Vickie Zambrano didn’t plan to open a restaurant. But one charcuterie reel, a pushy friend group, and a few bold decisions later—Curean was born. What started as a quick-service concept spiraled into a full-service Mediterranean hotspot with cocktails, couches, and a whole lot of chaos. Equal parts introvert and industry badass, Vickie breaks down how she built a culture-driven team, ignored traditional leadership BS, and leaned on her community when everything felt like too much. From printer meltdowns and espresso machine regrets to staff shakeups that unlocked real growth, her story is the entrepreneurial ride no one warns you about—but every founder will recognize. Say yes first. Figure it out later. And don’t forget to double-check the damn furniture specs
Key Takeaways:
1️⃣ You don’t have to have a plan—just the guts to say yes.
Vickie never dreamed of owning a restaurant, but bold moves (and a stubborn streak) turned a casual idea into a thriving business. Founders: you don’t need it all figured out—just get started.
2️⃣ Culture is your greatest asset—protect it like hell.
Hiring slow, firing fast, and leading with empathy helped Vickie build a loyal, culture-driven team that shows up when it counts. Respect beats fear every time.
3️⃣ Chaos is inevitable. Isolation is optional.
Printer breaks? Espresso fails? Staff drama? It all happens. What matters is having a ride-or-die community that rallies with you—not around you. Build your support system before you think you’ll need it.
Timestamps
00:00 Welcome to Hello Chaos
01:29 How a charcuterie reel turned into a full-blown restaurant
04:06 From zero plan to signing commercial leases
07:56 Ignoring advice, protecting culture, and firing fast
11:31 The team shakeup that changed everything
20:01 Leading with empathy (not fear)
24:39 The real weight of payroll and people
28:36 What’s next: expansion, events, and new concepts
29:19 Surprise: Vickie’s an introvert
32:17 Chaos, coping, and Tuesday escapes
38:46 Her advice: Say yes, do it scared, and don’t go it alone
40:35 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
42:16 Connecting with the Community
🔗 Learn more about Curean and connect with Vickie with the links below:
Website: https://cureangvl.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vickie-zambrano/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vickiezambrano_/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cureangvl/
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (00:00.483)
Well, hello. Welcome to Hello Chaos, a weekly podcast exploring the messy and chaotic lives and minds of founders, entrepreneurs and innovators. Each week, I get the privilege to speak with founders and across the spectrum, the business spectrum, founders from different industries at various stages, from startups to mature businesses of all shapes and sizes. Our listeners get to hear the real, the raw, the unvarnished stories and viewpoints.
getting incredible insights on what it takes to start and scale a business, to become a better founder, a better business owner, a better CEO, or really just a better business leader. Today on our show, we have Vickie Zambrano. She is the owner and founder of Curean Restaurant right here in my hometown, Greenville, South Carolina. Welcome, Vickie. Welcome to Hello Chaos.
Vickie (00:55.47)
Thank you. Thanks for having me.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (00:57.267)
You are so welcome. I am excited. told you, I've been to your restaurant a couple times. has become one of our favorites, our little go-to place of mine and my girlfriend's. And then I told you, the next day we met your mom at the Saturday market. And she is so proud of everything that you've done and what you've created. And it is a unique experience. start us off, what inspired you to start
Vickie (01:16.766)
huh.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (01:26.945)
you know, get into the entrepreneurial world. Is this your first restaurant?
Vickie (01:31.8)
First restaurant on my own, yes.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (01:33.891)
on your own. So what inspired you to do this? Because it's, you know, a lot of people are like, oh, it's hard, you know, especially coming after the pandemic. I mean, what inspired you to do it?
Vickie (01:41.87)
It's hard.
Vickie (01:46.324)
I'll be honest, I always say this was not in the cards. Like I never was like when I grow up and not that I'm grown up yet, but
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (01:53.709)
Me neither, I'm the same way. I never thought I would ever start my own agency or media company. mean, that was not even a thought.
Vickie (02:03.884)
Yeah, no, it happened. One day is this funny because I saw something on Instagram and then, you know, you start sending it out to your friends and you're like, this is really cool. I green bullshit out something like this. And then, you know, your idiot friends are like, yeah, you should do it.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (02:23.491)
That's how we get suckered in.
Vickie (02:25.002)
Yeah, like, no, I was just, this is cool. Like Green Bull should do it. You know, we're just talking about this. They're like, no, like, I actually do think you should do this. Like, you know what you're doing. Like you've been in the industry long enough. You got all the pieces of the puzzle. You just need to put it together. And then one thing after another, all of a sudden I'm signing commercial leases and getting financing from the bank. And then it's just happening.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (02:33.09)
Yeah.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (02:48.257)
Wow, so did you work in restaurants? Like are you from the hospitality industry?
Vickie (02:54.798)
Yeah, well, I'm Greek, so we all have restaurants. It is. Still, I didn't think I would ever own my own restaurant. Yeah, did restaurants when I started working as a kid at my grandpa's restaurant in La Palmetto on Lawrence Road. Yeah, that was my grandpa's.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (02:57.867)
You're like, it's in our blood.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (03:13.471)
really?
Vickie (03:16.718)
So my family still runs that and then at 14 I started working at a sushi restaurant and then I've been in the industry ever since. I tried to leave twice and I'd say I call it the outside world. It's the outside world outside of hospitality and I tried to leave twice and I didn't really like it out there so I came back.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (03:32.131)
They pull you back in.
Vickie (03:43.08)
And I think I'm going to stay in this industry for a very long time. but yeah, it just, happened.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (03:47.18)
Yeah.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (03:52.077)
So what was, I'm curious now, what was the Instagram reel or the post that you were sharing and they were like, you need to do this. What was it? Was it like a restaurant somewhere else or?
Vickie (04:06.636)
Yeah, it actually it wasn't even a full service restaurant. So today I have a full service restaurant. And when I started this, like two years ago that that wasn't what I was doing it. It was a quick service build drone charcuterie concept that I saw up in there's two locations in like DC in New York.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (04:13.378)
Yeah.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (04:30.157)
Okay.
Vickie (04:31.782)
really trendy. It was cool. was in, you know, downtown. So a lot of people walking by you stop, get a little cute charcuterie box, then you keep going. I don't even think they had like tables or anything, these little storefronts. So it was all like, just you're really taking it to the park. And I was like, that's really cool. Like, I think people should have that, especially with our downtown and the parks and everything. It like, I think that would do really well here. So it started like that, something easy.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (04:37.25)
Yeah.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (04:55.178)
Absolutely. Yeah.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (05:00.151)
And then how did it explode?
Vickie (05:04.529)
I think it just started with, you the interior designer, there wasn't a bar or anything in the space. And she was like, I think you need a bar. And I was like, that no, maybe we'll do like a little wine lounge and like couches and soft seating and make it comfy. And we'll add wine and charcuterie. then, and then it was like, let's add cocktails. And then she was like, I really just think you need a bar. And I was like,
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (05:17.581)
Yeah.
Vickie (05:27.36)
Okay, the layout she showed me looked really nice. And then she just starts throwing me these things. And I was like, okay, this is really nice. And then I hired a chef at the time and put together like a, I call it like a real food menu, not just charcuterie and like pizzas and stuff. And honestly, just kept snowballing during that one year of construction.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (05:41.379)
Wait.
Vickie (05:50.286)
Not that we were in construction for a year, but that one year where like we're building and we're finding locations and we're doing all the things. It just kept growing, growing, growing.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (05:55.736)
Right.
Were you always in the locat- cause you're right near the park. Were you always in that location from the beginning and just kind of expanded on that?
Vickie (06:05.65)
Yeah, we were always there. But the first concept, we'd never even started with that. Our grand opening day opened as a full service Mediterranean restaurant.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (06:16.867)
Okay, okay. And it's so pretty inside. really, it feels like somebody's lounge bar, living room from home, just, you And it's really nice. So, your boom and your explosion. Are you still loving it?
Vickie (06:21.826)
Yeah, it's pretty.
Vickie (06:26.807)
Mm-hmm.
Vickie (06:40.108)
Yeah, I think I love it a little bit more every day now.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (06:44.395)
Yeah, yeah. So what have you discovered most about yourself during this process?
Vickie (06:53.646)
I can handle a lot of chaos. I think there's, I actually don't think there's really been any.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (06:57.665)
Yeah.
Vickie (07:02.604)
maybe like once or twice where I was like, shit, this is this is bad right now. Like I don't know what to do or something. And it was stupid. It was the printer wasn't working one day. I remember it. I'm sitting on the floor with the printer, and it won't print menus. And I didn't have one menu printed for dinner that night. And I was like, there. How do you open a restaurant with not one single menu? I don't remember how we fix the printer. But finally we fixed the printer. But that was like only the one time in like 16 months that we've been open that I've
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (07:09.889)
Right.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (07:31.437)
that you're like, so has that been your biggest challenge? The printer? Or was it, there other like construction or like permits or anything like that that was like, ooh, this is a lot more complicated than I thought it was gonna be or because you came from the business, did you already, your family was like, you need to watch out for this and this and this.
Vickie (07:36.172)
the printer.
Vickie (07:56.59)
I quickly learned did not listen to other people's advice.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (08:02.627)
What was one piece that you were like, yeah, no, that you went down using somebody's advice and it was wrong?
Vickie (08:10.562)
I don't think I ever did. I'm really stubborn. Greek and half Greek, half Ecuadorian. So we're like double stubborn. So I think a lot of the time somebody tells me to do something and I do the opposite.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (08:12.331)
you never-
You're like, great.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (08:27.203)
So you've had a lot of, what is it? Not happy accidents, they've been like, know, it all worked out well for you. What's been the most rewarding part?
Vickie (08:35.616)
It's all worked out well so far. We're making it.
there's so many little things. I mean, I'm in this phase right now where everyone kind of knows what they're doing. And we're, I mean, knock on wood, hopefully I didn't just jinx myself. We're, going in a good pace right now and everyone knows what they're doing and the wheels just keep turning on the restaurant. And I feel like we had all of the big like, shit stuff last year. And I know big stuff can, it's still going to happen, but I
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (09:07.778)
Yeah.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (09:11.235)
Right.
Vickie (09:11.768)
think we all know how to handle things really well now. So stepping back a little and seeing like, we're doing great. know, the restaurant's doing great. Teams are great. We're kind of expanding a little now. So that's been really fun and rewarding to look at like where we've made it so far.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (09:32.525)
What? How did you assemble your team?
Vickie (09:35.886)
Um, again, it was a lot of people like I knew. yeah, and then just straight.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (09:40.481)
Okay, just in the industry, who were, when you kinda told them the concept, they were like, I wanna come.
Vickie (09:47.904)
a lot of people were like, whatever you need, we'll help. during our opening phase, was just so many of my random friends doing things that they're like, we'll come do this and this. And I had a friend that just had a baby and she was on maternity leave. And she's like, I can't do much, but I have to bring the baby if you need help. And I was like, okay. It was opening day and I realized, we opened December 15th. So.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (10:13.567)
my goodness, right before the holidays, yeah.
Vickie (10:16.268)
Yeah, but I realized I had an empty Christmas tree in the corner of the restaurant. And I was like, this is perfect for Julie. She can decorate the Christmas tree. She can bring the baby with her. I think she'll be able to handle it. So I had a friend just come and decorate the Christmas tree for opening day. It was just a lot of little things like that.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (10:37.069)
that all came together.
Vickie (10:38.86)
Yeah, but looking back like that first week we opened, it was just a ton of friends and family that were like, we're just here to help. Like, what do you need? And like just covering shifts just to help. And some of them still help around now. And some were like, okay, you're good. I gotta go back to my, you know, restaurant or my job or something. But it was a lot of people just coming out of everywhere, just saying like, what do you need? I've got like four hours today. Like, what can I do?
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (10:57.623)
Right.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (11:06.435)
That is amazing.
Vickie (11:07.852)
Yeah, it was really, that was also really rewarding to look back at. There was just such a big community.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (11:10.892)
Yeah.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (11:14.407)
So if you had a breakthrough moment or, you know, like a huge aha that you were like, my gosh, this is gonna change the way that I do my business or run my restaurant.
Vickie (11:31.944)
Kind of, I made some internal staffing changes with some key employees kind of recently and that changed things a lot more than I ever thought. But I know the whole restaurant feels it, all our staff, everyone's feeling it in a positive way and we're all looking a little bit more optimistic now and...
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (11:50.337)
Yeah.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (11:54.401)
Is that, you remove somebody that was more toxic or did just restructure so you put people in the right seats?
Vickie (11:58.263)
Yeah.
Vickie (12:02.722)
We took someone away, which led to everyone shifting around a little bit and everyone realizing, what were we dealing with? And look how much fun this could be in opportunities for training for new people and cross-training and learning more. So it's been fun seeing all the changes after that also.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (12:14.349)
Yeah.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (12:24.365)
to see that shift. you know, like when that person was on board, did they shift over time and became toxic or was it somebody that you were like, I knew within a few weeks but I really needed the body?
Vickie (12:44.43)
This shift was gradual, but then once you notice it, you're like, oh no, we actually do need this body for a little bit until we can make some changes. Yeah. Yeah.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (12:56.705)
Yeah, be strategic about it. You know, they always say, I mean, that's the big advice of hire slowly and fire fast. Yeah, yeah. And sometimes it's harder than, you know, in practice. But yeah, that is, need to, yeah, hire slowly and fire fast. Get them out. Toxic, toxicity is, it is like a cancer, it?
Vickie (13:06.19)
Yeah, I say that all the time!
Vickie (13:25.59)
It is. Yeah. But that's why I like the hire slowly because sometimes we might we might be down a staff person somewhere and everyone is kind of like, don't just hire anyone. Like, please don't just hire someone.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (13:26.833)
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (13:31.597)
That's right.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (13:36.971)
Right? We want to protect our team and our culture. Yeah.
Vickie (13:40.204)
Yeah, and then everyone's willing, they're like, we'll work a little extra for a few weeks until you can find like the right person. So I do like that everyone is on board with that. It's never just a like, no, I'm not working over time, like just hire someone like I'm not doing it. It's all just kind of like a please don't just hire someone like, we're all going to work a little bit more. And let's just make sure we're like making the right hire because we do have a really good culture in the restaurant.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (13:55.842)
Right.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (14:01.474)
Right.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (14:10.115)
Yeah, is everybody from the hospitality industry, has everyone worked at other restaurants before? So they know. Yeah, because sometimes like people that haven't been in the environments don't realize the effect of a toxic person. And so they're more like, yeah, break, we need a shift. We need a body for this shift. then it's like, but people who have been there go, no, no, no, no, we want to protect.
Vickie (14:10.249)
and we're all.
Vickie (14:17.085)
kind of.
Vickie (14:24.173)
Yeah.
Vickie (14:28.126)
Yeah.
Vickie (14:37.932)
Mm-hmm
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (14:38.435)
Like in the entertainment business, we're like, protect the set, right? If you've got a good gel, good team, you want to hold true to that. And that comes just from experience in those worlds.
Vickie (14:50.83)
Yeah, I think everyone is from either a restaurant background or an event background. So everyone gets hospitality, which is nice. But then also it's nice that some of my people aren't just 100 % restaurant people and they've done, you know, planned weddings and big events and stuff like that because that's also really helpful.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (14:58.465)
Yeah, so they know.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (15:10.883)
Yeah. They're service people. Which we, I mean, I run an agency and the best book I think is Hospitality is everybody's business. Everybody should run their business like they're in the hospitality business. And I've always said, I worked in restaurants and bars for eight years. I put myself through college with that.
Vickie (15:30.158)
Mm-hmm.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (15:40.391)
And I've always said like that is the best training ground to do anything. Like you come out of working, you know, a six hour shift and taking, you know, running four or five, 10 tops at the same time. And then, yeah, it's dealing with a well, you know, the kitchen between the bar and, you know, all that. You're like you, you can do just about work in any industry, do just about anything if you can.
Vickie (15:44.908)
Yeah.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (16:09.607)
master working and be a really good service person in a restaurant. Yeah. Do you think there was any myths? I mean, you came from entrepreneurs and restaurant owners, you know, your family, but were there any myths or misperceptions that you had going into this that when you got in there, you were like, what the fuck?
Vickie (16:16.256)
I agree.
Vickie (16:35.95)
Mm-hmm.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (16:37.421)
They said it was gonna be, or did you already have all the, it's gonna be hard, you need to be ready for this. Did you have any myths going in that you're like, I wanna debunk this right now?
Vickie (16:51.282)
Um, I think I, yeah, no, I knew a lot walking in. kind of knew what I was getting myself into. The one thing that stands out is there was one person that said, you realize your whole staff's going to think you're a bitch. And I was like, what? They're like, yeah, I mean, you're not going to be like nice. Like no one likes restaurant owners like, or the manager. Like you got to like crack the whip. Like you're not going to be nice to people if you want them to listen to you. And
I just kind of looked at that person and was like, I don't believe that at all. And they told me this like during construction. So was like, okay, whatever. Now I think about it like a lot because I'm like.
I think our team is great. Like I don't yell at people. Like I don't have to be mean. We're all like very respectful of each other. So, you know, maybe it's like a, last night when you closed, missed, you know, that corner over there. Like, can you just make sure you hit it again? And, you know, like it gets added to the closing checklist and then it gets, it gets done every night. So it's, you know, it's like little things like that. And I, I think it's, I don't know. I think it's crazy looking.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (17:51.171)
Right.
Vickie (17:57.876)
looking back at that person in the conversation. And if that's how you want to run your business, that's totally fine. I
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (18:02.155)
Yeah, think there's some leadership lessons there of, know, do you want to lead as like an authoritarian and fear-based or lead through grace, lead through empathy and teamwork and respect? And you're right, I don't know if it's a generational thing or, yeah, because I know that's like how those were.
Vickie (18:25.55)
It might be
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (18:31.563)
My bosses were more of the authoritarian that, and it just, doesn't create a culture that anybody, you know, really, I mean, it becomes this like fear based. And I don't know, like, I think I'm much older than you, I'm, you know, I'm a Gen Xer, but I think it like, I think our generation, we're mixed. Like we have some that have embraced this,
Vickie (18:34.776)
Yeah.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (19:00.555)
Lead through respect, lead through love, lead through grace. But then there's some torn of, but that's how my boss did it. That's how I'm used to it. I applaud the millennials and the Gen Z, or the generations coming in. I millennials are mid-30s, early 40s now, what? Yeah. But the fact that they came in the workforce kind of and shaking up the industry.
Vickie (19:09.421)
Right.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (19:29.731)
15, 20 years ago when they started in the, you know, and going, you don't have to lead like this. Like, why are you talking to us like this? We're out of here.
Vickie (19:39.406)
I will say going against the generational thought process is my grandpa. I remember he would always say about his team that if you take care of your people, they'll take care of you. And I just, think of that all the time. if, yeah, it's like you're not nice to the people that are working in your business every day. Why are they going to care like the extra step about the business also?
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (19:49.451)
Yeah.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (20:01.603)
Great.
Right, well, and that's right. I kind of learned it as like the inverted pyramid of a lot of people go, if you think of like a hierarchy in an organization, it's where you're at the top as the CEO and everybody you kind of bark orders down. And I was always taught from how my dad led his organizations, how some of the best, I think, mentors that I really respected as CEOs.
looked at it more of inverted of the CEO and leadership are really at the bottom and where they're holding up the rest of the team, making sure that we serve them, give them the tools they need, the respect they need, the culture, the environment, make sure that they're safe, that they feel secure, that they feel valued, because then they do their best work.
Vickie (20:56.578)
Yeah. Yeah. I will say that is one thing that I'm learning also and I didn't know going into this that.
having a team means you're taking on so much more. You know, if someone's kid is sick or something, I don't see it as like, oh, so and so is out this week. Like this is really annoying. It's more of like, oh my god, like, are they okay? Like at the restaurant, we're like, is everyone fine? Like, do you all need something? Or you know, if someone gets in a car accident, we all feel it. We're not. And this did happen. Someone got in a car accident coming into work on a busy Friday, and we were already short staffed. So were more short staffed.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (21:10.711)
Yeah.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (21:21.389)
Right.
Vickie (21:34.144)
And it was never a question of like, Oh my God, like, are they not going to come in? Like we're mad at them. It was more of like a, Oh shit, like, she okay? Like shit, kid in the car. Like, this is really bad. Yeah. Yeah. So that's one thing. And even just, you know, when they come to you with like a, I'm having a bad day, like X, Y, and Z is happening at home and it's, you know, not great stuff. And then you feel it the rest of the day too. So it's just little things like that. I'm always like, Oh, how do we help them?
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (21:40.177)
yeah.
How do we rally? Yeah.
Vickie (22:04.048)
or you know, do they mean and stuff like that. That was something I didn't expect walking into this one also. I always...
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (22:04.513)
Yeah.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (22:12.099)
It is, that is a good aha too of, yeah, I mean that was a, you know, I started my company in 2013. I think it, you know, after you start hiring, you know, your first employees, it's like, oh, we take it so much more personal and serious than I, I don't think other outsiders kind of think that. And one of the best, one of the best, I don't know, I don't know if it was advice or,
Vickie (22:33.43)
Yeah, they're humans too.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (22:41.795)
He was on the podcast. He's actually here in Greenville. His name is John Barnes. He runs a wealth management group that helps small businesses like manage and he says that he a lot he coaches a lot of new CEOs, new business owners. And it was the he framed it in such a beautiful way, similar to how you're framing it of, you know, you have 20 people on your team, but you're actually feeding.
you know, that's 40 to 60 people if they're married and they've got two kids, then you're taking care of 60 people because they're, you know, the experience that the person that works for you, for your company, and they stay with you for 10 years, you're helping them or 20 years or whatever, you're helping them with putting, you know, raising their own family and letting them go on vacations and
Vickie (23:16.526)
Cheers.
Vickie (23:23.303)
yeah.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (23:41.373)
and building a stronger family unit, you're affecting a lot more people than just the 10 people you have on your staff or the 20 people or even if you're 2,000 people in your company, you really look at as a business owner, you've got to have that mindset of you're really cultivating and nurturing way more people than you ever realize.
Vickie (23:47.63)
100%.
Vickie (24:08.79)
Yeah, and I don't think any.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (24:09.995)
And so your decisions that you make as an owner impact those people. yeah, was, so shout out to John Barnes, because I was like, my gosh, yeah, that is, you need to be shouting that from the rooftop.
Vickie (24:13.39)
There we go.
Vickie (24:23.822)
Yeah, and I don't think people talk about that a lot, it, yeah, I it's very apparent when, you know, I'm running payrolls and stuff and I'm making sure that, you know, like as a new business, you can make your payroll because it's not just, you know, your 10, 20, whoever people are on payroll, then it's like.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (24:26.381)
Mm-mm.
Vickie (24:39.576)
their children are probably relying on this also for lunch and spouses. And I have a lot of people that are the breadwinner in their family and they're working in the restaurant. So it's another thing too. It's like, let's make sure we're not making bad decisions with the business. So the business is okay for all of your staff. Cause then they've got families that they're raising.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (24:42.701)
Right.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (24:58.401)
Yeah.
like that's right, we're just not making, it's not that insular decision making, whatever we do impacts a lot more people than we think. If you had to hit rewind on anything, would you do anything differently?
Vickie (25:19.502)
I don't think so. I've made mistakes and we fixed them and things have happened, but I always think everything happens for a reason. And probably a lot of those were learning moments for me. I don't think you're not supposed to regret anything because at that point, that's what you thought was the best thing to do. I don't know. I don't think I'd go back and do anything differently. However, I have a list of things I won't do when I open the next restaurant.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (25:35.747)
That's right.
Path forward.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (25:47.043)
Are you going to expand? that like a future plan?
Vickie (25:49.432)
Thank
Yeah, it won't be another curian. It's another restaurant concept I have. And then we've got a few other concepts. So yeah, no, this is just the first. So there's the...
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (26:02.049)
Yeah. So what are like top three things that you're like, I will not do that again.
Vickie (26:08.948)
Okay, you're gonna laugh. But the brand of tables that I bought at the restaurant, I will never buy those again. Because if you look at them wrong, they will chip. If they will chip. also, I won't get soft seating like I have right now. Because there's all I do soft seating. Yes, I'll do something where it doesn't have all little grooves in the nicks and the crannies because
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (26:30.563)
for cleanability.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (26:35.043)
or do leather or something so it's like, wipe that.
Vickie (26:41.054)
something so I'm not running my finger through all the cushions like three times every night finding crumbs in them. So I already know we're not doing that kind of furniture.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (26:47.875)
Ugh.
What's another one?
Vickie (26:54.574)
those two.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (26:56.003)
That's a good one. That's something I would do too of like, I laugh, think I've told Chandler this is, know, he's a newlywed now, got married a week ago, but we were talking about furniture. It's like, you cause I have four kids and, and you know, they're, you know, 13 to 24 now, but like I don't buy cushion couches. I have to have a tight back and I'm a one cushion sofa because of that reason of finding shit.
in between the cushions or just like the pillows and all like the just like no no it looks neater i can clean it easier tight backs only
Vickie (27:26.702)
Yeah.
Vickie (27:35.788)
Yeah. Yeah. So I've learned that. Third thing I would say would be the espresso machine that I have is a residential one because where it's at, there's no plumbing in it, in the wall to run a commercial.
one and my dad who is thankfully retired now is fixing the machine like once a week. Thankfully, he's also an engineer. So he learned how to pull the entire thing apart, fix like whatever computer inside is off, put it all back together and do it like under in under 24 hours because we need it again at five o'clock to open the restaurant. So
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (28:01.699)
Eh.
Hehehehe
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (28:20.659)
so you're like commercial use only.
Vickie (28:23.534)
Yeah, we needed another espresso machine.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (28:27.345)
I'm excited. Is your next concept, is that like in the next 12 days or is this like within the next three years?
Vickie (28:36.27)
it's probably more within the next three years. I think I need to focus at least another full year on Curean. And then I'm not letting myself think too much about the next concept, even though I've got it and I've already got all the people lined up for it, but I'm not allowing myself yet because I do think a new business probably needs its leader two to three years to make sure.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (28:39.959)
Okay.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (28:48.813)
Yeah.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (28:58.453)
Yeah, no, that's smart, that's smart. Well, what do you think our listeners would be most surprised to find out about you? It's not something that's on your LinkedIn, your Instagram or anything. You know, not on your resume, but what's something that people would be surprised to learn about you?
Vickie (29:19.438)
Um, I'm actually kind of really introverted. Um, being in this industry though, you're in front of a lot of people, you're talking a lot, you're, you know, you've got hundreds of people walking into your business all the time, but I, I don't like all the, it's a lot for me. That's why you'll find me in the kitchen a lot of the time. I schedule myself kitchen shifts, so I'm not having to be talking all the time because I'm not.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (29:46.594)
Right?
Vickie (29:47.886)
I am actually kind of introverted. My legs off, if I don't, you know, I'll go out to eat at a restaurant and then I come home and my dog sitting right next to me, right on the couch and we just hang like at home or we'll do a day trip, just me my dog somewhere, but kind of introverted, which is weird being in this industry.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (29:49.633)
Yeah.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (30:03.947)
Yeah, yeah, now I think I'm I mean, I'm an introvert. I call myself now a learned. We heard this from another founder because I've talked to hundreds, hundreds, if not almost a little over a thousand like personally founders. And we find that the majority are introverts and and but we surprising, but we have to learn to
Vickie (30:26.35)
Surprising.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (30:33.975)
to network, I this was like, doing this podcast has been like my therapy to be a learned extrovert. Because you're right, I'm like I have to like talk myself into going to a network event. I love being speaking on stages, but it's me kind of educating and informing, but to then go into the crowd and network, ugh, not my thing. And it drained, like completely drains me. Then I have to like close myself off for a day.
Vickie (30:54.136)
Yeah, I agree.
Vickie (31:02.114)
Yeah, no, I get it.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (31:03.747)
But yeah, it is, but in that interesting of, I think we find that there are so many more innovators and creatives and, you know, business owners and founders that it's surprisingly, I think it surprises a lot of people that we are more introverted than we are extroverted.
Vickie (31:26.944)
I save that and I do have ADHD and I say those of Carly like superpowers for being a leader. Cause I don't, yeah, I, I, can bounce around and do all kinds of things and that's what you do in a business. Typically you don't know what your day is going to look like. Cause who knows what the business needs, but I those like superpowers of running a business.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (31:34.163)
Absolutely. Yeah.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (31:41.613)
That's great.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (31:45.635)
That's right.
That's right. I totally agree. Absolutely. And you seem pretty chill and relaxed like you could just handle just about anything. But how do you deal with stress and big challenges like what do you do to you know in your free time or do you have like any rituals or you know mental disciplines to kind of prepare yourself or anything like that that you've had to to embrace.
Vickie (32:17.937)
Um, I think I can sense when things are gonna be chaotic. Now, like I know what the restaurant feels like. And I've got this little sixth sense and I know I'm like, tonight's gonna be chaos. Like I just know it. So I think I can prepare myself a little bit. And I always know like, okay, who are we gonna move around? Or am I gonna call more people in or you know, I go into like the strategy session to figure out how we're gonna get through it. And then
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (32:31.629)
Yeah.
Vickie (32:46.88)
I don't really need a decompression anymore because I think this industry is just chaotic like that is. So it just comes in just waves and you get hit by one and you make it through and then you're just going to get hit by another one. But my dog and I will do a restaurants close on Tuesdays. So we can normally, I say run away out of Greenville for the day. like.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (32:53.368)
Yeah.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (32:57.645)
Thank you.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (33:08.717)
Where do you go?
Vickie (33:09.87)
Well, yes, we were in Asheville We just got in the car and just started going and Asheville superdog friendly. So Charlie came with me everywhere. We went shopping with some restaurants We hung out we had fun, but getting getting out of Greenville does help me
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (33:12.107)
Nice.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (33:26.485)
Yeah, just to release, reset, re-energize, recharge. And I know I talked about your mom earlier, but is she your biggest cheerleader or do you have another, who's your biggest cheerleader in your life?
Vickie (33:47.637)
Um, I mean, I think it's my team, honestly, they're so supportive of everything. And they're the ones that are like, Vickie, you haven't like had time off. Like, I walked into the restaurant on Sunday night and my bartender who's been with me since day one, she literally kicked me out. She's like, no, you're gonna go. You're going to eat dinner. I went to Gianna. It's one of my favorite restaurants. Love them. And she kicked me out of the restaurant. She was like, you've been here too much. Just go.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (34:09.836)
Yes.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (34:16.387)
Who gave you like the best advice? Like a Carl or any other kind of restaurateurs in Greenville or was it really coming from your family?
Vickie (34:17.098)
Yeah, so they do, they take care of me.
Vickie (34:34.734)
I think it goes back to the I'm really stubborn. if anyone told me anything, I did the opposite. It's also an ADD trait. So I've learned.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (34:40.651)
You're just like, I am not gonna listen.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (34:47.395)
So, okay, if I come in next spring, a year from now, what would we be celebrating? What would we be toasting, success? What would be a win that we would be celebrating for?
Vickie (35:04.75)
Next spring we'd be two and a half years open, which is really big. We'll probably have our event leg a little bit more kicked off because it's very much in the beginning stages right now.
that'd be really fun. We're gonna do a little swapping around of some things in the restaurant and have another little concept coming inside the restaurant. So yeah, I guess we're cheersing to a lot of just growth and change and we're just growing up. I always say the the restaurant's in like this toddler stages right now. So maybe we'll be like in the teenage stages next year.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (35:29.315)
the restaurant even, okay.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (35:40.919)
Yeah.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (35:45.527)
by then yeah because it goes fast doesn't it well that's exciting yeah talk what what is the event arm
Vickie (35:48.291)
go fast.
Vickie (35:54.926)
So we've built this cute little charcuterie cart that is, it's got wheels and we can roll it to events and it's got a whole little charcuterie bar where you can still build your own little box and we're gonna be taking that to some festivals this year and you'll be able to rent it for like a wedding or a party or anything like that.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (36:00.002)
Nice.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (36:10.839)
Nice.
Vickie (36:15.918)
We're revving up our catering a good bit. We did some catering last year, but we're getting more caterings in this year. And then I think we might add on some like third party, I mean like external event planning services also. We're working on something for next month that's not in the restaurant. So that's a little different for me. I used to do it. have an event background also, but I haven't been able to do anything like that in a few years. We've had it on the back burner with the restaurant. So we're getting out.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (36:23.104)
Okay.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (36:28.29)
Right.
Vickie (36:45.902)
about a little bit.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (36:46.783)
Yeah, kind of spreading your wings a little bit. You guys crawled, now you're walking. Now it's time to like maybe start running a little bit. Yeah, love it. Okay, so if you had to sum up your entrepreneurial journey in one word, what would that word be?
Vickie (36:53.997)
Yeah.
Vickie (37:05.422)
Okay, so the first thing that came to mind when you mentioned this in the beginning, and I think it's still here. It's not, I mean, it's not technically one word, but shit just pops into my head. I haven't, nothing else has come into my head since, so I'm going with that.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (37:28.067)
That is very appropriate, I think. Yeah. What do we...
Vickie (37:30.062)
A lot times I'm like, shit, what did we get ourselves into? I have this theory where I say, say yes to everything and then we'll figure it out. So I just say yes to things. And I'll realize it's that month where I promised that huge thing and I'm like, shit, let's figure that one out. So.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (37:40.899)
Yeah. And you're like, oh, yeah. Oh, shit. Well, we'll just do it.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (37:52.195)
I think that's the best word so far. Alright, so if you had to next chapter in your journey, what word describes that chapter?
Vickie (38:04.718)
The first word that came into my mind and it's still sticking into my mind is growth. Yeah, this is still just the beginning for the restaurant and for all the other concepts and ideas I have. It's just the beginning. So we're doing great, but I know this is just the beginning.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (38:10.797)
growth. Yeah.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (38:18.083)
Get your wings. Yeah.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (38:24.619)
Yeah, that's awesome. Fly, Vickie, fly. So if you had to give like the Vickie advice to other entrepreneurs, somebody that wants to open up a restaurant or whatever business they want to open up, what would be Vickie's advice?
Vickie (38:36.014)
Thank
Vickie (38:46.702)
I always say, do it. It's gonna be hard work. You'll figure it out on the way, but make sure you have a really good support system around you and you've got that network for the people that.
something comes up and you just know who you're gonna call and they're gonna drop everything and they're gonna come help. But you do the same for them. It's a you do the same, but just make sure you've got that community because if you don't, you're you're not gonna do it. You're not gonna get like it's it's way too hard, especially this industry to try and do it by yourself. You've got to have that network. But I say do it. Yeah, it's scary. Everything's scary.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (39:09.091)
Yeah, it's gotta be reciprocal. Yeah.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (39:19.352)
Yeah.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (39:29.025)
Yeah, everything is scary. Yeah.
Vickie (39:30.86)
Yeah, I mean, this is probably bad advice, but the worst that could happen is maybe you file bankruptcy, but you know, we'll figure that one out when you get there. Bad advice. I said, just do it and you're going to work. You'll surprise yourself at how hard you work and how creative you get and how much you can push yourself and things will be successful if you just trust in yourself and just, just do it. But it's hard work.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (39:39.309)
say, it happens, yeah. Other people have recovered from that,
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (39:58.241)
Yeah, and I love that advice too. I mean, not just do it, but have your community, have a support system. And it's amazing when you, the community itself of who shows up for you is also very revealing of who shows up and who doesn't show up. It's very interesting. I've seen my community kind of evolve of,
Vickie (40:13.729)
Mm-hmm.
Vickie (40:17.44)
It is.
It's very interesting to see. Surprising.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (40:27.747)
as we call it, new level, new devil, as you start scaling and getting into other, you know, the circles. would, you know, some it's like you're expanding your circles, but also you're shifting your circles of, that person doesn't want to show up for me anymore. And then, you know, do I need to show up? But, you know, it's always like my mindset is, but I always still need to be there when I need to be there for people. But that's been a lessons learned.
Vickie (40:33.57)
like that.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (40:57.539)
for me as the power of community and having a support system. Yeah, unbelievable. Vickie, I love your story and I'm so excited for your journey. Before we go, how do you want people to connect with you, reach out to you, learn more about you, support you in any way?
Vickie (41:20.878)
Oh yeah. Follow us on Instagram. We always like followers. That helps. can email. There's emails on the website that you can get me at, or I am very often at the restaurant when we're open. So you can come see us also.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (41:37.367)
And it's CureanGVL, I think it's the Instagram handle, right?
Vickie (41:41.558)
Yep, yep, that's Instagram handle. We're on Main Street on the west end right next to On the Rocks. Cute little building tucked behind some trees.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (41:51.267)
Perfect location. Yeah. I love it. Thank you so much. This was fantastic conversation. I loved it. And for everyone listening or watching us today, thank you for hanging out and chatting or watching us, sorry. Listening or watching us, thank you for joining us. This podcast is available on all your podcast platforms. So subscribe to Hello Chaos. Give us a five star review on Apple or Spotify.
Vickie (41:57.08)
Thank you.
Jennifer "JJ" Sutton (42:20.543)
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