Ron E. is a Dallas fi reman and former co-owner of Firehouse Wings, an upscale wings restaurant in Coppell, Texas.
Q1. Where did your inspiration for FHW come from?
Ron: I come from a family of great cooks. It’s in my DNA. As a fi reman you sometimes have a lot of time on your hands.It’s not unusual for someone to cook an entire meal at the station. I was the guy who was always trying different things.One day I cooked some of my wings, made some of my sauces and the rest is history.
Q2. What happened to FHW?
Ron: After less than a year it died. It was a great concept, a very franchisable concept but you can’t build a business on a concept alone. We were undercapitalized fi nancially as well as with human resources. I wasn’t seeing my wife and kids as much as I wanted; it was rough. And I can’t say this enough: location, location, location. We were in a great AREA but not a great LOCATION. What I mean by that is that it’s not enough to be in an area where there’s a lot of money or a school or whatever; it has to be relatively easy to get to you.
Q3: What lemonade have you made from those lemons?
Ron: I had to step away from it for a while. It was hard to let it go. For a long time I saw myself as a failure. Then I started realizing all that I’d gained through the experience. And while we’re not running the actual store any longer, I’ve got some exciting things happening with my sauces.
Q4: So, there was a light at the end of the tunnel after all?
Ron: Absolutely. As an entrepreneur you have to fi nd that light. It’s always there. Sometimes it’s hard to
see it when you’re covered in bills and invoices but it’s always there. I believe God doesn’t
give us more than we can handle, so even in my darkest days, I knew there was a
silver lining. And it’s true: the darkest part of the night is right before sunrise.
Q5: What can collegepreneurs learn from your journey?
Ron: Get great partners. Be sure you have a solid contingency
plan. Work the numbers and then work ‘em some more. Do
your homework, feasibility studies, market research and
don’t be afraid to wait if you think the time’s not right to start
your business.
