Personal Matters :
Theme Song : “ I Will Survive ” by Gloria Gaynor . This is a hard business , and sometimes it ’ s hard to keep going . You have to pour everything you have into it . It ’ s 24 / 7 .
If You Weren ’ t at Brenda ’ s : Hands down , I would absolutely be a nurse . I had gotten accepted into nursing school and was ready to go before my uncle passed away . My dad needed me , and I put that on the back burner . But , I was recently reminded that you can do more than one thing , and that is okay . I am currently in nursing school , working full-time as a tech at the hospital and full-time at the BBQ pit .
Personal Motto : “ I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me .” - Philippians 4:13
My grandmother sat in what we affectionately know as “ the garden ” ( it was once grass but now it is concrete surrounded by a privacy fence ) at night , and they would hold private meetings to tutor people to help them develop the skills they needed to pass the literacy test and gain the right to vote . At the restaurant , there is a big photo of my grandmother in the front row of the Selma to Montgomery march . We have served everybody from Rosa Parks to Dr . King , and my grandmother met and had conversations with them . When you walk into “ the garden ” today , you ’ re reminded of the hearts and minds before you that contributed to the betterment of our culture and just people in general .
What ’ s the secret to keeping Brenda ’ s open and successful all these years ? The drive that my grandmother instilled in us . We have a strong backbone . We have the mindset that we don ’ t let anything stop us , and I think the number one secret to our success is our barbeque sauce . Anyone can throw a rib on the grill , but the sauce is what makes us and sets us apart .
50 CentrAL Inc !
What is your No . 1 piece of business advice for someone just starting out ? Make sure you have capital . Don ’ t just go into the business and think that you ’ re going to open the doors and make a million dollars . That will never happen . A lot of times , especially in the food service business , it takes at least five years before you see a profit .