Meet Jose Ramirez, the dynamic General Manager at Rachel’s Kitchen’s Green Valley location in Henderson, NV. Jose’s journey with Rachel’s Kitchen began in 2011, and through hard work and dedication, he climbed the ranks from cook to kitchen manager, and ultimately to his current role as general manager in 2018. Jose, a father of three, leads a team of 25 employees and oversees a bustling kitchen with four cooks. Let’s dive into a day in his life and learn more about his experiences and insights.
A Day in the Life of a General Manager
Sitting down with Jose, (as a robot zooms by) it’s clear that no two days are alike. “Every day is a different day,” he shares. “For example, we had 700 meals to prepare for an event for the Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. I got to our location at 3:00 AM to work with our staff to prepare the meals. This took three hours, and we delivered on time! The customer was really pleased, and I was proud of my team for executing quickly.”
The Surprising Realities of Being a GM
When asked about the most surprising aspect of his role, Jose reveals, “Dealing with so many different personalities! Sometimes I am our employees’ therapist; sometimes I am their doctor. As GM, I need to set an example and know what motivates my employees to deliver a strong experience for every single customer.”
Favorite Part of the Job at Rachel’s Kitchen
Jose’s passion for his work shines through as he talks about his favorite part of the job. “I love working with our customers and our employees! For example, yesterday, we had a customer make an online catering order for pick-up at 8:30 AM. The customer arrived at 7:55 AM, earlier than expected. Given the store was closed, we went the extra mile to deliver her order earlier than expected.”
Memorable Moments at Rachel’s Kitchen
One particularly memorable day stands out for Jose. “One time, our POS system went down, creating a lot of chaos. On that same day, a cook called in sick. Days like this are what I live for. With a little patience, communication, and firm decisions, we made it through; but I had to scramble! We immediately went to paper orders, and I went into the kitchen and helped on the line until a replacement cook came in. This was a memorable day for me for sure!”
Dream Dish Creation
If given the chance to create any dish for the restaurant menu, Jose enthusiastically says, “It would be a mango ice smoothie! I love mango flavor. My favorite menu items are the Chicken Caesar Salad, followed by the breakfast burrito and our smoked turkey avocado sandwich. All are so delicious!”
Advice for Aspiring General Managers
Jose offers valuable advice for those aspiring to be general managers in the restaurant industry. “It’s important to understand your food costs and optimize accordingly. Quality vs. Speed is key. The balance between delivering customers great quality food quickly is harder than it sounds, so being focused on this is truly important. The other aspect is being able to manage people. You must understand what makes people tick. As GM, I must be consistent and fair and manage by example. For instance, I had one employee who was originally very shy. I worked with this employee to overcome shyness by working the front of the house for several weeks. Over time, this shyness went away. Additionally, having a great management and leadership team is crucial. Working for Debbie Roxarzade has been amazing; she’s a great boss, super supportive and this helps a lot.”
What’s Next for Jose?
Exciting times are ahead for Jose as Rachel’s Kitchen is launching a new location in Frisco, TX. “I should be out that way soon to help support the location launch and training staff. I’m really looking forward to that.”
Jose Ramirez’s dedication, leadership, and passion for his role at Rachel’s Kitchen are truly inspiring. His commitment to his team and customers ensures that every visit to Rachel’s Kitchen is a memorable experience.
