About this episodeJulian shares his journey from managing New York real estate to opening 'See You Tomorrow' in Detroit, highlig…AI summary
Julian shares his journey from managing New York real estate to opening 'See You Tomorrow' in Detroit, highlighting the cultural and economic challenges of introducing progressive food options in a market accustomed to traditional, low-cost fare. The conversation details the operational hurdles of running a restaurant, including credit card fraud and post-pandemic labor shortages, while critiquing the local 'Detroit mindset' regarding health and consumer habits.
Key takeaways 6
Cultural Resistance to Innovation: Detroit consumers are deeply entrenched in traditional food habits (Coney Islands, gas station food), making it difficult for new, healthier concepts like vegan or raw food spots to succeed without significant education.
The 'Crossover' Mindset: Success requires adaptability and relaxation; Julian cites Snoop Dogg and Kevin Hart as examples of individuals who successfully evolved their public personas to seize new opportunities.
Economic Displacement of Small Business: Small businesses are squeezed by high minimum wages ($18/hr) while competing against large chains (Amazon) that benefited from government stimulus checks, creating an unfair competitive landscape.
Fraud Vulnerability in Direct-to-Consumer Models: Julian lost $5,000-$10,000 annually to credit card fraud when allowing direct website orders, forcing a shift to third-party delivery apps (DoorDash, GrubHub) despite their fees.
Regional Food Deserts: There is a stark contrast between Oakland County (across Eight Mile) and Wayne County neighborhoods, where access to fresh, high-quality ingredients is limited to specific areas or requires traveling to farm country.
Operational Strategy for Margins: To combat low margins and waste, Julian's restaurant uses a limited brunch menu and makes everything fresh-to-order, avoiding the waste associated with large, static menus.
Notable quotes 5AI-generated: wording and quote attribution may be wrong. Use the play link to verify.
“I think it's like I don't think they're interested in eating this food. It's not like the world is against Detroit. Detroit wants Coney Island, man.”
▶ 30:57Julian explains why progressive food options struggle in Detroit; the market demand is for traditional comfort food, not necessarily healthier alternatives.
“They made small businesses they're competing with people that were getting free money from the government. So you're having to pay money to the government. Yeah, with your taxes and then they take that tax money and become your competitor.”
▶ 29:47Julian critiques the economic environment post-pandemic where small businesses face higher labor costs while large corporations benefited from stimulus checks.
“If I put like if I took some plastic shavings and styrofoam and covered it with mustard and put it in a wrapper and sold it to somebody at Walmart for $3, they com they they'd be complaining about your meal like $17, man. I can eat this bowl of [ __ ] for $3.”
▶ 18:41Julian illustrates the distorted value perception of consumers who prioritize low price over quality and nutrition.
“Bye is just like... Bye. All right. Yeah. Talk to you. Y take care. You know. But I'll see you soon is like... a positive affirmation you're leaving out. Yeah. It it leads into uh a deeper connection.”
▶ 13:54Julian explains the origin of his business name 'See You Tomorrow' as a way to maintain positive connections with customers.
“Detroit is for it's was 85% black back in the day... compare that to New York. You got Puerto Ricans, you got Italians, you got black, you got Chinese, you got everybody having to rub up against each other and you and you just by residual, you get get a little something.”
▶ 37:37Julian contrasts the cultural diversity of New York with the segregation in Detroit as a factor in culinary innovation.
Chapters & Sections (29)▼
0:00Sharing Past Experiences and Life Lessonschapter3
0:00Nightclub Memories and Past Experiences
1:27Struggling with Personal Freedom and Balance
2:50Personal Reflections and Career Transition
4:39Recalling Past Nightlife Experiences in NYCchapter3
4:39Nightlife in New York City in the Early 2000s
6:26Celebrity Encounters and Personal Growth
9:04Comparison of Detroit and New York City
11:44Discussion about Sports and Talentchapter3
11:44Discussion about Sports and Talent
13:17Maintaining Family Relationships through Affirmations
14:43Restaurant Owner Discusses Business Success
16:00Fraudulent Online Orders and Restaurant Challengeschapter2
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