It’s not always that you get to see a business idea taking over the world by storm. There’s a reason that the entrepreneur world has limited success stories. But some manage to make people sit up and take notice. The rise of Chicken And Pickle is one such story.
With Chicken N Pickle, Dave Johnson proved to the world that once he sets his mind on something, there’s no turning back.
How It All Began For Chicken N Pickle
Interestingly, if you go back to the launch of the brand, you will realize that Johnson actually used his mentor Al Hageman’s problem-solving approach to find his way. He found the first site for the restaurant at a pretty low cost.
How? He stumbled upon a location in North Kansas City that the natives wanted revitalized. Hence, he zeroed in on a warehouse on Burlington Street that he demolished to establish the first Chicken N Pickle branch.
His idea and approach were met with ridicule. In fact, his food partner, Bill Crooks, wasn’t really keen on the idea. He felt the site wasn’t suitable, and the project would go under. But this wasn’t enough to deter Johnson. After all, he had already decided on the project. And once an idea forms in his head, he pursues it to the end. Additionally, he didn’t really have to worry about losing capital. He had enough.
Needless to say, things worked out incredibly well in his favor. Chicken N Pickle soon became the “it” spot where people come at least two or three times a week. Even Johnson couldn’t have envisioned how popular the place would become. And not just financially.
It did not take long for the revenue of Chicken N Pickle to increase exponentially. And there has been no stopping the restaurant as it continues to open one branch after another.
The Secret to Success
Why do you think Chicken N Pickle is so incredibly popular? Perhaps the answer lies in its versatility. Dave Johnson made sure that his business does not confine to any norms.
There’s so much to discover beyond a restaurant and bar. There’s live music, outdoor yard games, indoor and outdoor pickleball courts, and so much more. It’s not really surprising that Chicken N Pickle attracts crowds from all over.
Johnson has worked hard to keep the atmosphere family-friendly. Hence, people of all ages come. The venue is also frequently used to host local charity fundraisers. This is the owner’s way of giving back to the community.
For instance, the venue was used to host the Volley Llama fundraiser for Noah’s Bandage Project. The fundraiser was to support cancer research and raised over $150,000.
And now, the brand is evolving into so much more. Dave Johnson has made sure that Chicken N Pickle changes and adjusts with time. Hence, the responsibility was handed over to the Populous design team. The aim is to incorporate visual and design elements into the brand. At the same time, interior design and overall architecture are being changed too.
Johnson intends to make sure that with Chicken N Pickle, people get the opportunity to spend time in a relaxing atmosphere filled with fun and friendship. With the new innovative design, he hopes the experience will improve even more for everyone concerned.
But the best part is, despite so many changes, Chicken N Pickle retains its core values. For instance, the brand still relies on area family farmers for its food sourcing.
A Lesson to Learn
It was not too long ago that Johnson established Chicken N Pickle in North Kansas City in 2016. And since then, it has continued to rise, reaching a point where it now welcomes over 700,000 visitors each year and is operating in six different locations.
Not only that but they announced three more locations under development. And there’s so much that these buildings feature. Indeed, there’s little you can complain about at Chicken N Pickle from the broad menu to the environment.
Up-and-coming entrepreneurs can learn a lot from this rising business. Johnson combined two ideas to come up with something innovative that contributed to his success. If you’re looking to start a business, look to Johnson’s business model as one way to begin.
If you want your business to grow exponentially, you have to look beyond the obvious. You have to figure out how to give your customers something unique that they hadn’t thought about before. Give a spin to a regular business idea and witness things growing beyond your imagination.
