Minnie Bird’s cofounder on following in the footsteps of his grandfather, Dave Thomas

In this episode of Take-Away with Sam Oches, Sam talks with Sean Thomas, cofounder of Minnie Bird, a three-unit fast-casual chicken concept that launched in Chicago two years ago and serves a range of premium chicken items alongside a lineup of dirty sodas, plus free soft serve with every order. Sean has been preparing for this moment his whole life and learned the trade from one of the most renowned restaurateurs of all time: his grandfather, Wendy’s founder Dave Thomas. Indeed, Sean got into the family business at a young age and has spent his career learning the intricacies of restaurant leadership. That’s come in handy not only at Minnie Bird, but also now that he’s also a Wendy’s franchisee. Sean joined the podcast to share some of the most vital tips he picked up from his grandfather and talk about what it means to walk in his shoes as a restaurant entrepreneur.

In this conversation, you’ll find out why:

• Restaurant leadership isn’t given; it’s earned
• If you want to excel in your own restaurant, you should try to learn from the best
• Follow the data when designing your concept
• Beverages are now a marquee item
• Nostalgia is extending to branding and design

Have feedback or ideas for Take-Away? Email Sam at sam.oches@informa.com.