We’re launching a new series featuring our extraordinary team at HCT. To kick things off, we sat down with the visionary and leader of Hot Chicken Takeover, Joe DeLoss.
How have you grown since starting HCT in 2014?
Early on, I made my way through really hard work and a lot of great mentorship. Hot Chicken Takeover was my fifth attempt at entrepreneurship. Getting to this point is an accomplishment I’m really proud of – the majority of small businesses don’t make it to their fifth year.
Our first few months in Olde Towne East, we had 5 or 6 people that would work from the very early morning until 11 or midnight when the last dish was done. It took a lot of special people and a tremendous amount of enthusiasm for the potential of what we were building. Side note – that particular dish tank had a defective floor drain that would back up consistently every close. We would draw straws to decide who would roll up their sleeves (literally) and stick their arm down the drain to keep the water moving.
For months, we were this small team managing 100% of the operation. I was still working a full time job in workforce development, too. I’d work office hours every week and went nonstop Thursday through Sunday. All while my wife and I were starting our family with our first daughter. It was a huge commitment Lisa made to make it all possible.
The grind, however, didn’t serve me. I eventually hit a tipping point – I was completely toast. With the support of many, I started relying a lot more on the team we were building. I’m grateful today we have that team in place at HCT.
What does HCT’s 5 year anniversary mean to you?
The commitment our team shares to providing genuine hospitality and creating extraordinary experiences for the extraordinary people in our community is a differentiator in our industry. I’m just proud to be part of the work we are doing at HCT. Our 5th Birthday is a testament to the work of our team and really demonstrates what the next five years will look like for Hot Chicken Takeover.
Our customers, too, have curated the HCT experience from the beginning. We started as this random pop-up concept, and leaned heavily on what we were hearing from our guests. What they loved and what they wanted to see us change. Because of such engaged customers, our business has matured really quickly. Our customers believed in what we were building – we wouldn’t be here without all their grace and support.
What does HCT look like 5 years from now?
Our mission is clear now – simply put, we want to keep creating extraordinary experiences for extraordinary people. We want to exponentially increase the number of people who join our HCT community by creating more jobs and expanding our reach throughout the Midwest.
What is your craziest off-menu creation?
In Olde Towne, we used to take a slice of our bread and fill it up with Ma’s Mac, topping it off with either our spice blend or House Ranch. We called them “Mac Tacos”, mostly used to help us carbo load and power through big days.
What inspires you?
I get a lot of inspiration from the time I spend with our team. Mostly the conversations that don’t involve work, but rather the experiences they have had previously or outside the business. I get that same kind of juice when sharing moments with our guests in our restaurants, too. They all just amplify my enthusiasm and commitment to HCT.
Why Columbus?
Columbus has been my home for my entire entrepreneurial life. I like to think we’re a city committed to making positive things happen. HCT is a great example of that. I had a sliver of an idea, started talking to a few people openly about my vision for Hot Chicken Takeover and without hesitation they came in with resources and support. I want to carry on that tradition and pay that spirit forward.
How do you spend your time outside of HCT?
I spend a lot of time with my family and on a bike (I have a few from our community partner roll:). I enjoy spending time on trails — backpacking, hiking, mountain biking, being outside in the woods. It’s valuable time to rejuvenate and I gain a lot of creativity and positive energy.
To learn more about the Hot Chicken Takeover story, read here.