Jillian’s is FUN! Community Blog

MEMPHIS “WOW’s” THE LIBERTY BOWL TEAM WELCOME PARTY!!

On Monday, December 29, 2008,  Jillian’s had the honor of sponsoring the University of Kentucky and East Carolina in the Official Liberty Bowl Team Welcome Party!

Things were so “off the chain” with us feeding 800 guest in 20 minutes that we had a visit by Memphis’s finest!

Our staff was waiting at the door to hand out or VIP Passes to the 800 expected guests! The VIP Passes were outfitted with a bounce back incentive on the back to ensure that they were welcome back to be our guests while visiting our great city!

Check out Wade, our fearless GM, ready to greet the teams!

To get the teams ready for their big game, we have several competitions all over the building. They could choose from bowling, billiards or one of the many Wii’s or Xboxes on our big screens. At one point they got each other going with an impromptu rap off on the microphone!

Who will win the coveted Liberty Bowl? We will know on Jan 2nd!

I must give a HUGE applause to Wade and all of Team Memphis for their flawless execution of such a big event!! Our building was beautiful with ice sculptures of the Team Logos on each buffet and each floor decorated with team colors! There was live entertainment and pleanty of food and drink for everyone!

The top of the night was when the head of the Liberty Bowl came up to me and said, I quote “This was the best welcome party EVER!!!

Universal Scores a Grand Slam!!

On Monday, December 29, 2008 we hosted a small event for The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles.  Debra, one of our banquet servers and Jessica, our Hourly Supervisor, where informed by the host that all 30 kids attending this event had one or both of their parents loose their job due to the state of our economy.  Debra and Jessica wanted to make sure they “Made a Difference” in the kids lives and the Universal  “WOW” factor kicked in.  As Jessica was helping one of the kids with the shoelaces, she heard the host talk about how impressed she with our staff and how “… cool it would be if they could recreate this experience for all 165 kids in the department.”  Marie, one of our Sales Managers, “Embraced the Opportunity” and worked out all the details for a $10.5k Hilife BO for the NEXT DAY.  Debra and Jessica “Made it their own” and set up an incredible event for all 165 kids the fallowing day.  By making sure that “Everything Matters” we impressed the hosts so much that we are now talking about making this a yearly event at Jillian’s Universal.

Wow 40 K in 14 weeks here we come!!!!

I was convinced after speaking with Tony in our last coach’s corner together as a group, that I needed to do something over the top to reach our goal of $30K for the week. I was really having a hard time putting the 3 circles of our Jake Concept together: the Cafe, the Bar and Billiards, and Events. My circle was the Cafe I asked myself, “What can I do to ensure that I can put an imprint on my circle? Then I came up with an idea to boost our sluggish N/A Bev Sales. I put together a contest with all our Cafe servers on selling the most gross in N/A Bev, Beer sales, Liqour, Wine, and I would give an extra $20 credit for every Lucky Seven Card I would get back. All, I have to say is wow! This contest has really taken off in a good way. Our cafe servers have averaged over $700 just in beverage sales compared there sub par $450. We have Tam who is leading overall with a little over $10 K in 13 weeks so far. Also, Lincoln who is in second under $9.5K in 13 weeks just in today alone $525 beverage sales on a Monday!!!! Who would think a small burger stand can generate so much????? Plus the number of lucky seven cards coming in is extra ordianary; just on Sundays we can collect close to 10-15. I have to commend all our Cafe Servers for upselling very well! Right now as a group there are at $38 K. I am very sure they will be beat 40 K by the end of the week!!!! Who says Food up sale contest next???? I do!!!

UFC 92 in the WOO!!!!!

IN AN EFFORT TO MAKE UFC FIGHTS EVEN MORE SUCCESSFUL THEN USUAL, WE WENT BIGGER AND BETTER THEN EVER AND PARTNERED UP WITH SEVERAL LOCAL COMPANIES TO PULL OFF A HUGE PROMOTION.

PAUL CONTACTED HIS FAVORITE MMA GYM (MMA TRAINING CENTER) AND WE MET WITH THE WORCESTER POLICE GANG UNIT AND CAGE FIGHTING EXTREME PROMOTERS TO PROMOTE WORCESTER’S FIRST EVER LIVE FIGHT THIS JANUARY. THEY WANTED TO BE AT THE PLACE THAT HAS THE MOST DIEHARD MMA FANS AND WE ARE DEFINITELY THE PLACE TO BE.

AT 9PM WITH NEARLY 300 PEOPLE IN THE DOOR, A HUGE TIGER STRIPED HUMMER LIMO PULLED UP TO THE FRONT OF JILLIAN’S. OUT STEPPED NEWLY SIGNED UFC PPV FIGHTER: JOHN “DOOMSDAY” HOWARD. HE ENTERED WITH HIS ENTOURAGE OF 20 “TAPOUT” AND “TUFF ENUFF” GIRLS ALONG WITH SOME OTHER MMA FIGHTERS. WE SET UP A GREAT SPOT FOR THEM IN THE V/C AND HE SIGNED AUTOGRAPHS, GAVE AWAY TICKETS TO THE EVENT, T-SHIRTS AND TOOK PLENTY OF PICTURES ALL FOR FREE. THIS GAVE UFC FANS SOMETHING THEY WOULD ALWAYS REMEMBER. HE EVEN SQUARED OFF AGAINST PAUL (OUR GM) AND TOOK SOME FOOTAGE FOR THE LOCAL WORCESTER & BOSTON PAPERS AND TV. IT WAS AM AWESOME TIME FOR ALL AND DOOMSDAY WAS A PLEASURE TO MEET. MAKE SURE YOU CHEER HIM ON JANUARY 31ST AS HE WILL BE FIGHTING ON THE LIVE PPV EVENT!! WE TOOK A HUGE NIGHT FOR US AND MADE IT BETTER THEN EVER BY SEIZING THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A UNIQUE-INTERACTIVE PROMOTION THAT WILL HAVE THE CITY BUZZING FOR QUITE AWHILE.

Taking a “Monster Opportunity” on the streets of Colorado….

Ahh the day after Christmas, it was a new day at Jake’s with my clip board in hand doing my Open Manager Checklist for the day. I started outside Jake’s and looked at the streets of Colorado blvd. I thought to myself I should do a small “Coach’s Corner” like the ones we work with Tony and Jake. I asked myself, “What can I do to make this window more appealing to new guests and people walking around Colorado Blvd?”Then it donned on me, I started to make the mammouth Heartattack burger! I took 5 patties, 5 pieces of american cheese, and 10 pieces of bacon to make this mammouth Create your own burger! Also with this burger, I made a Chicken Bowl with Fries. I also decorated this piece with liqour bottles, beer bottles, and our NYE flyers. Just five minutes of finally putting the piece together people were standing taking pictures of the burger and coming in to eat. I decided to do this because, it take the average person two seconds to make a choice on whether to eat at a place or not. So, I figured I have a 50-50 chance for a guest to come in or not so this would have to help. I never figured it would help this much though. Within and hour and a half we were in $1,200 in food sales that was a lot of burgers and bowls. Everyone was doing a great job Deanna and I helped our great team to succese. By the end of the lunch shift they already sold $2200 in food. That is a lot of burgers!!!!

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Happy Holidays !!!

Luke wowing everybody…..

“Oh, I remember my first day…” is a humorous line I always say when we are busy in the café. We tend to notice the small things we are doing wrong, mental mistakes, and details that we are over looking then we correct them. Yet, this past Monday was different. I can still remember back in the days when young Luke first started here. It was first time serving guests in a restaurant; he had very rough time at first adjusting to the work environment even to the extremes of tables walking out on him. I didn’t want to give up on him. So, today proved me thoughts right. Luke did a great job he was out going, fast pace, under control and most importantly wowed all the guests with his service making new regulars. The thing was incredible on his own his sales were over $1500 yet he only had one comp and that was for a lucky seven card, so no mistakes! Great job Luke!

Giving a helping hand and making an opportunity out of it…..

Our fellow boys in blue, our Pasadena Police were enjoying their favorite create your own burger and I overheard the officers trying to find something to do with their wives who they have been neglecting with the extra hours of work keeping our streets safe. So, me in the holiday spirit walk over to the officers and speak to them. I said, “I heard you guys can use a little hand. How about you guys, bring your wives down tonight to play some pool on me. It is only right that you have a good time with them.” The officers agreed to come with their wives. So the wives come first. I introduce them to myself and show them around the club and introduce all the great things we have to offer here at the club. One wife in particular was so impressed with everything she is in the works on having a buyout of our club in August for her high school reunion of 430 people. The night concluded with a large tab over $450 of food and drinks. They most defiantly came to eat, drink and play.

Jakes pulls it of again!

 Thursday nights is Karaoke here at Jake’s. What better time to up sell than a day with a full bar of drinkers?  At 10:30 the bar was full of singers and drinkers. We decided to make some extra revenue by making shooters and offering them to guests for $3. 

D’Ann (Cocktail Server) jumped on it with enthusiasm selling the first 15 shots before she even got to the billiards room. We then made 15 more and those were gone almost as fast. Through the night we made three rounds and made an extra $135 in revenue. Later, a guest came to the bar and asked the bartender if he could make him 4 of those great shots that the cocktail server was selling. Of course we complied and this guest came back for 1 more round!  These opportunities are all around. All you have to do is get creative and take advantage of situations that can become profitable! Great Job Bar staff!

Ray D

Keys to Blogging

I normally carried a small notebook with me ever since I have been in  Culinary School. I always take notes so I never forget. At Jake’s I carry it with me so I can write events to say thank you or a bright idea. Use the notebook and it will be a huge help with everything!!!!

Jaime

Jake’s Cooks making it their own….

I cannot be any prouder of our BOH staff then I have been this past month.  With a whole new concept such as the Create Your Own Burger a lot thought it wouldn’t have taken off as fast as it has. I kept the notion at Jake’s that I am here not to train cooks. I have graduated with top honors in a top league culinary school and I refuse to make mediocre cooks. I wanted to train Chefs and Kitchen Managers and I have at Jake’s. Jake’s presented me with this great opportunity. I have been fortunate on taking on these great team members. I have installed the lettuce program into these young men. They are firm believers in our Line Checks and Prep Lists they understand that we alone keep the tradition that has been bestowed on us since 1947. We understand the check and balances of what happens when we are producing waste. We stop and look at the problem, address it, and fix it. In our kitchen unlike many large kitchens we only have no more than 2 cooks at a time. I would love to see any cooking tandems try cooking over 35,000 varieties of burgers in 7 minutes. They are simply the best. I see their passion everyday in their face and work ethics. They are the reason why we average a food cost under 29% these past six months. Ray and I just finished an interview with a large up and coming web site focusing on their food as one of the newest and best burgers internationally and I want to thank them for making it this far.  So they have Lettuce Program down, next BOH Operations, then after that they will run a Jake’s of their own one day…..

Jaime

One man’s loss is another man’s gain…..By seizing opportunites!

It was a typical Thursday making orders and beer deliveries. Yet I felt this was a special day. Rick our driver from Classic beverage was having a phone conversation that I was over hearing speaking on his blue tooth. He was talking to his brother on how they couldn’t find a place to hold their brother’s bachelor party. Places were asking for so much especially in this hard recession. I heard this and I knew I needed to take advantage of this. I told him “I heard you’re having some trouble. Let me see what I can do to help.” I gave him as a gift for his great work he provides at Jake’s our VIP for his brother’s bachelor party. He was really touched. He said he did save some money. So a simple VIP will now grow into a lucrative party. At Jake’s we take care of the individuals who take care of us.

Jaime

W.W.J.D.= What would Jason do? Wow people that’s what he would do!

I was helping the café in the mid rush burgers were flying, beers were being poured, orders were being taken and it was Jason’s second day as a party server setting up his first party on his own. On the back of my mind I knew he was going to need help, he would need some guidance, basically structure he would need. Then I had some guests going over some event material we had in the café. They asked me about what would an event would look like. I replied telling them I would love to show them later after the rush. They obliged. Just as soon as I turned around, they were gone. So about 10 minutes later I finally have a second to check on Jason and to my amazement the buffet looked beautiful. Jason was standing sweet talking the guests who were interested in an event who were in the café. So I came over to give some assistance with the guests. Jason swept them off their feet. I gave some ideas on some upgrades and now they are planning to book an event next Tuesday. Great job Jason!!!!!!!!!

Jaime

Jake’s making a difference one day at a time…..

At Jake’s we honor our servicemen in our own community for many years. We have kept the tradition of feeding our brave men and women who protect our streets of Pasadena. Many officers have felt that Jake’s is there home away from home. The comforts of having a warm juicy burger with fries reminds them of the comforts of home and their families that the officers spend away from when they are making a difference in our community. It’s a sight to see all those Lucky Seven Cards coming back from the boys in blue. Jake’s being the true tradition of Pasadena we are obligated to give back and we do so willingly.

Jaime

The blog to beat all blogs…..

When it comes to making it your own, making a difference, embracing opportunity, proving that everything matters, and wowing everybody I can only think of one person at Jake’s. His name is Marcelino Lopez and he is the pride, passion, and heart of Jake’s and JBC. If you can take at a look at your Red Book’s he is the only person to who have worked for the company 15+ years.  Marcelino, I would say is the man responsible of making Jake’s so successful. Unlike many Jillians, Jake’s has that mystique of being a tradition in Pasadena. Marcelino has that aura of tradition when he walks into a work every day. Not many managers or employees can say they are working with a living walking piece of history; I have to say I am very fortunate that I am working with him. Marcelino has worked from billiard tables, to construction, to basic maintenance. Marcelino’s energy, passion, and work ethic beat some employees twice as young as him. I would have to say we all should stand up for him give him a round of applause and give him thanks for being a true pioneer of core beliefs in JBC. 

 Jaime

loyalty-

in my mind we have lots of stars on our server team but 1 person stands out in my mind especially during this crazy busy holiday season and it is erika chavez !  she has been with our team for over 5 years and everyday she works is a delight, not only is she one of our highest sellers, her attitude is amazing and what i like best is that she enjoys what she does and it shows. her answer is always yes  - what’s the question? i know when she is on a party we are guaranteed an upsell of some sort - my repeat clients ask for her by name - what is better than that? seriously!

 jennifer

How do I put smiley faces on my blog posts?

Just in case you ever wondered how to put smiley faces on your blog post like the ones right here:

……. use the template below as a smiley face guideline.

Just type the smiley text (or full text) directly into your article - put a space before & after.  For example, for wink you could type in any of the three text values to the right of the wink icon.  For the green smiley you would type in the full text value to right of that icon.  Give it a try.�

you think you have an awesome kitchen staff!?!

i need to give team san fran a shout out. i have been with some of these guys since the opening ( almost 10 years  ) and each holiday season seems to get less stressful and more seamless - a well oiled machine pumping out party after party after party after party with add on parties in between ..oh, and slammin convention lunches on top of it. tamayo, our chef actually gave me a hard time that the week of christmas seems slow and why do we only have a few parties - he asked what am i doing to bring more business in? that is where our core values really hit home…he is making his food cost his own… always thinking of ways to save money and hold everyone accountable. i feel lucky to be part of the team.

jennifer

Giving a Little this Holiday Season goes a long way……

I was approached by a grade 6 student who, in her spirit of giving was collecting Penny donations to help the Homeless and Children’s Charity this Holiday season. 

 Being touched by this young persons leadership and her own subscription to, “Embrace Opportunity, Everything Matters and especially Make a Difference”, I could not be more compelled to help her in her mission.

This holiday season with poor economic time everyone is being touched by program cuts, lay-offs and housing situations to name a few.  The thank you letter below says it all.  I ask this season if you can help those less fortunate in any way please do what you can….you will Make a Difference in someones life this holiday seasson.

Happy Holidays

Where did the term BLOG come from????

The Answer is !!!!!!

C: — It is a contraction from the term “Web log”

Now that you are here …. read about all the great examples of our core values from those that have BLOGGED below.

Do you have a WOW story … Log on and BLOG (if you need help setting up a username and password, please e-mail John Sowders)  

Thanks

The Funmaster�