Running an 800-employee restaurant enterprise with Mike Quillen

May 22, 2025

Mike Quillen is the president of three independent restaurant groups that include 15 locations in Florida and North Carolina, with some 800 employees. The list includes Gecko’s Grill & Pub, which opened its flagship restaurant in Sarasota in 1992. On this episode Mike talks about his early start in hospitality — it includes parking cars for a Siesta Key valet company while in high school. He also talks about overcoming challenges both big and small in the industry, the characteristics of the ideal restaurant manager and why being hands on is the right leadership approach for him.

3 Takeaways

(07:00) Controlled growth is a benefit
(09:50) Hospitality quotient - Does someone truly enjoy what they do?
(20:30) You need to be obsessed with your products and services

Timestamps

(00:00) This episode is sponsored by Kerkering Barberio!
(00:30) Introducing Mike Quillen, President, Gecko’s Hospitalty Group and Watershed Hospitalty Concepts
(03:50) Origin story of Mike and Mike, first business venture
(06:30) Early days of Gecko’s
(09:05) Mike’s hiring philosophy
(10:20) The State of hiring in hospitality
(12:15) Changing the culture of a restaurant
(13:15) Why have you decided to support the community?
(14:20) Mentors
(16:40) Dealing with setbacks
(18:50) What is coming in 2025?

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