Blog

  • Marco’s Pizza People Prove to Be an Unstoppable Force Opens 900th Location

    Marco’s Pizza’s People Prove to Be an Unstoppable Force – A Story of Resiliency, Collaboration, and Community Engagement Fuels Marco’s Pizza to 900-Units

    Marco’s Pizza has announced the opening of its 900th location in Bayamόn Puerto Rico. Due to the tenacity, faith, and sheer determination to come together after the devastation of Hurricane Maria last year, the brand is persevering and bringing new business to the community as it rebuilds.

    As thousands of homes and business were destroyed, the island of Puerto Rico was left in a state of disaster, resulting in the community looking to each other for support. Families and business owners like Marco’s Pizza franchisee, Edgardo Beniquez Santiago, created safe havens for the community offering food, shelter, and phones to contact loved ones, and even a place for families to keep cool. Through determination and collaboration, Marco’s Pizza and the Puerto Rico team were able to reopen all six locations and continue the development of others – including the 900th milestone, which opened April 6, aiding in the rebuilding of San Juan.

    “Marco’s is only as successful as the people behind the brand. What Edgardo and his team were able to accomplish is a true testament to the stellar group of individuals working to accelerate our success in becoming a premier community-oriented company,” said Tony Libardi, president of Marco’s Pizza. “Our leadership team has built a culture of accountability vital to our growth. As we move forward, we plan to enhance this culture and encourage collaboration, unity, and trust among our franchisees, employees, and guests. When everyone grows together, we become an unstoppable force.”

    As Marco’s continues its strategic journey to 1,000 units, its energies will focus on building future leaders at all levels of the organization. By curating an atmosphere that is open where people listen, challenge, and build each other up, Marco’s is inspired to personally choose to rise above the circumstances and demonstrate what’s necessary to achieve results. This fierce DNA of the brand is driving it to achieve new heights as it rapidly expands its footprint around the globe.

    GET PAID FASTER FROM CLIENTS

    As the only national franchise chain founded by a native Italian, Marco’s Pizza has carved out a niche in the industry as the expert in authentic Italian pizza, known for its fresh dough made daily onsite, a proprietary cheese blend that is fresh, never-frozen, and a secret original pizza sauce recipe from its founder Pat Giammarco. Marco’s commitment to its people and authenticity will drive its long-term growth as the brand aims to have 1,500 locations open by 2020.

    For more information on Marco’s Pizza franchising opportunities, visit www.marcosfranchising.com or call 800-836-2074.

    ABOUT MARCO’S PIZZA:

    Headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, Marco’s Pizza is one of the fastest-growing pizza companies in the United States. Marco’s was founded in 1978 by Italian-born Pasquale (“Pat”) Giammarco and thrives by making authentic Italian Pizza with fresh ingredients. The company has grown from its roots as a beloved Ohio brand to operate 900 stores in over 35 states and in three countries. Most recently, Marco’s Pizza was ranked No.25 on Entrepreneur’s 2018 Franchise 500 ranking. Other recent accolades include being named “America’s Favorite Pizza Company” according to 2017 Market Force QSR Consumer Research: Pizza Sector, No. 8 on the Military Times Best: Franchises 2018 list, and landing No. 3 fastest-growing U.S. chain on the Nation’s Restaurant News Top 100 report for 2017. To inquire about franchise opportunities with Marco’s Pizza, visit marcosfranchising.com.

    Check out our entertainment site Rffocus.org

  • Starbucks Arrests of Patrons, Racist or Homeless Problem

    Starbucks Arrests of Patrons, Racist or Homeless Problem? – Starbucks has become a haven in many cities for the homeless population

    starbucks arrests

    The Starbucks arrests of two black patrons are the result of a much bigger problem for the corporation that needs to be addressed. Recently, two black men were sitting at a table in the establishment and asked to use the bathroom (code) the barista refused to give him the code and told him that bathroom use is for paying customers only. After that, the barista asked him and his guest to leave and he refused. The barista told him he (or she) was going to call the police and he allegedly told the barista “Go ahead, call the police.” There was probably much more dialogue that is missing but this is the gist of it. This is also one of the situations that you would have to ask yourself, as a black man, how a black man thinks he is going to win? Without question, lawyers are on these two like white on rice right now to start a lawsuit that will probably end up in a settlement thanks to the white patron who defended them on the tape as evidence.

    black-owned, black black entrepreneurs, gig, side hustles

    In many states coming into a store and not buying anything is considered loitering which probably led to the altercation and the Starbucks arrests. But for Starbucks, there is a bigger problem. Starbucks has become a haven in many cities for the homeless population and that is a very sensitive issue. Starbucks arrests can’t be something that happens daily even though many of the stores have people who come in and don’t buy anything. It appears the corporation is in a tether. They can’t appear to be mean to the homeless by asking them to leave and not use their facilities but they also have a business and a brand to keep up with. Who can blame the hardworking employees for being frustrated with having to repeatedly clean the bathrooms?

    The CEO made a statement after the Starbucks arrests on twitter. “We regret that our practices and training led to the reprehensible outcome at our Philadelphia store. We’re taking immediate action to learn from this and be better.” A statement from CEO Kevin Johnson: and the police chief in Philly, Richard Ross, also responded about the Starbucks arrests stating: “As an African-American male, I am very aware of implicit bias; we are committed to fair and unbiased policing,” he said. But he added, “If a business calls and they say that ‘someone is here that I no longer wish to be in my business,’” the officers have “a legal obligation to carry out their duties and they did just that.” Finally, the mayor of Philadelphia, Jim Kenney, has since ordered the city’s Commission on Human Relations to review Starbucks’ policy.

    Real Estate Developers or Contractors?

    black-owned, black black entrepreneurs, gig, side hustles

    This situation involving the Starbucks arrests is unfortunate because the men were black and it’s easy to assume it was racial and the men could have indeed been targeted. They said they were in Starbucks for a meeting and that they are real estate developers. I’m a real estate agent, I’ve never seen developers meet in sweats like this. This is not to say they are not developers but this is odd. Perhaps they are contractors?  In addition, he could have simply told the barista they were waiting for a friend and they planned on buying something when he asked for the code.

    I use a Starbucks in LA to get work done and can honestly say that if I am there working for two hours, at least 100 people come in from off the street, of all colors and incomes, and ask for the code to use the bathroom. The code box is put there for a reason, Starbucks is policing their bathrooms and they have a right to do that. The employees just give them the code, it’s probably a lot easier than causing a scene. I’ve seen a LOT of homeless people go in there and take their luggage to bathe and others just randomly using the bathroom without buying coffee. I’ve also seen homeless people and mentally ill people ask customers for money and cause problems. When any business allows anyone to use their bathroom, the bathrooms are often left disgusting and the employees have to keep cleaning them and it is unfair to paying customers, the employees, AND the business.

    These are mostly kids working in Starbucks and yes there are a LOT of people who come in there to charge their phones and don’t buy anything too but the bathroom issue and the charging issue is a HUGE problem for the entire corporation and the customers who want to use the facility for meetings and work. The only reason Starbucks has probably not done more about the problem is that most of their customers are in and out during peak hours and they have a drive-thru at many locations which helps the paying customers.

    10 WAYS TO GET PAID FASTER FROM CLIENTS

    Starbucks Arrests: Possessive Starbucks Customers

    There is another Starbucks in Studio City, CA where the people who come in there every day and BUY coffee have gotten so possessive they will tell you “That’s my seat” when they come in and they bring their desktop (not laptop) computers and lounge chairs to sit around like they are in their backyard or home office. I’m not sure how Coffee Bean and other coffee shops avoid this problem but Starbucks has a HUGE problem on their hands and they have to address it. People ARE taking advantage of the business from ALL walks of life. I’ve seen homeless people come in and have their luggage stashed next to them while they sleep and Starbucks doesn’t say anything.

    The Need is for More Public Bathroom Facilities

    At the end of the day, it’s up to the city to have more public facilities as bathrooms but once again, people will take advantage and how can this be policed.

    As a Business Owner, what would you do?

    Out of curiosity, If you owned a coffee shop and people constantly came in off the street to mess up your bathroom and use the toilet paper and other supplies along with using your electricity to charge their phones AND took up your table space while people who have purchased coffee stand there with no place to sit, what would you do?

  • Small Business Tip: Depression Causing Lack of Motivation?

    work from home
    The Life of an Entrepreneur – smooth sailing but watch out for the cliffs. Photo by Kevin Ross

    Small Business Tips: Don’t work from home!

    Don’t work from home, why? Entrepreneurs are in a class by ourselves. We go against the grain. When everyone else is working we’re sleeping and when everyone else is sleeping … well, we’re working! Whenever you go against the grain, you place yourself in the minority and it can anything from challenging to incredibly frustrating. Since there are so few of us who live in this existence, it can also be lonely, and depressing. In general, most people fail to understand the extremely complicated lives of an black entrepreneur. I’m not so sure that even WE understand it.

    We do not sit around all day waiting for a windfall of money while we do no work. If anything we work HARDER than someone with a 9 to 5, albeit we actually LOVE what we do so putting in the extra work is no work at all.

    Entrepreneur Challenge: Don’t work from Home

    Living this existence can eventually take its toll on you and make you depressed amongst other things. Perhaps not depressed in the clinical sense (or maybe) but more depressed in the “I’m missing out” sense. We have a hard time slowing down and at the same time catching up. Entrepreneurs are addicted to what we do: if we love what we do we have to be addicted because it takes an incredible level of commitment and passion. I know “addiction” is a strong word but I have seen people who are addicted to the gym. You can only work out so much but I’ve seen people who stay in the gym daily for hours on end. We focus on the bad addictions but there are many variants.

    Once we become addicted, and it becomes our drug of choice, people start to see a side of us that we may not be fully aware  Sometimes we are out of control and don’t know it. People say things like “You work too much” or “You don’t have fun in your life” (my own mother told me that and she was right). We are more than aware that this is nonstop and the minute you take care of one thing, something that you took care of a week before needs your attention again.

    Playing so many roles, constantly hiring and firing people (who misrepresent themselves as qualified) and trying to do sales and collections amongst the millions of other things that we do can not only be daunting, it can take a toll on you and your physical and mental health.

    Successful Small Business Owner’s Don’t work from Home all the time.

    By the time we get done working, especially if we work from home, which I am STRONGLY against, we want a “treat” and that’s usually something that we will pay for dearly later, too much bad food, too many drinks at happy hour etc.

    Several black entrepreneurs that I know work hard all day then go out to get something horrible to eat. One of my closest friends developed gout and another one got Diabetes from this habit.  It is true that you become dire in the need for human connection and life when you put in those hours. We are living in our own heads on a consistent basis. Make sure you open the windows and let fresh air in your life.

    Figure out a way to work in concert with the rest of the world. Home is a space that should be used to relax not work. So you have to work AWAY from home otherwise something else will become your place to relax and that’s where the trouble starts.

    work from home
    There are some great places to work outside the house or apartment, find them. Photo by Kevin Ross

    Don’t work from Home All the time.

    I absolutely love the convenience of being able to go out during the day and going to the grocery store or to a retail store and no one is there I’m sure you’ve experienced the same thing if you work from home. No lines, no kids running around no drama. You get very used to it very quickly and when you are in the store during the regular hours let’s say after 5, it becomes more frustrating and draining and harder to adapt.

    12 REASONS YOU SHOULD NEVER HIRE FRIENDS

    You created a new grain and now you’re going against it. The best solution is to create a flow. this means setting up a schedule, a to-do list each day, with activities in advance in order to get yourself used to it. I have often found that working from home made me feel very isolated and depressed.

    I would constantly get sleepy after a couple of hours and the next thing I knew I would take a nap, and the day was shot. I was not motivated to get out after that and go WITH the grain of the after 5 crowds, so I gained a tremendous amount of weight and lost a tremendous amount of creative time. If you find yourself stuck, unravel and change your schedule to enjoy life as an black entrepreneur more. Once you find your balance, you will be able to be more productive.

    Check out our entertainment site Rffocus.org

  • Tips for Building Client Relationships and Business Sales

    client relationships, biztipper.com
    Photo by Kevin Ross

    Client Relationships

    How much more of an advantage would it be if you offered a long-term deal? Business owners NEED that income each month to level operating expenses and it’s a hardcore unnecessary hustle to keep trying to do one-offs. You are killing yourself in sales, annoying your client base and wasting time when you could be doing other things like finding clients.

    Business Sales

    You have to be able to get up and get out and meet your client and potential clients where they are. I would suggest going to their offices or taking them out to lunch. The worst thing that you could do is meet them at an event and try to have a conversation about business support there. They are already being bombarded by everyone else that is not a good idea you need one-on-one.

    Think “upsell” as in long-term sales instead of short-term sales because short-term sales mean short-term success. If a client tells you they don’t have any budget what that means usually is (translated) is they don’t see the value and once you repeatedly call them for another one off, you will start to look desperate and pitiful. You MUST value your business and what you have to offer if you expect others to do the same.

    Business Value

    Keep in mind, if a client is successful they always have the budget but they don’t always see the value. if you constantly get “Sorry, we’re out of a budget” that means that several customers don’t see the value and that’s bad news, they are watching each other and seeing which ones support you. Having a multitude of clients is ALWAYS best. It’s better for THEM to be left out and need YOU than for YOU to be left out and need them. When they need you, you, the ball is in your court.

    Perhaps, if you are not having success in selling your product, it’s time to reevaluate your business. I call it “Cleaning up the house” make sure that you’re up to date or even ahead of the field you are in and what you’re delivering and try your BEST to over-deliver.

    Be careful of discounts, people are addicted to them and once you offer them you’ll never stop. I call that “feeding the stray cat.” Believe in yourself and what you do because you wear the confidence of your business like a shirt. Potential clients can see it and feel it.

    Successful black entrepreneurs

    Successful small business should always have clients coming and wanting to buy what you sell. My best in business

  • The Business Association’s “Salute to Women” Inbox x

    black owned, black black entrepreneurs, gig, side hustles

    (Los Angeles, CA) – The Business Association (BBA), headquartered in Southern California and the oldest active ethnic business organization in the State of California, will host its annual Salute to Women Business Conference/Expo and Awards Luncheon on Saturday, March 24, 2018 @ 12 Noon at The L.A. Hotel 333 S. Figueroa St, Los Angeles, California.

    The National Women’s History Month’s 2018 theme is “Nevertheless She Persisted”. The BBA will embrace the national theme while acknowledging the intersecting forms of discrimination women have faced, and continue to face, throughout American history. Women have always worked and contributed, but often their work has been undervalued and under-compensated, too often. The BBA will celebrate women who have fought and continue to fight discrimination at all levels and in all forms.

    Among the Honorees is Ozie B. Gonzaque, receiving the “Lifetime Achievement Award”, Jacque Bee, receiving “Nevertheless, She Persisted”, Alisha White Madison, receiving the “Entrepreneur Excellence Award”, Edna Sims, receiving the, “Excellence In Media Services Award”, Vivian Bowers, receiving the “Outstanding Community Based Business Award”, and Clarisa Howard, receiving the, “President’s Award”

    Grumman will sponsor a workshop for young ladies 13-18 years old titled “Role Models for Success”, exposing them to life skills information entitled. For more information or to participate as a sponsor or attendee, call (323) 291-9334 or visit bbala.org

    Tickets to the Salute to Women Business Conference/Expo and Awards Luncheon is $65, Here’s the link to purchase tickets: suiteevents.com/bba2018stbw

  • Wegmans Grocery Ranked #2 in New Study for 2018

    Wegmans Poll

    Wegmans Poll  – Ranked #2 in the 2018 Harris Poll Reputation Quotient Study®

    Wegmans Food Markets, a family-owned supermarket chain with 95 stores in the northeast and mid-Atlantic region, was ranked #2 for corporate reputation among the 100 most visible companies, according to the 2018 Harris Poll Reputation Quotient® (RQ) study.

    “We are so thankful for our employees, who make it possible for Wegmans to be recognized in this way,” says Colleen Wegman. “They make us proud and very grateful for the reputation they have earned on our behalf.”

    The Annual RQ study begins with a Nomination Phase which is used to identify 100 companies with the most “visible” reputations according to the general public. The final list of the 100 most visible companies in the U.S. is measured in the RQ Ratings Section. This year’s rating interviews took place online between December 11 and January 12, 2018 among 25,800 U.S. adults to obtain an average of approximately 300 ratings per company.

    Wegman’s Poll

    Six dimensions are measured: Social Responsibility, Emotional Appeal, Products and Services, Vision and Leadership, Financial Performance and Workplace Environment.

    Wegmans ranked #1 for Workplace Environment and was the only company to rank in the top 5 for all six dimensions. Wegmans was also one of only 10 companies to score an ‘excellent’ rating (80+) for social responsibility, ranking #2 in that dimension with a score of 82.3.

    WEGMANS GROCERY STORY REVIEW

    “The RQ® 2018 study reveals that consumers are increasingly interested in what a company stands for, how they engage with society and their community,” said The Harris Poll CEO, John Gerzema. “In this new world, reputation is a verb.”

  • Payroll Services to Consider for Your Business

    Payroll Services

    Payroll Services to save time and money with your business

    Businesses everywhere, big and small, are turning to automated, online services to streamline their payroll systems.

    As we all know, a worker is worth his wages. And, a worker is also worth a reliable system that delivers their paycheck on time—every time. Streamlining your company’s payroll system can ensure that your employees are well taken care of. The important thing is to find the exact payroll service that is right for your business.

    Here are 3 top payroll services to consider:

    Intuit (Quickbooks)

    This user-friendly, online system is one of the most common payroll services on the market. With a simple process for managing employee hours and earnings, Intuit promises to make “payday effortless.” Easily integrated with Quickbooks online, this platform offers 3 plans—Basic, Enhanced, and Full Service—each with their own benefits according to the size of your business and its needs. Some of the Full-Service features include:

    • 24-hour direct deposit and free printed checks
    • Fast, unlimited payroll runs
    • Payroll taxes are done for you
    • Phone, chat, and email support, including free year-end help

    With Intuit’s step-by-step tutorials, you can get started quickly and easily with Intuit Payroll today.

    Gusto

    According to their site, nine out of ten people claim that Gusto is easier to use than other payroll solutions. With slogans like Setup is a snap, and Make payroll a breeze, Gusto might be the best option if you’re looking for a straightforward start-up.

    Gusto offers an on-site demo of their services and a pricing FAQ page, making their program as effortless as possible. Here are some of the features Gusto provides:

    • Automated payroll and tax filings
    • Unlimited number of payrolls with varied pay rates
    • Online employee setup with an easy-access dashboard

    Given its user-friendly interface, Gusto may be just the payroll service your growing company needs. Though it’s the newest program on our list, it has risen to the top in popularity and is continuing to gain momentum in the world of business.

    Paychex

    Founded in 1971, and boasting more than 600,000 businesses nation-wide, Paychex may be your most trusted solution for payroll services. With 4 packages to choose from, their services range from basic payroll options to employee screening and administration assistance. Some of their features include:

    • Cloud-based online platform
    • Intuitive interface
    • Built-in safeguards
    • Payroll analytics
    • Free mobile app

    Another cool feature of Paychex is their extensive collection of article resources. These articles cover not only potential payroll issues but many other facets of business as well. Overall, Paychex does a great job of providing business resources you can rely on.

    The bottom line is, no matter which payroll service you choose for your business, your employees deserve the most reliable payment system you can afford. Truly, a worker is worth his wages, and automating the payroll process is well-worth the investment.

  • Small Business Loan: The More That You Try to Do By Yourself, The Less You Get Done

    black-owned, black black entrepreneurs, gig, side hustles

    Most of the time, it all boils down to money but sometimes it’s also about being in control – to a fault

    As black entrepreneurs, we know that it’s easier to do things when we do them ourselves, but is it? The answer is HELL NO. It’s actually much harder and it’s continuously set you back. It’s like having your foot on the gas with your car on a platform with no wheels.

    We must get used to the fact that we do not know everything and we cannot DO everything. This comes from us trying repeatedly to hire people who disappoint us. The whole process of hiring and training and the minute you think that you can breathe, things go awry. I SO know that frustration. Granted everyone will not be as interested in our businesses as we will but we cannot kill ourselves in the process.

    If it’s a money issue, (or a lack thereof) perhaps it’s time to consider getting a small business loan to take you to the next level. You have to be very careful about how you spend the money so planning is paramount. You can check

    The more you try to do yourself the less that will get done and you won’t grow. Ask yourself if you could be satisfied with that working 16 to 18 hour days and not making any progress. We are all very familiar with what I like to call “the circle” that is where you have a goal to do something or get something accomplished and in the process, one thing pops up that turns into 10 other things, that turn into 10 other things that turn into 20 other things.  I’m absolutely sure you know what I’m talking about it happens every day and before you know it, the day is gone another wasted day of not getting our goals accomplished.

    At some point, you have to ask yourself do you want to be a band member or a conductor. if you’re going to have a successful business you’re going to have to be a conductor. After a couple of years, you should know how to run your business with your hands tied behind your back. The trick is to get somebody else to do it while you focus on the other things like hiring, sales, invoices, contracts, events and conferences, family and the list goes on and on. As stated, we cannot do everything ourselves. do yourself a favor, and get the help that you need. No business is worth dying over.

  • From Pitbull Manager to Culinary Sensation

    From Pitbull Manager to Culinary Sensation: Discover the World-Famous House of Mac

    Former Pitbull Manager Strikes Up His own Success with Eatery

    One of the most delectable dishes derived from the black community is mac and cheese and here is a man who came up with various mac with cheese recipes to start his own business.

    Derrick Turton once worked for the rapper Pitbull as his manager accompanying Pitbull in concerts and on the road. He decided to start his own business with a mac and cheese truck that has now grown into a bigger business.

    After two years of phenomenal food truck success, die-hard celebrity fans, and over 31K Instagram followers, the World Famous House of Mac opens its first-ever free-standing restaurant in South Beach, Miami on Friday, Dec. 2nd.

    Known for their unique spin on traditional cuisine, owner Derrick Turton, also known as “Chef Teach”, whips up succulent delights like jerk salmon pasta, fried chicken & pumpkin spice waffles, and his signature World Famous Mac & Cheese.

    Since World Famous House of Mac’s inception in 2015, Teach could be spotted in his mobile food truck bearing his trademark logo, delivering his irresistible dishes at the Wynwood Yard in South Florida. 

    The mac and cheese-centric eatery took Miami’s dining scene to exciting new heights as fans lined around for blocks to sample the mouthwatering mixed-style Caribbean soul food. His elaborate Caribbean flair has enticed locals and celebrities alike to claim Chef Teach as their “go-to guy” for catering events.

    Teach attended culinary school in 1998, but began his professional career in the music industry – he was Pitbull’s Manager for more than 13 years while working alongside other hip-hop royalty such as A$AP Rocky and Yo Gotti.

    During his time in the music industry, Teach developed friendships with artists such as N.O.R.E. and Fat Joe in and out of the studio. Next thing you know, he often found himself cooking amazing dishes for his friends.

    After devouring Teach’s decadent variations of mac and cheese and discovering his unsurpassed culinary talent, friends like Bun B encouraged Teach to “take the cooking thing more seriously.”

    Bun B convinced Teach to prepare some of his signature dishes for his guests and observe their reactions, just to show Teach how good he really was.

    Then after his father’s passing in 2013, Teach felt an immense urge to do something meaningful with his life, inspiring him to take his friends’ advice, circle back to his culinary roots, and build his legacy as “Chef Teach.”

    In honor of his beloved father, Teach designed a caricature of his father’s face, which is now the renowned World Famous Mac and Cheese logo.

    Celebrities like Rick Ross, Serena Williams, NORE, Yo Gatti, Fat Joe, and A$AP Mob are huge fans of Chef Teach’s scrumptious dishes. The coolest recognition yet? According to Teach himself, the Venus and Serena Williams Invitational were amongst his biggest and most prestigious events thus far.

    World Famous House of Mac’s top picks includes the World-Famous Five Cheese Truffle Mac, pizza mac, lobster mac, and the buttermilk fried chicken with waffles. With pescatarian, vegetarian and vegan options, everyone can find delicious dishes to devour.

    Located in the heart of South Beach at 1216 Washington Ave in Miami Beach, World Famous House of Mac is an upbeat restaurant designed with rich, rustic wood treatments and oversized leather banquets, giving the space a relaxed speakeasy vibe with vintage, industrial flair.

    The ambiance and chef-driven comfort food places World Famous House of Mac among Miami’s most popular dining spots.

  • From Pitbull Manager to Culinary Sensation: Discover the World-Famous House of Mac

    black-owned, black black entrepreneurs, gig, side hustles

    Former Pitbull Manager Strikes Up His own Success with Eatery

    One of the most delectable dishes derived from the black community is mac and cheese and here is a man who came up with various mac with cheese recipes to start his own business.

    Derrick Turton once worked for the rapper Pitbull as his manager accompanying Pitbull in concerts and on the road. He decided to start his own business with a mac and cheese truck that has now grown into a bigger business.

    After two years of phenomenal food truck success, die-hard celebrity fans, and over 31K Instagram followers, the World Famous House of Mac opens its first-ever free-standing restaurant in South Beach, Miami on Friday, Dec. 2nd.

    Known for their unique spin on traditional cuisine, owner Derrick Turton, also known as “Chef Teach”, whips up succulent delights like jerk salmon pasta, fried chicken & pumpkin spice waffles, and his signature World Famous Mac & Cheese.

    Since World Famous House of Mac’s inception in 2015, Teach could be spotted in his mobile food truck bearing his trademark logo, delivering his irresistible dishes at the Wynwood Yard in South Florida. 

    The mac and cheese-centric eatery took Miami’s dining scene to exciting new heights as fans lined around for blocks to sample the mouthwatering mixed-style Caribbean soul food. His elaborate Caribbean flair has enticed locals and celebrities alike to claim Chef Teach as their “go-to guy” for catering events.

    Teach attended culinary school in 1998, but began his professional career in the music industry – he was Pitbull’s Manager for more than 13 years while working alongside other hip-hop royalty such as A$AP Rocky and Yo Gotti.

    During his time in the music industry, Teach developed friendships with artists such as N.O.R.E. and Fat Joe in and out of the studio. Next thing you know, he often found himself cooking amazing dishes for his friends.

    After devouring Teach’s decadent variations of mac and cheese and discovering his unsurpassed culinary talent, friends like Bun B encouraged Teach to “take the cooking thing more seriously.”

    Bun B convinced Teach to prepare some of his signature dishes for his guests and observe their reactions, just to show Teach how good he really was.

    Then after his father’s passing in 2013, Teach felt an immense urge to do something meaningful with his life, inspiring him to take his friends’ advice, circle back to his culinary roots, and build his legacy as “Chef Teach.”

    In honor of his beloved father, Teach designed a caricature of his father’s face, which is now the renowned World Famous Mac and Cheese logo.

    Celebrities like Rick Ross, Serena Williams, NORE, Yo Gatti, Fat Joe, and A$AP Mob are huge fans of Chef Teach’s scrumptious dishes. The coolest recognition yet? According to Teach himself, the Venus and Serena Williams Invitational were amongst his biggest and most prestigious events thus far.

    World Famous House of Mac’s top picks includes the World-Famous Five Cheese Truffle Mac, pizza mac, lobster mac, and the buttermilk fried chicken with waffles. With pescatarian, vegetarian and vegan options, everyone can find delicious dishes to devour.

    Located in the heart of South Beach at 1216 Washington Ave in Miami Beach, World Famous House of Mac is an upbeat restaurant designed with rich, rustic wood treatments and oversized leather banquets, giving the space a relaxed speakeasy vibe with vintage, industrial flair.

    The ambiance and chef-driven comfort food places World Famous House of Mac among Miami’s most popular dining spots.