On being stubborn, staying humble and growing a business

Earlier this month, I joined Eric Cacciatore on his podcast, Restaurant Unstoppable to chat about restaurant ownership, operations, the industry and more. During the episode, I talked about how I got started in this industry and shared that there have been more than a few failures sprinkled in with my successes. At one point, I was ready to quit this industry altogether.

I didn’t, partly due to stubbornness, and partly because I had this nagging idea that I couldn’t stop thinking about. It had to do with developing a dining and entertainment experience unlike any other. In 2012, Punch Bowl Social became a reality.

Talking about the origin of Punch Bowl Social and how close it came to not happening reminded me of just how far we’ve come as a company. Today, Punch Bowl Social has 19 locations across 13 states and employs more than 2,500 people. In the next 14 months, we’ll open six more locations.

The last two decades have taught me that stubbornness pays off, much to my wife’s dismay. That growing an iconic brand takes both tenacity and patience. That knowing your market and connecting with the guest is essential. And that failure is a natural part of growth — and an integral part of success.

Listen to the podcast here: https://restaurantunstoppable.com/robert-thompson-punch-bowl-social/