What does it take to build one of North America's 50 Best Bars? In this conversation, General Manager, Jake Kelly shares his journey through hospitality, leadership, mentorship, and the realities of running an award-winning cocktail bar.

From washing dishes at 14 years old to serving in the Peace Corps, teaching on Chicago's South Side, and eventually leading one of the continent's most celebrated bars, Jake's path wasn't traditional, but it shaped the way he thinks about service, leadership, and hospitality.

Whether you're a bartender, restaurant owner, hospitality professional, or someone passionate about great service, this episode offers an inside look at what happens behind the scenes of a world-class bar.

Time Stamps / Chapters:

00:00 Introduction & North America's 50 Best Bars

01:05 Meet Jake Kelly of Bisous

01:50 Inside Bisous & Top 50 Recognition

02:33 First Hospitality Job at 14

04:54 Peace Corps & Lessons in Hospitality

07:08 Teaching, Burnout & Career Change

10:17 Re-Entering Hospitality Later in Life

12:58 Becoming a Bartender by Accident

16:28 Mentors Who Shaped Jake's Career

18:40 From Bartender to General Manager

20:09 Building Bisous from the Ground Up

24:44 Rebranding Two Weeks Before Opening

27:27 Opening Without PR & Organic Growth

30:22 North America's 50 Best Bars Experience

34:04 The Emotional Reality of Being a GM

35:51 Perfect Service, Recognition & Leadership

39:05 Hospitality Lessons & Rapid-Fire Questions

43:21 Final Thoughts on Resilience

Hashtags:

#HospitalityLeadership

#CocktailCulture

#RestaurantManagement

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