In this episode of Commercial Kitchen Chronicles, Pat sits down with Bryan O’Hern, owner/operator of Coyle Appliance Repair based in the South Metro area of Minneapolis-St. Paul. Bryan shares his incredible path from aviation mechanic to commercial kitchen lone wolf. After starting in aircraft maintenance, 9/11 changed everything—forcing a pivot that eventually led him into the foodservice repair world. From a stint at Hobart to owning and growing his own shop, Bryan unpacks the highs and lows of building a business, the power of knowing when to scale back, and what it's like working side-by-side with his wife. He also shares his thoughts on refrigeration, the new tech True ice machines, solo operations, burnout, managing people, and why schools, churches, and nursing homes are his ideal customers.
👉 Whether you're a tech looking to go out on your own or a shop owner contemplating growth vs. simplicity, this episode is packed with real talk, lessons learned, and a few good laughs.
🎧 Tune in for insights on:
Transitioning from hot-side to refrigeration
The grind and freedom of self-employment
Customer filtering and knowing your worth
Working with your spouse (yes, really!)
Ice machine madness, warranty wars, and keeping your sanity
This episode brought to you by https://trutechtools.com
Looking for top-quality HVAC/R tools? TruTech Tools is here to help! From instruments to hand tools, in-stock and shipped fast, they have you covered to get the job done right. Visit TruTechTools.com - Quality Tools - Essential Support!
Check out Bryan on Reddit
https://www.reddit.com/r/RestEquipmentRepair/
Check out
https://commercialkitchenchronicles.com/
Huge shout out to the crew at CFESA. You all came in clutch this week. To find out all about what CFESA has to offer for the Foodservice Repair Industry, visit https://cfesa.com
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