FSR April 2023

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Sarber says she’d be willing to take on partnership investors for Trashy Dawg, while Agave & Rye and SOB will likely always remain internally operated. She even predicts Trashy Dawg will surpass Agave & Rye fairly quickly. “It’s di cult to reproduce Agave & Rye, whereas Trashy Dawg is simpler,” Sarber explains. “At Agave & Rye, we refuse to co-pack; everything has got to be made from scratch, and it’s very important to us, which also adds to layers. If you’re franchising and not co-packing, that’s a problem.” Sarber is also developing a new, authentic Mexican street food concept called Papi Jochos, which will function more as a quick-serve restaurant with a two-lane drive-thru, patio, and outdoor restrooms in lieu of indoor seating. Each drive-thru lane will be housed under a 30-foot hood and feature oor-to-ceil ing glass windows, so customers can watch street tacos, hot dogs, and Mexi can street burgers being made. “It will look like each is a street cart, and we’ll vent it, so customers will have an experience in the drive-thru,” she says. But the most exciting part for Sarber is the opportunity to give back to her employees. After launching Papi Jochos and working out all the kinks, the res taurant will be licensed back to employ ees when they hit certain benchmarks. “ e intention is to give a legacy to our team as well, including culinary and ser vice members, and we fund it,” she says. “On the topic of Latinos in restau rants, I don’t think they’re represented enough in the language, and they are such a valued team member in so many restaurants, but I don’t know if their voice is heard enough,” Sarber adds. After forming initial relationships with advocacy groups, EPIC Brands began writing employee handbooks in both English and Spanish and is actively adding Latino representation to their human resources team. “Our team understands they get the opportunity to take care of people and create these experiences and make mem ories for them. How awesome is that?” Sarber says.

SON OF A BUTCHER STEAKHOUSE FEATURES BOLD AND FUNKY DECOR, LIKE A BATHTUB (ABOVE), WHICH GARNERS PLENTY OF SOCIAL MEDIA ATTENTION. MENU ITEMS ARE CHEEKILY NAMED THINGS LIKE “SOB SEA DADDY,” “MILLION $$ DEVILED EGGS,” AND “HECK YES I WANT BREAD.”

EPIC BRANDS (3)

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APRIL 2023