Thank you once again to the Connecticut Restaurant Association for recognizing our founders and CEOs, TONY M PHAM and Richard Reyes, as Connecticut's 2023 Restauranteurs of the Year at the CRAzie Awards last week.
This unforgettable evening was more than just a celebration; it was a testament to the tireless dedication and unwavering passion that drives our entire team. We were immensely humbled to share our story and inspiration with the top industry leaders in Connecticut.
This recognition fuels our determination to continue pushing boundaries and inspiring entrepreneurs, business leaders and companies to serve and transform our local communities with movements like our own, Eat Justice.
"If we can do it, you can do it too."
Relive the memorable night and check out our full speech here:
#hospitalityindustry#restaurant#nonprofit#restauranteur
If you thought incorporating social impact into your business strategy was only important to certain industries, look no further than Mecha Noodle Bar and founder/CEOs TONY M PHAM and Richard Reyes for evidence to the contrary. They have built a beautifully simple and effective business model and movement with Eat Justice, and their recent recognition by the Connecticut Restaurant Association as CT's 2023 Restauranteurs of the Year is so well deserved! Amazingly, this month Mecha Noodle Bar is donating almost $60,000 to a nonprofit nominated by an employee- and they make this kind of significant donation EVERY month through the Eat Justice model.
Most players in the restaurant industry are not particularly known for corporate social responsibility, and especially for the small- to mid-sized restaurant businesses out there, slim margins are a frequent and legitimate concern when talking corporate citizenship. Many businesses in this and many other industries shy away from regular investment in social impact, but doing all they can when they can. This is valuable, and I hope still as appreciated as it was during the height of COVID 19.
But what if a few fairly simple tweaks to your business model changed that? This is what Rich and Tony are achieving through Eat Justice- and it's paying off.
Their business thriving, opening new locations in three more states in 2024. Their employee dedication and satisfaction is far above average. They are gaining a fantastic reputation with patrons beyond their seriously yummy chow, with a loyal base returning regularly because they know they're making an impact by eating there. And it's no small impact.
Eat Justice is a movement- and their model is no secret. Seriously, ask Rich. Ask Tony. Ask any location manager. Ask me! It's not difficult to implement, is scalable, and is just as applicable for brand new companies as multi-generational companies. It's adaptable across industries. The goal is to truly build a community where lifting each other up is a given, woven into the fabric of the economy.
Social impact investment is one facet of corporate citizenship. Businesses of the future will need to pay attention to all of the facets, but this is certainly an easy place to start.
Congratulations to our founders and CEOs, TONY M PHAM and Richard Reyes, for being selected as Connecticut's 2023 Restauranteurs of the Year by the Connecticut Restaurant Association!
Through the story of their immigrant parents, Tony and Rich have learned the importance of sacrifice, hard work and grace. These values serve as the bedrock for Mecha Noodle Bar, shaping our mission to serve local communities by providing Asian comfort food while paying it forward.
Mecha Noodle Bar will grow because of the beautiful movement you have both created with Eat Justice. From what started as a small noodle shop in Fairfield, Mecha has now flourished into seven locations throughout Connecticut and Massachusetts, with three more on the horizon in D.C., Colorado and Ohio.
Please join us in applauding TONY M PHAM and Richard Reyes for this well-deserved recognition. Here's to building something bigger than ourselves and inspiring others to do the same. 🎉
Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eVmwSVsN
We are BEYOND excited to announce that thanks to your appetite for justice and noodles, we've raised $59,619.11 for the MurphsLife Foundation at Mecha Noodle Bar in collaboration with Pho Vietnam, Mariposa Taqueria, Minas Carne & Deli, Bottega and Amigos Deli. 👏
MurphsLife Foundation provides aid and resources to those who need it most in developing economies by strategically identifying and helping impoverished families and communities with the goal of empowering them to become self-sufficient.
MurphsLife's initiative involves constructing a well-equipped school designed to meet the educational needs of the community's children. This facility serves as a beacon of hope, offering a secure environment for learning. The school's unique aspect lies in its integration with a food farm, creating a synergy between education and sustainability. This connection allows students to access quality education while gaining insights into agriculture, fostering a bond with the land and imparting practical life skills. The project's success relies on the dedicated team and generous patrons who share the vision. Contributions directly impact future generations, transforming lives through education and sustainable practices, thus nurturing a brighter future.
We’re heading down to El Salvador later this month with Aaron Murphy and the MurphsLife team to check out how our contributions will make a difference in their mission of building a school to strengthen their community. Stay connected with us on social for all the updates!
#nonprofit#sustainability#hospitalityindustry#inspiringleaders#EatJustice#NoodlesForACause
Learn more about Eat Justice and our impact: https://lnkd.in/e3c4AmMG
Congratulations to our founders and CEOs, TONY M PHAM and Richard Reyes, for being selected as Connecticut's 2023 Restauranteurs of the Year by the Connecticut Restaurant Association!
Through the story of their immigrant parents, Tony and Rich have learned the importance of sacrifice, hard work and grace. These values serve as the bedrock for Mecha Noodle Bar, shaping our mission to serve local communities by providing Asian comfort food while paying it forward.
Mecha Noodle Bar will grow because of the beautiful movement you have both created with Eat Justice. From what started as a small noodle shop in Fairfield, Mecha has now flourished into seven locations throughout Connecticut and Massachusetts, with three more on the horizon in D.C., Colorado and Ohio.
Please join us in applauding TONY M PHAM and Richard Reyes for this well-deserved recognition. Here's to building something bigger than ourselves and inspiring others to do the same. 🎉
Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eVmwSVsN
This past July, we proudly raised $16,313 for Sunflower Mission, a nonprofit committed to improving the lives of people in Vietnam, mainly through educational assistance programs.
Just last Friday, a few members of our team had the privilege of attending Sunflower Mission’s “Beating the Odds” gala in Houston, TX, where we were humbled to be recognized on behalf of @eatjustice!
Thank you, Sunflower Mission, for inviting us to your fantastic event. We had an amazing night filled with food and casino games (and watching Tony and Rich lose playing Bầu cua cá cọp 🤣 ), all for a great cause!
#NoodlesForACause#EatJustice#Nonprofit#HoustonTX