STORY: STEVE SALIS (BEING A SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEUR AND LEADER)

Entrepreneurs can build success – and then build on their success – by carefully crafting strong business models, being patient, and always putting people first.

Steve Salis began his hospitality career as a co-founder of &pizza, the successful pizza chain with locations across the Northeast. He has since founded the privately-held Salis Holdings and Catalogue, a network of restaurants, retail and lifestyle brands all based in the Washington, DC/Virginia region, including:

• Federalist Pig, the two-time Michelin Bib Gourmand winner BBQ joint
• Kramers Bookstore, bar and all-day eatery
• Sidekick Bakery, a sweet, savory and everything-in-between bakery
• Honeymoon Chicken, which has quickly become one of  the most fried chicken concepts in the region
• Ensemble Kitchen, a tech-enabled delivery and takeout hub

As chief executive officer, Salis has built his brands into successful businesses that are fixtures in the Washington, DC, community, and plans to continue the momentum through expansion and growth over the next several years. His strategy includes opening several new Ted’s Bulletin locations across DC and Virginia, along with more opportunities for acquisitions and unit growth.

To help make that growth happen, Salis launched a special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, in 2021 called Sizzle Acquisition Corp. An initial public offering that brought in $155 million is helping to find and develop acquisition targets in the restaurant, technology and retail segments.

Salis knows it takes time to build a successful business. Beloved brands don’t reach that level of success overnight. It’s about taking the necessary steps to build a strong foundation, and ensuring that every aspect of the company is functional before trying to expand.

“With Salis Holdings and the Catalogue’s network of brands, it took time to get to where we are now,” he recounts. “It started with acquiring brands that we thought had potential, and then took a lot of trial and error.” It also took working closely with some very talented people to get to a place he now finds himself: expanding concepts like Ted’s Bulletin and Federalist Pig, revamping and modernizing iconic staples like Kramers, and launching new brands like Honeymoon Chicken, which recently became a Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand winner.

“There are so many people who go into making a business successful, from the people on the ground to the branding team and the executives,” Salis explains. “Every person is crucial to the process.”

Key Lessons Learned

Salis highlights three key lessons learned that apply to all of his ventures. “My first, &pizza, came with many learnings that have helped shape me into the successful business owner and entrepreneur I am today.” They include:

• Create business models that are both premium and approachable. “We have had great success with creating elevated experiences and products that remain approachable and accessible to all consumers.”
• Familiarity helps to foster emotional connections with brands. “Once you’re able to create meaningful connections between guest and brand, you can really tap into their wants and needs and create experiences that align with their values.”
• People first. “Over the years, I have learned the value of taking care of my people first and foremost,” Salis recalls. “We are one team, and in order to be a successful business, everyone on that team needs to be taken care of.”

Being a good leader begins with being a good communicator. “You have to be willing to listen to others, ask questions and constantly strike a balance between teaching and learning,” Salis emphasizes. “For me, being a leader is about challenging myself and those around me to think differently and expand the way they approach situations. In an industry that changes as quickly as the hospitality industry, it’s imperative to think quickly, plan strategically and be willing to fail in order to eventually find success.”

Salis played competitive basketball for most of his early life, and it taught him a lot about leadership and the importance of team work. “I may be the leader of our company, but just like in basketball a win can’t happen unless the entire team is doing their respective jobs. Beyond good communication, it takes trust, belief in each other and belief in the goals of the company to succeed long term.”

Company culture is another thing Salis says he is “very invested” in. “Over the years, we have worked to build strong relationships, and to create a place where people genuinely want to work. Allowing everyone on the team to have a say and to feel comfortable sharing their own ideas, concerns, or questions helps build a culture of trust and respect.”

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