A Lazy Teen With A Vision
Smashers is the most ironic business, read why below...
Picky Eater, 1.7 GPA, & Hated Cooking
At 17 I didn't have much going for me besides the amount of Fortnite wins I amassed. Lazy, insecure, failing in school, all the things that parents love seeing in their child. Who could've thought a simple youtube video could change the trajectory of someones life. Well it did for me. "How to make a Smashburger," I didn't click on it because I wanted to learn, I clicked because the thumbnail of the burger looked so good.
The 1st Burger 🍔
I was so hungry watching that video that it inspired to make one myself. Prior, a grilled cheese was the limits of my cooking expertise. I went to the grocery store, picked up all the ingredients and gave it a shot. Surprised as my 1st burger wasn't half bad. So I tried again for dinner, and I saw improvement. From that moment I became hyper obsessed with trying to perfect every little detail in the burger. The next 6 months I cooked burgers like a maniac & Smashers became a possibility.
The Summer That Changed Everything ☀️
My parents gave me $40,000 personal loan to start my business. I hired all of my buddies who I grew up with & it was a hit. Watching people light up from something I worked hard on was alien to me at the time & I knew this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. To appease my amazing parents, I went to one semester of college, made all F's and dropped out. I was all in on Smashers.
The Smashers Team 💪
Smashers is no where without the people around it. All of my buddies, my parents, & my right hand man Bobby, just to name a few. I have failed so many times & every time is a blessing because it makes us stronger. I have no idea what I'm doing but I'm doing. Figuring it out as we go. Smashers makes no sense but it started all because I tried something new & I focused on it.
Come Get Smashed! 🍔🔥
Flash forward to now, Smashers has restaurant in Norfolk, Va, & a new food truck servicing all of the 757. We now own smashers.com, @smashers, & purchased the trademarks. Growth will be slow in the beginning but in a decade, it will all feel like it happened all at was. Every customer that walks through our door is a blessing & an opportunity to show them what Smashers is all about.
