From hot dog cart to hospitality empire | How Danny Meyer, founder of Union Square Hospitality Group, became the greatest restaurateur NYC has ever seen
The Tony Robbins Channel
Tony Robbins
4.3 • 6.9K Ratings
🗓️ 2 September 2019
⏱️ 41 minutes
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Summary
As founder and CEO of Union Square Hospitality Group and Shake Shack, Danny Meyer has grown his empire to include some of New York's most beloved and acclaimed restaurants and cafes. Together, Danny's restaurants and team have won an unprecedented 28 James Beard Awards – the food industry's highest honor.
But it's not just great food that sets Danny's restaurants apart from the rest. It's what people experience and feel when they're eating there. In fact, Danny Meyer's story is a remarkable testament to the sheer power of hospitality.
In this episode, we explore the unique and celebrated culture of hospitality that Danny has created. He shares with Tony how he's managed to scale that culture across Union Square Hospitality Group, as well as Shake Shack, the fast-casual restaurant Danny founded back in 2001. With Danny at the helm, what started as a single hot dog cart in Madison Square Garden is now a publicly traded company with over 250 locations and 6,000 employees.
Listen closely, because Danny also shares the six qualities he looks for when hiring employees – from dishwashers to executive chefs – and what he thinks it takes for entrepreneurs across all industries to succeed in business.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | If you run a company whether it be as a first-time entrepreneur or a season CEO, you face challenges |
| 0:07.8 | every day and for many of you you're doing it alone. |
| 0:10.9 | For more than 40 years Tony Robbins has helped business owners like yourself understand |
| 0:14.6 | how successful your business could be, the level it's at today and how to close that |
| 0:18.9 | gap faster with fewer costly mistakes along the way. |
| 0:22.5 | And now he would like to underwrite the cost of a free one-to-one business strategy session |
| 0:26.0 | from one of his top business coaches, a $600 value. |
| 0:29.9 | In that session you'll learn how Tony's business systems can impact your company. |
| 0:34.1 | See what most people don't know is that when Tony acquires or starts a company he brings |
| 0:38.0 | in six systems that are proven to create monumental growth, up to 300% in the first year alone. |
| 0:44.5 | To learn more about these systems, to get business owner resources and to claim your free |
| 0:48.7 | session just go to TonyRobbins.com slash CEO. |
| 0:52.3 | TonyRobbins.com slash CEO. |
| 1:00.9 | Welcome to the first episode of the Masters of Business Season of the Tony Robbins Podcast. |
| 1:06.6 | If you've eaten out in New York City over the past couple of decades, chances are a restaurant |
| 1:11.2 | to our name Danny Meyer has had an impact on how your meal went. |
| 1:15.3 | As founder and CEO of Union Square Hospitality Group Danny Meyer has grown his empire to |
| 1:19.7 | include some of New York's most beloved and acclaimed restaurants and cafes, including |
| 1:23.7 | Grammar C. Tavern, The Modern and Blue Smoke. |
| 1:27.0 | Together, Danny's restaurants and team have won an unprecedented 28 James Beard Awards, |
| 1:32.5 | the food industry's highest honor. |
| 1:35.0 | But it's not just great food that sets Danny's restaurants apart from the rest. |
... |
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