Just mention the word “barbeque,” and the taste buds start to dance. It is not surprising; more than 75 million Americans say barbeque is one of their favorite foods. It conjures up great memories; being at a backyard gathering of friends and family, not to mention the tang and zest of the delectable delicacies created by an experienced grill master. Being an exceptional grill master is a key component to all things barbeque. One such grill master is Darren Wills, owner of Fat Daddy’s BBQ, LLC based in Castle Rock, Colorado.
Wills’ passion for all things barbeque has been an evolution of sorts. After 30 years in the construction industry, Wills made the decision in 2010 to shift his attention to another passion…barbeque. It is this passion that lead him to create the Fat Daddy’s BBQ brand.
“My mission is to cook with passion,” says Wills. “I wanted to share my knowledge of the art of barbeque cooking, and pass on the fun that comes along with it as well!”
Along with his passion for barbeque, Wills brings well-honed business acumen. In his previous career owning and operating a multi-million dollar corporation, Darren cut his teeth in the world of big business. By taking a step back, and now devoting his time and efforts to his passion for barbeque, he has managed to bring the skillset required to run a corporation and apply them to his more scaled down career choice as a barbeque master.
“Owning and operating a successful business in this state is a job in itself,” says Wills. “It requires reliable, dependable, and diverse employees to keep it going. Not to mention a huge commitment on your part.
In addition to a dependable staff of employees, quality equipment has to be part of the equation. An additional piece of the puzzle that makes Fat Daddy’s BBQ truly unique in the food service business is that their barbeque sites are completely mobile. Further flexing his business acumen, and part of gearing up for the upcoming prime barbeque months, Wills has invested in a custom manufactured smoker/barbeque/rotisserie combination which allows him to create a multitude of barbeque creations at one time.
“Our unique business model, which is based on our mobility, allows us to bring our brand of ‘down home’ pit-style barbeque to a variety of settings,” says Wills. “We work at festivals and outdoor venues both large and small, as well as private parties and receptions.”
While the economy begins to show signs of rebounding, Wills understands that launching any business venture can be a challenge. Still, in his opinion, tenacity and staying the course will help a business succeed. By taking a common sense approach, and having a definitive plan, the road to success is not an easy one, but it is much smoother.
“You must be able to handle the good times as well as the bad,” says Wills. “Handling rejection is par for the course, but you still must stand strong. (Success) won’t happen overnight, but by working hard, being consistent, and learning to act instead of reacting, you can begin to see and enjoy the prosperity. Then…repeat!”
Fat Daddy’s BBQ is currently accepting event bookings. For more information, contact Darren Wills at (303) 525-4090, or send an email to fatdaddysbbqllc@yahoo.com.
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