Rick Burchell, owner of Rick's Smokehouse, has not only perfected smoked meat and barbeque sauce, he has added his love of community to the recipe.
Rick shared with CEO students how he was born, raised, and lives in Terre Haute. "I lived just a couple blocks from here. I know the neighborhood still."
Rick's parents owned a construction business, but he'll tell you, he was blessed with a love for the restaurant business.
Rick is a graduate of Terre Haute North. Most business owners have long let go of their high school days, but Rick can't. His largest dining area in the building not only includes school memorabilia from North but also Terre Haute South, West Vigo, Gerstmeyer, Schulte, and Concannon. The walls are covered in photos, instruments, sports items, and more. "Most of these items were donated," he said.
Rick gave CEO a tour, starting at the smoker he has outside. Not that the smell of brisket couldn't be picked up by one's nose, but when he opened the smoker door, it overcame CEO students. The meat is put on the night before by the evening staff, and it cooks all night, he shared.
Rick went through his journey to where he is now by emphasizing how much help and support he had from family, friends, and community.
Going from a food truck at Covered Bridge to catering to a brick and mortar restaurant is not as easy as it may seem. Rick said, "I did it on a shoestring and passion."
Rick shared that obstacles are opportunities for you to adjust your business--whether those obstacles are ordering too much or too little of something, addressing a confrontation or bad review, or failing. He credited his dad for teaching him "not to be afraid to fail and not to be afraid to try."
COVID taught Rick, like it taught many in business, how to pivot.
Rick's "secret sauce" to his success, he believes, is to take care of people. "Our bread and butter is our community," he said. He said if you read the label of a Rick's Smokehouse Sauce, it says, "It's bigger than barbeque."
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