We recently had the chance to connect with Ashton Schaffer and have shared our conversation below.
Ashton, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
It feels like a vast majority of people believe Restaurants are making a lot of money, but the hard truth is we run on some of the thinnest margins where every cent counts.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Ashton Schaffer and I Co-Own and operate a full service Restaurant, The Porch Pour, with my Mom. When we set out to open The Porch Pour our vision was to bring the freshest items possible. We bring in whole hogs and steers from our families farm which is in Canadian, Texas. We are a craft-cocktail spot, juicing fresh juice and crafting our own simple syrups in house. We only have DFW Beers on tap or in a can. Our Water of Life Cocktail list features a large number of Texas Spirits as well. Our Restaurant is inside of a beautifully renovated Victorian House, adding to the uniqueness of our place.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who taught you the most about work?
My parents taught me that you get out what you put in. Nothing is given for free, but gained through hard work. They also taught me that I can do anything I put my mind to.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
There have been multiple times during the process of opening our Restaurant that I wanted to give up. The long hours creating exhaustion combined with employees not being reliable and feeling like it was all crumbling. There has been a tremendous amount of pressure and stress I have felt to succeed, to not let my parents down, to not be the reason all of my employees are out of a job. It can be overwhelming and I didn’t really have anyone who knew exactly what I was going through I could talk to, so I felt very alone.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
I think the public version is a piece of me, but people are multifaceted and made up of a lot of things. It’s hard for people who only see you when you are performing, one could say, to know all sides of you. It takes time and trust to be completely vulnerable with someone to a point they see every piece of you and to be honest, not everyone deserves that privilege.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people say I was an incredible leader, someone who cared about growing and uplifting others. Someone who made a positive impact on people’s lives who crossed paths with mine.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.theporchpour.com
- Instagram: @theporchpour
- Linkedin: Ashton Schaffer
- Facebook: @theporchpour
