Join us on The DMV Business Show with Otto Sevilla as we share the journey of Jesse Konig, Co-Founder and CEO of Jesse and Ben's and Swizzler. We delve into Jesse's background, his journey from food truck to brick-and-mortar restaurant to consumer packaged goods, and the challenges he faced along the way.
Jesse met his co-founder Ben while studying at Wake Forest University. Initially, they studied business with a focus on finance but later changed their major to English and entrepreneurship. During their college days, they launched a food truck business on campus, which laid the foundation for their future ventures. After graduating, they launched a food truck in the DMV area, which eventually evolved into Swizzler and Jesse and Ben's.
The idea for a food truck, Swizzler Gourmet Hot Dogs, was born out of a desire to fill a gap in the college food scene. They started operating in DC and eventually moved to farmer's markets, eventually leaving hot dogs behind and focusing on burgers. Jesse and Ben chose DC as the location for their business due to its strong alumni network, good infrastructure, and the opportunity to be the best food truck in the city.
After years of success as a food truck, Jesse and Ben decided to pivot to a brick-and-mortar restaurant. They signed a lease in 2019 and began building out the space in March 2020, just as the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Instead of hiring professionals for the entire construction process, they decided to take a hands-on approach, doing much of the work themselves, including demolition and installation of new features. They hired professionals for the more complex tasks, such as custom cabinetry and electrical work.
Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, Jesse and Ben were able to save money by doing much of the work themselves and were able to open their restaurant in May 2020. The success of their brick-and-mortar restaurant was a testament to their hard work and determination. Today, Swizzler has a location in Washington, D.C., serving smash burgers and crispy chicken sandwiches. Jesse and Ben's is a frozen french fry brand that makes Belgian-style restaurant-quality fries at home, available in local grocery stores and nationally at Sprouts Farmers Market.
By sharing his entrepreneurial journey, Jesse provides valuable insights and lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners. His perseverance, creativity, and willingness to adapt have led to the success of his businesses, and his story serves as a reminder that with hard work and determination, anyone can turn their entrepreneurial dreams into a reality.
This episode is brought to you by: SEVI - The first commercial real estate company committed to the four C’s: Commercial Real Estate, Community, Content, and Culture
https://seviproperties.com/
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