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Eric Morcus Eric Morcus has spent nearly twenty years in corporate sales and marketing and in recent years “came home” to the family business to help run the Kaiser group of fine dining restaurants. He’s received the Palm Springs Desert Resorts Convention and Visitors Authority “Partners in Progress” and “Restaurateur of the Year” awards. He was President of the Palm Springs Restaurant Association and serves on the board of the Palm Springs Hospitality Association. He lives with his family in La Quinta. Eric, we met through our mutual involvement with the Palm Springs Hospitality Association–and our mutual friendship with our buddy, Ray Lovato. I love your restaurants and am looking forward to learning more about you, your family and The Kaiser Group! I know restaurant group was originally started by your father. Is it true he started the first restaurant because he was bored with golf and craving a decent restaurant meal? Yes, my father retired out here in the late 80s, after having many years of success in the resort business in Vail, Colorado. If memory serves me correctly, he opened one of the first restaurants here in the valley with an exhibition kitchen when he opened up the first Kaiser Grille in 1992. Previously, he developed resort hotels and owned grocery stores in Colorado. He had a home out here for many years and decided this would be the place to retire. He retired for just a short time before he was back in business! That’s a great story! And Eric, you left a successful career in corporate sales and marketing, the “rat race” as you call it, to come home to Palm Springs to help with the family business. Can you tell us a little more about that decision? It’s actually quite simple. At the time, I was at the top of my career. I was the number one sales manager in the company. I had made it to the top and was on cruise control. The timing was right and I had many options to choose from. My family has always come first and still does today. I decided to leave the hectic travel schedule and settle down to more of a “normal” routine where I could spend quality time at home during the week with my wife and two little ones. Also, they needed to get to know their grandparents. It was a win-win situation. I am very grateful for the experiences in my previous careers, as I use them as a foundation for what I do now. A family business is certainly a different dynamic than a huge corporate undertaking. Our company is family owned and operated as well (PalmSprings.com is owned by brothers Michael and David Castello), so I know how different the cultures can be. How was that transition for you? All the while I worked for corporate America, I spent traveling. I was gone literally every week, Monday through Friday. I was used to working hard during the week. My weekends were saved for the much needed R &R. However, once I began working evenings in the restaurant business, especially until the wee hours of the morning and weekends, it took some time to adjust not only to the hours, but to the staff and customer’s needs and wants as well. In the corporate world, I never felt I could call the CEO and say, “I have an idea that I think is worth pursuing.” Eric, you’ve stated that “sales is basically just giving people what they want.” And your restaurant philosophy reflects that. What can people expect when they walk into a Kaiser Group restaurant? Our philosophy is that we will not serve anything that we will not eat ourselves. There are no doubt a lot of fine restaurants in the valley, but we like to feel that our guests will get a memorable experience in all our restaurants. We have been offering hormone-free and antibiotic-free beef, poultry and meats for years, and make house-made dressings and sauces because we want to provide the freshest, best-tasting food that money can buy. We feel our guests appreciate this and want something that they cannot buy at the store and reheat! You’re also very involved in the broader business community and serve on a number of boards and associations. I know it’s important to you to make a difference–to help other businesses by sharing ideas. What’s the most important thing you feel that a Palm Springs area business can do for its customers? I feel a Palm Springs business should make each and every guest feel valued and important. Otherwise, why would a person wish to return to that place of business? We are in the hospitality/tourism business and that means to provide a level of service that exceeds expectations. I also believe that every business has a responsibility to get involved with the community and make a difference in the community. We owe it to this great community to give back with our time, money and resources. You’re also involved with Palm Springs Restaurant Week. I understand nearly 100 Greater Palm Springs area restaurants are participating this year! Please tell us a little more about Restaurant Week and its importance to the Valley. The goal of restaurant week is to help foster business to the valley in a traditionally slow period of time. This is done by providing value to the diners in the way of a valley wide event where diners can get three course dinners at incredible price points of either $26 or $38 per person. This represents a value of 20-30% off regular menu pricing. I know a lot of diners that go out most every night during this time because of the numerous choices they have and at an affordable value. We have partnered up with hotels and attractions in recent years to earn the tagline of “Eat, See and Stay.” We value the local businesses and hope that everyone gets a benefit from our efforts. The importance to the valley is providing one other event to this great community to attract consumer spending here. Eric, do you have a favorite restaurant among the Kaiser Group, or is that like asking you to pick a favorite child? That is exactly right! I have to admit, I love a good burger and beer at Grind! Although, when the mood hits, I love our bone-in Ribeye at the Chop House in Palm Springs. The good news is, I usually can find something for the mood I am in at one of our restaurants. Eric Morcus with his lovely wife, Tina, and their children. When you’re not busy transforming the dining experiences of Greater Palm Springs, what do you and your family enjoy doing in your spare time? Of course spending quality time with my family is the number one priority. I love a good workout and love to run the Bump and Grind trail. We always enjoy traveling, especially in the summer! And what is it that you love most about Palm Springs? What I love most about Palm Springs are the friendships and alliances I have made with fellow businesses, restaurateurs, hotelier and our guests that visit our restaurants. The beautiful setting and weather is a given, but the people have made me truly appreciate that Palm Springs is not just a place, but a feeling that you get when you know you are part of something really special and bigger than you. Beautifully said, Eric. Thanks so much for sharing your story with us today. Looking forward to seeing you at a Kaiser group restaurant very soon!
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Eric Morcus Eric Morcus chaith beagnach fiche bliain i ndíolacháin corparáideach agus margaíocht agus le blianta beaga anuas "a tháinig abhaile" chun an gnó teaghlaigh chun cabhrú le reáchtáil an ghrúpa Kaiser na bialanna itheacháin fíneáil. Sé fuair an Palm Springs Desert Saoire Coinbhinsiún agus Cuairteoirí Údarás "Comhpháirtithe sa Dul Chun Cinn" agus "restaurateur na Bliana" dámhachtainí. Bhí sé ina Uachtarán ar an Palm Springs Bialann Cumann agus fónann sé ar bhord an Palm Springs Cumann Fáilteachais. Cónaíonn sé lena chlann i La Quinta. Eric, bhuail muid tríd ár rannpháirtíocht frithpháirteach leis an Fáilteachais Palm Springs Cumann-agus ár cairdeas frithpháirteach lenár chara, Ray Lovato . Is breá liom do bialanna agus táim ag súil le níos mó a fhoghlaim faoi tú, do theaghlach agus an Grúpa Kaiser ! Bhí a fhios agam grúpa bialann a thosaigh i dtosach faoi do athair. An bhfuil sé fíor go thosaigh sé an chéad bhialann toisc go raibh sé leamh le gailf agus craving béile bialann réasúnta? Sea, mo athair ar scor amach anseo sna 80s déanach, tar éis blianta fada de rath sa ghnó saoire in Vail, Colorado. Má feidhmíonn chuimhne dom i gceart, d'oscail sé ar cheann de na chéad bialanna anseo i ngleann le cistin taispeántas nuair a d'oscail sé suas an chéad Kaiser gríl i 1992. Roimhe sin, d'fhorbair sé óstáin rogha agus úinéireacht siopaí grósaera i Colorado. Bhí sé ina bhaile amach anseo le blianta fada agus chinn go mbeadh sé seo a bheith ar an áit le dul ar scor. D'éirigh sé le haghaidh ach ar feadh tréimhse ghearr sula raibh sé ar ais i mbun gnó! Sin scéal iontach! Agus Eric, d'fhág tú ghairm rathúil i díolacháin corparáideach agus margaíocht, an "cine francach" mar a ghlaonn tú é, le teacht abhaile chun Palm Springs chun cabhrú leis an gnó teaghlaigh. An féidir leat insint dúinn beagán níos mó faoi an gcinneadh sin? Tá sé i ndáiríre simplí go leor. Ag an am, bhí mé ag barr mo shaol. Bhí mé an ceann a líon díolacháin bainisteoir sa chuideachta. Rinne mé é go dtí an barr agus bhí sé ar rialú Cruise. Bhí an t-am ceart agus bhí mé go leor roghanna a roghnú as. Tá mo theaghlach a thagann ar dtús i gcónaí agus fós a dhéanann lá atá inniu ann. Chinn mé a fhágáil ar an sceideal taistil hectic agus socrú síos go dtí níos mó de "gnáth" gnáth áit a raibh mé am a chaitheamh cáilíochta sa bhaile i rith na seachtaine le mo bhean chéile agus beirt cinn beag. Chomh maith leis sin, is gá siad a fháil ar a fhios ag a seantuismitheoirí. Bhí sé ina bua-bua staid. Táim an-bhuíoch as an taithí i mo gairmeacha roimhe, mar a úsáid mé iad mar bhunchloch ar cad a dhéanfaidh mé anois. Is ionann gnó teaghlaigh cinnte dinimiciúil éagsúla ná gnóthas corparáideach ollmhór. Is é ár cuideachta theaghlaigh faoi úinéireacht agus á bhfeidhmiú chomh maith ( PalmSprings.com úinéireacht ag deartháireacha Michael agus David Castello), agus mar sin tá a fhios agam conas éagsúla is féidir leis an chultúir a bheith. Cén chaoi a raibh an t-aistriú ar do shon? Gach an am céanna d'oibrigh mé do Meiriceá corparáideach, chaith mé ag taisteal. Bhí mé imithe literally gach seachtain, Luan go hAoine. Bhí mé a úsáidtear chun ag obair go dian i rith na seachtaine. Sábháladh mo deireadh seachtaine le haghaidh T & R. teastáil go géar Mar sin féin, nuair a thosaigh mé oícheanta ag obair sa ghnó mbialann, go háirithe go dtí an uair an chloig bheag de na maidine agus deireadh seachtaine, thóg sé roinnt ama a choigeartú ní hamháin do na uair an chloig, ach don fhoireann agus do riachtanais an chustaiméara agus ba mhaith chomh maith. I saol corparáideach riamh, bhraith mé go raibh mé glaoch ar an POF agus a rá, "Tá mé ag smaoineamh go Sílim go bhfuil fiú leanúint." Eric, tá tú ag rá "Tá díolacháin go bunúsach ach a thabhairt do dhaoine cad ba mhaith leo." Agus léiríonn do fealsúnacht bialann sin. Cad is féidir a bheith ag súil le daoine nuair a shiúlann siad isteach i mbialann Grúpa Kaiser? Is é ár bhfealsúnacht nach mbeidh muid ag freastal rud ar bith nach mbeidh muid ag ithe féin. Níl aon amhras a lán de na bialanna fíneáil i ngleann, ach is maith linn a bhraitheann go mbeidh ár n-aíonna a fháil le taithí i gcuimhne inár bialanna go léir. Táimid tar éis tairiscint hormone-saor in aisce agus antaibheathach saor ó mairteoil, éanlaith chlóis agus Feoil ar feadh na mblianta, agus a chur ar cóiriú agus anlainn tí-déanta mar ba mhaith linn chun an freshest, is fearr-blaiseadh bia gur féidir airgead a cheannach a chur ar fáil. Measaimid ár n-aíonna buíoch as seo agus ba mhaith liom rud éigin nach féidir iad a cheannach ag an siopa agus reheat! Tá tú freisin an-rannpháirteach sa phobal gnó níos leithne agus a sheirbheáil ar roinnt bord agus cumainn. Tá a fhios agam tá sé tábhachtach a thabhairt duit chun difríocht a dhéanamh-chun cabhrú le gnóthaí eile trí smaointe a roinnt. Cad é an rud is tábhachtaí, dar leat gur féidir le gnó limistéar Palm Springs dhéanamh do chuid custaiméirí? Is dóigh liom ba chóir gnó Palm Springs dhéanamh gach aoi bhraitheann meas agus tábhachtach. Seachas sin, cén fáth go mbeadh duine ar mian leo filleadh ar an áit ghnó? Tá muid sa ghnó fáilteachais / turasóireachta agus ciallaíonn sin go dtí leibhéal na seirbhíse sin ionchais níos mó a chur ar fáil. Creidim freisin go bhfuil freagracht ar a fháil i gceist leis an bpobal agus difríocht a dhéanamh sa phobal gach gnó. Táimid faoi chomaoin sé chun an pobal iontach a thabhairt ar ais leis an ár gcuid ama, airgead agus acmhainní. Tá tú i gceist leis freisin Palm Springs Seachtain Bialann . Tuigim beagnach 100 bialanna Mórcheantar Palm Springs ag glacadh páirte i mbliana! Cuir in iúl dúinn beagán níos mó faoi Seachtain Bialann agus a thábhacht chuig an Ghleann. Is é an sprioc na seachtaine bialann chun cabhrú le gnó a chothú ar an ghleann i dtréimhse mall traidisiúnta ama. Déantar é seo trí luach na diners ar an mbealach ócáid ar fud an ghleann inar féidir diners a fháil trí dinnéir chúrsa ag pointí phraghas dochreidte de cheachtar $ 26 nó $ 38 in aghaidh an duine. Is ionann sin agus luach 20-30% de thalamh praghsanna roghchlár rialta. Tá a fhios agam a lán de na diners a théann amach an chuid is mó gach oíche i rith an ama mar gheall ar an iliomad roghanna atá acu agus ar luach ar phraghas réasúnta. Táimid tar éis gcomhpháirtíocht suas le hóstáin agus is díol spéise le blianta beaga anuas a thuilleamh an tagline ar "Ith, Féach agus Fan." Tá luach againn ar na gnóthaí áitiúla agus tá súil agam go bhfaigheann gach duine tairbhe as ár n-iarrachtaí. Is é an tábhacht a bhaineann leis an ghleann ar fáil imeacht amháin eile leis an bpobal mór a mhealladh caiteachas tomhaltóirí anseo. Eric, an bhfuil tú bhialann is fearr leat i measc an Ghrúpa Kaiser, nó go bhfuil cosúil ag iarraidh ort a phiocadh leanbh is fearr leat? Sin é go díreach ceart! Caithfidh mé a admháil, is breá liom borgaire maith agus beoir ag meileann! Cé go bhfuil, nuair a bhuaileann an giúmar, is breá liom ár cnámh-i Ribeye ag an Teach Gríscín i Palm Springs. Is é an dea-scéal, is féidir liom a fháil de ghnáth rud éigin do na giúmar Tá mé i gceann dár bialanna. Eric Morcus a mhná áille, Tina, agus a gcuid leanaí. Nuair nach bhfuil tú gnóthach ag athrú an taithí itheacháin de Mhórcheantar Palm Springs, cad a dhéanann tú féin agus do theaghlach taitneamh a bhaint as a dhéanamh i do am spártha? Ar ndóigh, tá am a chaitheamh ar chaighdeán le mo theaghlach an uimhir amháin tosaíochta. Is breá liom a workout maith agus grá a reáchtáil ar an Bump agus meileann rian. Táimid i gcónaí taitneamh a bhaint as taisteal, go háirithe i rith an tsamhraidh! Agus is é cad é go bhfuil grá agat an chuid is mó mar gheall ar Palm Springs? Cad Is breá liom faoi Palm Springs iad na cairdeas agus comhghuaillíochtaí atá déanta agam le gnóthaí eile, restaurateurs, hotelier agus ár n-aíonna a thugann cuairt ar ár bialanna. Tá an suíomh álainn agus aimsir ar leith, ach na daoine a rinne mé buíoch go fírinneach nach bhfuil Palm Springs ach áit, ach tá mothú go bhfaigheann tú nuair a fhios agat go bhfuil tú mar chuid de rud éigin speisialta i ndáiríre agus níos mó ná tú. Álainne a dúirt, Eric. Go raibh maith agat an méid sin do roinnt do scéal a roinnt linn lá atá inniu ann. Ag súil le tú a fheiceáil ar an bialann grúpa Kaiser go han-luath!