Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Tony Hamati, chef at  Schmooze, located in Scottsdale, AZ.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Schmooze is a restaurant and event space with a full barista station, bar, and food service during the day with special and private events in the evening. This concept is like the Swiss Army knife of restaurants. You can come and enjoy the atmosphere with a cup of coffee, work from here on our fiber-optic Internet, and use our conference rooms. Then, at night we host events like rehearsal dinners, corporate engagements, weddings, baby showers, and more.

Our customers are a mix of young entrepreneurs that come to work from Schmooze, neighborhood residents, remote workers, and tourists coming from all over during the beautiful winter months here in Scottsdale, AZ where the restaurant is located. Tourists come to visit downtown Scottsdale to watch the MLB Spring Training games the Phoenix Open golf tournament, Barrett-Jackson car auction, and all the other wonderful attractions the area has to offer. We have loyal customers that have been supporting our business for years. I have been in Arizona since 1985 and I specialize in restaurants, as I am a chef by trait. I am in the people business, and I like to make people happy.

Tell us about yourself

What inspired me to be in this business was my passion for food, wine, and people. I strive to create good food with a beautiful atmosphere and community. What motivates me each day to do what I do is my passion for the restaurant business and my love for what I do. It is the good food and atmosphere surrounded by great people that make me love what I get to do each day. I am very lucky I never need to set an alarm to wake up and go to work.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Supporting local farmers and businesses in The Valley, giving back to our community, and building customer loyalty.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

Finding loyal employees with a passion for the work they perform.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

1) Find and retain good loyal employees.

2) You have to love what you do!!

3) Be loyal to your employees and customers.

Anything else you'd like to share?

I was fortunate to know what I wanted to do with my life from an early age. I first graduated from culinary school in Jordan and cooked for King Hussein. I was also extremely lucky that the king then sent me to further my culinary education at school in France. Then I came to the US in 1985 to continue my culinary passion opening my first restaurant in 1996.

Where can people find you and your business?

https://schmoozescottsdale.com

https://www.instagram.com/schmoozescottsdale/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/theschmooze/

https://twitter.com/theschmoozeaz

https://www.facebook.com/schmoozescottsdale/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.