Today we’d like to introduce you to Jay Khan.
Hi Jay, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hey, I’m Jay Khan, restauranteur and current owner of 4 (soon to be 7) dining concepts in Dallas’ Historic West End. I started in this business around 40 years ago when I was going to college and working part-time jobs in the restaurant industry. I liked the business so much that I ended up staying in it! I worked my way up to the general manager of the same restaurant where I used to wash dishes. I went through every step of it from dishwasher to busboy, cook, server, bartender, assistant management, and general manager. I’ve experienced it all.
I started my career in the restaurant industry in 1982 and had the pleasure of working for several larger companies. I held positions as a regional opening manager where my main role was getting a new store off the ground. I’ve worked in Dallas’ West End since 1994. I love the area and have formed outstanding connections within the industry and the community. That’s why we decided to open up our first concept in this area. In 2004, we opened RJ Mexican Cuisine.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Over the years, we have overcome a lot of ups and downs. The restaurant industry is not an easy industry to work in because it is very competitive. Being a small businessman, going through the Covid shut down was not easy. Thank God, when the city started opening back up after the pandemic, we survived. We were able to keep our original management team, and now we’re back on track.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I have opened up several different concepts, all in the West End, and we’re not slowing down. We’ve brought a great balance of diversity and variety to the neighborhood. All within a walking block, you can find a Mexican Restaurant (RJ Mexican Cuisine), an American Irish Restaurant (Chet’s), Craft Cocktails and Farm-to-table American Cuisine(3Eleven Kitchen & Cocktails) and we recently opened a Fine Dining Steakhouse called The Liam’s Steakhouse, with the best quality meat cuts that even includes halal & vegan steak offerings. We are currently working on three more concepts, all opening in the West End.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out.
My advice to anybody who wants to open up a restaurant is to make sure they do thorough research because this restaurant industry can actually eat you up. As someone said, “If anybody wants to lose money, open up a restaurant.” So just a warning to please be wise about it. Make sure you understand every single cost that goes into the business before attempting to open up a restaurant.
Pricing:
- $10-20 lunch
- $5 happy hours
- $15-50 Dinner
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @theliamssteakhouse
- Facebook: The Liam’s Steakhouse
- Website: https://www.
theliamssteakhouse.com/
Image Credits
Sunna Khan
