.

Q: What led Chef Wayne to create Vibe N Slurp and Buns and Donuts?

Chef Wayne sold his interest in his previous restaurant and wanted to get back to a family-oriented business concept. He created Vibe N Slurp and later came up with the idea for Buns and Donuts to expand his offerings.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Chef Wayne Carrington got into ramen after watching the movie "Ramen Girl" and opened his first company, Rock n Ramen Amazing, in 2014.

• After franchising Rock n Ramen and aligning himself with Toast, Chef Wayne sold his interest and created Vibe N Slurp, a family-oriented business concept.

• He also launched another company called Buns and Donuts, expanding on the appetizer menu of Vibe N Slurp.