Broke Boyz From Fresno
Hey everyone it's Martin from the Broke Boyz From Fresno Podcast, my goal here is to entertain, inspire, and uplift our community. I'm all about keeping it real, sharing my daily struggles, and motivating others who might be going through the same. Join me as we navigates life’s challenges, supports one another, and builds a stronger, more connected community together.
Broke Boyz From Fresno
The Sandwich Maestro of MyGuy Market
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Eddie, owner of MyGuy Market, shares his journey from working three restaurant jobs to creating Fresno's most talked-about sandwich shop. His business stands as a testament to authenticity, hard work, and the power of finding your unique identity in the food industry.
• MyGuy Market was founded in February 2022 after Eddie and his business partner researched authentic chopped cheese sandwiches in New York
• The viral "Checkmate" sandwich—featuring an 8-hour smoked beef short rib that customers pull the bone from—transformed their business
• Eddie's father was a chef in Spain before the family immigrated to the US, instilling a strong work ethic and culinary foundation
• Running a small business presents challenges including work-life balance, physical exhaustion, and competing with corporate wages
• Eddie emphasizes the importance of authenticity in entrepreneurship—you don't need a suit and tie to be a successful business owner
• Community building should focus on support rather than gatekeeping, with genuine collaborations that don't require monetary exchanges
• Fresno has its own distinct Central Valley identity that isn't Northern or Southern California but deserves to be celebrated
• Outside of business, Eddie practices Muay Thai, participates in a running club, and enjoys chess and live music events
Stop by MyGuy Market at Belmont and Roosevelt in Fresno and follow @MyGuyMarket on Instagram to see the famous pull-out Checkmate sandwich and other menu offerings.
Follow us @ brokeboyz_ff on Instagram and TikTok
Intro Music by Rockstar Turtle- Broke Boyz (999)
Christmas Intro Song by Nico
Dog Days Festival Experience
Speaker 2waiting for the most is to try that fucking rib sandwich.
Speaker 3Oh man the checkmate.
Speaker 2One of the other homies went on there because he's friends with the homie Isaiah, one of the local rappers here. Okay, and I saw him do the pull on it, the pull-out challenge yes, yeah.
Speaker 3Pause.
Speaker 2And after seeing that video I was like all right, bro, I got to go over there and see what he's talking about man.
Speaker 4You have one of the best sandwich spots out here and I appreciate that man for real, of course, yeah, and I and I caught wind of it from your social media page. You guys are really on it. Man, I love, I love what you do. We were at dog days and I was like telling dj, I was like, hey, bro, that's my guy mark yeah, yeah, and dj was just like, oh, you want him on the pod. I was just like sure, let's see, I love it too, hey, you, you slid through.
Speaker 3You know, you're all like, hey, bro, I got to get you on the pod. I was like, all right, cool, yeah, because it was funny, because, like bro, that day fucking dog days it was fun. You, I mean, I just love seeing Fresno Just trying something different and just trying to put on Whatever it is. And yeah, I had a long ass day. What did I do that day? That was Saturday, I had work, so I had to do a pop up At Fresno State and it was hot as fuck. And then, you know, setting up and then breaking down, and then after that I had to get ready To go to my nephew's birthday and that's all the way in dinuba. So I was all up in dinuba over there, and then um was there for like majority of the day and then my boy hit me up and he was all like yo, you trying to go to dog days.
Speaker 3And I was all like, yeah, you know, I don don't know. I mean I had a long ass day, but I know how my boy is and he just wanted just to go out. And I mean, you know, he's my right hand man. You know what I mean? He's my barber. His name is Vandy Vandy Touch One of the illest barbers here in town.
Speaker 1He usually does my hair Like I don you know what I mean.
Speaker 3So, like um, he's like yeah, I got, I got you a ticket. So I was like fuck, but I won't be in town till like eight, nine trying to like, kind of like extend it no, don't worry, it's gonna close, it's gonna end at one. So I'm like, fuck, all right. So after dinuba I drove all the way back to um fresno and then I wasn't gonna change and bro, I was in like the ultimate unfit.
Speaker 1I mean, I'm pretty sure you guys seen it.
Speaker 3You know like I had my hawaiian t-shirt, my jean shorts, I had my flip-flops. You know what I'm saying. Like it looked like you were styling he has a fashion statement for sure.
Speaker 3One thousand percent it was funny because, like, I just, you know, I mean I had that shit on for sure, you know, know what I mean. So I went over there and then, yeah, man, it was just a crazy, you know, just a crazy experience, just seeing Dog Days like, find, like, because I don't know if you guys went to the first one. The first one was at Samar Center.
Speaker 2You guys heard of it, we heard of it, but we never went.
Speaker 3Yeah, the first one was cool, you know. And then the first one was cool, you know, and then, like I think it was perfect to do it at True Chance, just because it's a smaller venue and but yeah, I mean, I was there and, bro, I was just big, chilling, long-ass day and I don't know, like something was in the air because, like everyone was just kind of walling out you know what I'm saying Like it was, but it was. It was cool, though, because everyone's having a good time and that's the, that's the best thing you can do, right, and like, um, I love. I mean, I was just like full onk mode, just like observing everyone to see like how everyone's just having a good time, and it was beautiful. You know, I saw like some of my family members there my cousins were there, he was hella geeked out and shit.
Speaker 3You know what I'm saying and then some of the homies, some of the, the community members of downtown, so it was always good to see the city, to be out and just enjoy no bullshit, no, you know, no funk, no, nothing. Just really just enjoy the moment, you know, just really appreciate what's going on and what's happening, rather than like, oh, is this all you got?
Speaker 1Is this all you have to offer?
Speaker 3you know, so yeah, it was a cool experience, but I ain't going to lie man, like I don't know. Some of the females were just kind of wilding because someone was being like hella touchy with me, like hella grabbing my arm, and I was like no, this ain't cool bro, like you got to chill out, respect the space.
Speaker 3You know, my boy, like his aura, is just crazy. You know he's 44 years old and like he just has like that real OG, like aura Right, and like bro, this shorty like just grabbed him and like ran straight to VIP. But I didn't have a VIP ticket, so I just kind of had to run behind him to make sure that like I could catch up to him because I wasn't trying to lose him. But then, like this one shorty bro I don't know what it was like she was bold, like she, like she like grabbed the shit on my wrist she was like like that and I was like what the fuck?
Speaker 2I?
Speaker 1was like, bro, get off me. What the hell was this?
Speaker 3bro, that was like I'm not gonna lie, bro. That shit made me uncomfortable, you know, because, like what if the roles were reversed?
Speaker 1yeah, yeah, some shit like that. You know what I mean right away.
Speaker 3Shorty's gonna go on social media, be like oh, the market, market guy, the sandwich dude, was hella being touching with me? You know what I mean? I was all like bro, like I don't know. Boundaries, ladies and gentlemen, boundaries, whether it's you, you're a lady or a man, just respect the boundaries. You know. I'm saying like for real, because I'm just trying to chill. Have a good time. Let my toes you know what.
Speaker 3I'm saying Go over here like I don't know man. But other than that, other than that little mishap, dog Days was cool, it was fun and I wish nothing for the best success for Devin and his team to just keep it going you know what I mean?
Speaker 2Yeah, man, when I looked over you looked like you was grooving, doing your own thing. I was like, damn, I kind of don't want to bother, bro, because P-Lo was on stage. Bro was gigging, doing his thing.
Speaker 3I'm like, okay bro, sob bro, I'm not going to lie. Sob went on. I was like shit turn bro.
Speaker 2I'm not going to lie. You know what I mean. It was going crazy like.
Speaker 3That's what turns it up, because, like Fresno doesn't really, it's still. I feel like Fresno is still trying to find its identity, right, you know what I mean. Like I mean, but we're like we are in the heart of California, we're the Central Valley, right? So we have both styles and both swaggers that come from down south you know LA County and both swaggers that come from down south you know LA County and like Bay Area, you know what I'm saying. So, like we're just a mixture of everything. We're a mutt, you know what I'm saying. And like you just never know, like I don't know.
Speaker 3Fresno definitely has its own sense of style too, but I feel like people don't really own its identity. You know what I mean. Like people try to like figure us out. Like people think we're still like NorCal. You know what I mean. But we're the Central Valley, you know we're the heart, and I just feel like people just got to really own our identity and it's just being who you are, Right, I think that's it really. You know, there's no really explanation. Just be who you are, denny of Fresno, right, you know what I'm saying. Like we're just hard workers. You know we're hustlers and you know we grind hard, and we work hard and we play hard.
Speaker 2Yeah, that's it. You know what I mean Exactly. You know, I think one of the biggest things about being from Fresno is being able to represent your city and make a name for yourself is huge, Like that opportunity in LA. I mean it's common you see people go to LA. That's the city of dreams, right there.
Speaker 1That's where you go to accomplish your dreams.
Speaker 2Being able to do it here is wild. So seeing someone like you running a sandwich shop like what made you want to start that business. How did you get into that?
Speaker 3Well before we continue.
Speaker 4We didn't even introduce it. Actually yeah.
Fresno's Identity and Culture
Speaker 1We just jumped right into it.
Speaker 3I didn't even know we were still recording, but I just I thought. I thought this was like the warm-up, you know what I'm saying like this is like the pre-game until we actually like dude, like I love it.
Speaker 4I love when people have that energy because it's just like it's it's timeless, it's like okay we're rolling like okay, nice, yes um, but welcome back to another episode of the broke boys. You know I'm saying today with dj and also we have a special guest. Go ahead and please introduce yourself to everybody that's listening what's good, everybody.
Speaker 3It's your boy, eddie six day, aka eddie wu tangzi, aka your favorite chef's favorite chef, aka your auntie's favorite. You know I'm saying yeah, aka best sandwich in the central valley, two years running. You know what I'm saying. But um, yeah, um, I'm the owner, co-owner of my guy market, belmont and roosevelt, right down the street, four years running. You know what I'm saying. What's good with it? We, here we live, we on the podcast, appreciate the broke boys coming through, because I'm one of them too as well. You know what I'm saying. So here here we are. Hell, yeah, I appreciate that. Man, yes, of course man, very honored.
Speaker 2Go ahead so how did? You get into owning my Guy Market? What made you want to start it?
Speaker 3So it pretty much started off with my business partner, floyd Sanchez. He's the one that pretty much curated the whole idea and the whole vision for me and pretty much he, we just had a conversation and he just said like yo, um, I had this crazy vision, idea, I feel like that you can blow it up. And um, pretty much I was like, okay, well, lay it on me, pause. So he would. He pretty much just kind of explained the whole idea of what a chopped cheese was and all that stuff and he was all like yo, there's like this sandwich in New York and I feel like you could really blow it up here in Fresno. So, you know, just like everyone else that asked me, I told them what the fuck is a chopped cheese? Right, and pretty much he, you know, showed me a couple of clips on YouTube of what it was and during that time no one didn't know what a chopped cheese was it was like a if you know, you know kind of ordeal in New York, you know what I mean.
Speaker 3So pretty much we just did our research a little bit and this and that, and this is very simple. A chopped cheese is basically just chopped up ground beef, onions, lettuce, tomato on a French or a hero as they say in New York and some sauce. That's it. It's basically a deconstructed, a chopped cheeseburger just like in a sandwich. That's it. Nothing crazy, nothing special, nothing major. It's very plain, Jane, Right. So pretty much we did. We planned to go to New York and actually go to the bodegas out there in New York and actually try out the chopped cheese. You know, Because I didn't want to serve something that I never had before you know what I?
Speaker 3mean, I really wanted to just do the research. You wanted to be a part of the experience, exactly, just gain my knowledge and see what comes about from our trip, right? So I think back in 20, I think like 2020, 2020, no 2021. So it was the year after COVID, 2021, we went out to New York and, yeah, pretty much we just went out there and we went through like all these bodegas we had, like we walked everywhere in New York and it was just a cool experience and that was my first time like going to New York and it was kind of like during like COVID time, so it wasn't like as crazy as it is now you know what I mean, but it was still like a great experience and it was cool, man, like just being out there and actually experiencing the culture of New York.
Speaker 4That's nice. So did you guys go to a lot of hole-in-the-wall spots? Yeah.
Speaker 3Honestly, we just walked all over like Brooklyn, I think, like some of Manhattan a little bit, but like just all like in the inner cities of like Brooklyn, and then whatever bodega look promising, we just went in there and just asked them for a chop cheese, that was it. We didn't really like do any research, we just, we just went for it, just went for it, just went for it.
Speaker 3You know we went outside, like the touristy areas and all that stuff, and really got into the city and just kind of just did our research from there. You know what I mean like and we said you know I had a great time. We were just out and about, like just doing our thing and just enjoying the experience, the culture, the people. You know new york people, like they have a different type of energy but like they're very welcoming.
Speaker 3You know what I mean like a lot of people say that like new yorkers are like hella, hella mean and shit, but it's like, bro, if you're gonna act like a tourist, of course they're gonna be mean because, like you're over here, like stopping the tracks to take a photo of a fucking building, you know what I'm saying?
Speaker 1it's like, bro, like they're trying to get to where they're trying to get to. You know what I mean, like it's very fast paced.
Speaker 3you know, the, the, the culture, the, the culture shock is just a whole different experience, like Fresno, you know, and then you're going to New York. It's just a whole different experience.
Speaker 3But, everyone should have the opportunity to go check it out for themselves. You know what I mean, because everyone has different experiences, but it was super fun, super cool. So that's where we pretty much all that knowledge that we gained from that trip came back to Fresno and then we finally, uh made the whole um, like the whole business aspect, like actually um getting our LLC, um getting our fictitious business name, like actually finalizing all the paperwork to actually make things official right, instead of just like doing like a pop-up or whatever it is like. We, we wanted to really like own the name MyGuyMarket, and that's what we did. And when we came back, went to the city of Fresno, followed our paperwork, all the forms that we needed to fill out, and then, yeah, just went on from there. 2022, we did. That was our first year. February 11th, 2022, was the first official day that we started MyGotMarket, ran down the street and then the rest is history.
Speaker 4Dang, you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 2That's tight man, so I got a question about that too. When did you first implement that rib sandwich, that famous rib sandwich that everybody sees on social media?
Speaker 3So the Checkmate? The Checkmate is a Texas-style beef short rib that we smoke for eight to nine hours, and it's the dino rib, so it's just thick like mad. Thick, Yo pause.
Speaker 1This is getting crazier now, god damn.
Speaker 3But anyways, it's our beef short rib sandwich, provolone, our checkmate sauce, which is pretty much a sundae gravy, marinara barbecue sauce mixture on a French and yeah, you got to pull out the bone. Yo hey, we got to do a pause. Count bro.
Speaker 1This is crazy.
Speaker 3Yo like four or five right now, God damn it so like, anyways, you got to pull out the bone and then like that's how you got to devour it.
Speaker 1Oh man, this is crazy, hey, yo hey.
Speaker 2You're trying to say it all quick too, but no one heard it.
Speaker 4He's trying to hold it in like fuck, fuck, fuck.
Birth of MyGuy Market
Speaker 2Hey man, I respect it though, but when you see the video, you understand it. Yeah, of course, for sure. I kid you not. That is the. That is one of the most sexiest sandwiches I have seen.
Speaker 3Thank you, thank you yeah, so my business partner Floyd, he's just, you know, he's the mastermind, he's the grand wizard to like all the sandwiches that we develop, you know, and, um, I'm pretty much the the executor, like I make the sandwiches. He pretty much has all the recipes and all the ideas to make things happen. And, um, I think we actually seen this sandwich, this type of sandwich uh, they were doing that kind of style sandwich in new jersey and then my business partner floyd just saw a video, sent it to me. He's like, hey, bro, if we do, if we do this sandwich, I feel like like we're really gonna change the game. And we really did.
Speaker 3And the checkmate wasn't really on our menu at first because we were just fully focused on like real New York style sandwiches, like chum cheeses, bacon, egg and cheese, all that kinds of things. And then at one point the business was kind of slow around summertime, going into fall, and we were just kind of figuring things out. I was like, damn, I don't know if we were doing something wrong or we were just putting ourselves out there more. And then, yeah, that video came across, our algorithm and then we just did a test run algorithm and then we just did a test run and pretty much we did the test run and we, we, um, we um shot content for it because that the the test run on the video was just crazy.
Speaker 3So it's like, bro, we got to just shoot the photos, we got to shoot the video, like right now, and just post it and this is like during like thanksgiving and we debuted that sandwich on black friday and, yeah, we, we posted it on instagram and it, low-key, blew up.
Speaker 3And then next, you know it's bro, it just started rolling in and I'm like yo, this is crazy. And when we introduced the, the checkmate, into our menu, we probably did like the best, the best month of business in december, like december, you know, around like winter time, around those times, because you know, the holidays come around so it's a little slow for restaurants and stuff. But when we, when we introduced the checkmate to the menu, bro, it was game over. We had the best month, um, the best month ever. I don't think we ever really like beat that record yet, but that was the best month we ever had.
Speaker 3And, um, yeah, bro, I was just like just locked in, just ready to go and just fucking banging them out. You know what I'm saying. So, yeah, it was just, it was just a crazy experience when that whole thing happened, you know. And then, and then the momentum from December lingered on to January and it was just like everything was just going up from there because it was just something that no one's ever seen before, no one's ever tried. I mean the niche, you know what I mean. It's like just pulling that shit out. You know what I'm saying. Pause, hey, yo, oh God man, this shit crazy. But hey, oh God man, this shit crazy. But anyways you know. And then, but when you take that first bite, bro, it's just game over you know what.
Speaker 3I mean, it's just like the flavors is just in a whole different spectrum. It's just a whole nother level.
Speaker 2You know what I mean. The irony of calling it the checkmate is crazy.
Speaker 3Yes.
Speaker 2Like in the food industry.
Speaker 3that was a checkmate move, that's what got you guys to soar Honestly and it's insane, brother, and I wanted to ask you so.
Speaker 2obviously your business partner, he chose you. Why did he choose you? Because, I mean, were you making sandwiches before this? Were you known to make the most fire sandwiches in your family, or something? What was that about?
Speaker 3Well, you know, I come from a family of chefs. My dad, he's the iron chef. You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 2Shout out to Pops yeah.
Speaker 3So Pops was really doing his thing back in Spain Because, well, my parents are, they come from Laos.
Speaker 2Okay.
Speaker 3And then they migrated to Spain. I was born in Spain and around that time my dad was I'm not saying my dad is a shit, you know what I'm saying and when he was out there in Spain he was just cooking up just crazy, crazy like French cuisine, spanish cuisines, like you name it Like he was just doing his thing and yeah, and then we came to the States and we just stayed here and my dad's been a chef and it's always been in the family, it's been in the blood. And my dad's been a chef and it's always been in the family, it's been in the blood. But you know, fast forward, I was working. I mean, I'm just a hustler. The one thing that I've learned from my dad was just the hard work ethic that he always provided. You know what I mean.
Speaker 3Like I didn't. I'm not a great learner or anything like that. I'm not really like into the books, the books or anything like school wasn't for me but, I, knew how to work.
Speaker 3You know I probably won't be the best worker, but I will. I will make sure I get the job done right. You know. So pretty much, um, my experience of cooking I've been in the game for about 10 years, I would say, and I was working three jobs. I did teppanyaki at kunisama, I was working at chef paul's cafe in chinatown and I was working at benedictions. So, um, I was working three jobs, you know, six, seven days a week. You know what I mean. And um, yeah, those are, those are some times. And, yeah, my business partner. He just seen the work ethic that I had instilled in me. So I'm pretty sure that was the reason that he's like I feel like I'm the best person that can really blow this shit up, because he knows that I'm going to put my heart out into it. You know what I'm saying. So, like working for three bosses at the time and just fucking call all that shit out and just working for yourself, would be even better you know what I mean.
Speaker 3So that's pretty much, I believe, why he chose me. And it's just crazy because like he's seen this vision for me, bro, and like I didn't have it in me, I didn't know what I had, like I didn't my whole idea was not to like run a business, own a business, or nothing like that, because I didn't really see myself in that position. But he did and I'm just very grateful that he's seen that in me and he really he really brought out that real like the ownership out of me into like making some shit happen. You know what I mean and like it's it's cool man, it's a cool feeling, just because this episode is brought to you by never trusted.
Speaker 4Before we keep it rolling, we got to give a big shout out to our sponsor, never trusted, straight out of the five, five, nine. They've been repping the culture and the grind since day one. Never trusted is more than just a brand. It's a statement. It's for the ones who hustle, the ones who've been counted out and the ones who never folded under pressure. You'll catch us rocking never trusted on the podcast, in the street and at advance, because it is fresno made, fresno raised and built for everybody chasing something bigger. So if you're trying to support local and you want gear that actually speaks to the lifestyle, go tap in with never trusted. Hit their socials, grab your drip and let them know that broke boy sent you. Never trusted was built in the 559. Trusted by no one, respected by all. Now back to the episode.
Speaker 3I don't know, Like, look at me, bro, Like I don't. I'm not the typical looking business owner, but I am a business owner.
Speaker 3You know what I mean, and just for me, just to be myself, like that, that's everything. You know what I'm saying Like I could do what I want and like handle it, I mean, yeah, that's the beauty of it, but just make sure you just handle business Right and that's what I like to do. You know what I mean and you know I'm very grateful to be in this position where I'm at right now.
Speaker 2Absolutely. I think that's a huge stigma in the world is that to be a business owner, you have to dress up all suit and tie all the time, dress shoes and and all that. And that's why, when we were first in the crowd and I saw, I was like, is that him? Yeah, I was like, well, think about it, business owners gotta have a fun too, being able to be yourself like I was. I was seeing your pictures of the way that your barber has your hair set up. I was like, bro, this man got some swag to him. Like it's not strictly just fresh cut suit and tie, expensive cologne all these expensive smart words sophisticated yeah, like pinkies
Speaker 2uh being you pull out game strong hey, that's why I got no kids baby hey, hey, man, but you can continue to be yourself and still operate and own businesses. That stigma of you have to be a clean and I'm not trying to say you don't, you don't put that shit on, I'm just saying like you're not the ordinary business person of course you don't fit that ordinary um, I guess you could say persona of someone who's a business owner.
Speaker 2You remember to be yourself. You do what you love. You do the content that you enjoy. I saw that you were on a run, I think, the other day.
Speaker 4Yeah.
Speaker 2And just seeing that type of stuff, you're still out here living your entire life the way that you need to and being passionate about it.
Speaker 3I think that's important and that's huge, and the other day is doing something that you love all the time, being able to still go out and do what you love, man, that's amazing, of course, and that's all it is too. You know what I mean. Because no matter what, there's always going to be stress running a business, no matter what. Like there's no such thing as a stress-free business, and if there is, let me know I would love to be put on game man to figure out how to run a stress-free business. But you know, like entrepreneurship is just, it's just a wicked, it's just a wicked game. You know what I mean, and it's not for the weak-hearted. That's why I respect every single business owner. You know we call ourselves small business owners, but ain't nothing small running a business. So at the end of the day, I just love to call us just business owners, because there's no difference between running a business like a business like that I run and like a subway or an Ike's.
The Famous Checkmate Sandwich
Speaker 3You know what I'm saying and um yeah, it's just just being being an entrepreneur and just doing what I love to do and, um, it's just like really appreciating the passion and the craft that I have behind it. Because, like I don't know, I would say that I'm very well respected like through like higher, top tier chefs in the Valley and I still be tripped out about that. You know what I mean. Like I'm tripped out that like this chef that has that does like top tier, like Michelin style-esque type of cuisine, and he just gives me my flowers saying like oh man, I love your sandwiches, this and that, and I'd be like tripping, I'm like damn, that's crazy. But you know, and that just goes to show that like he respects the work, because he sees the passion and the crap that I have behind it.
Speaker 3Right, you know and trust me, I mean there's so many times when I want to quit, but man, it's just crazy. You know what I mean. Like just and just doing everything on my own, like, of course, like I I need a squad to like help me, like run the show, but especially times out right now it's just hard to compete with, like corporate businesses where, like they're paying their employees like 20 plus an hour.
Speaker 3You know, I can't, I can't afford that you know, what I'm saying and like I gotta make it worth it for someone to like actually spend their time to help my business out. You know what I'm saying. And like I gotta make it worth it for people. You know like I'm trying to like cut like that real cutthroat boss kind of. You know like running, like, like running the ship like a Gordon Ramsay kind of shit.
Speaker 3You know what I'm saying. Like I actually want to kind of like switch, like, switch it up and actually like make it worth it for people to like help me out. You know'm I'm just so I'm grateful for people to like, you know, choose their time to help me out with my business. You know what I mean. Like I had a couple employees before and like and they're forever going to be like instilled uh, instilled with me. You know, shout out to Jonathan and Anthony like they really held it down with me and we had some times together and like now, um, now they're doing their thing, that what they love to do, and I love that. You know what I'm saying. Like I didn't want to just like entrap them and just keep them with me.
Speaker 3They were struck with you you know what I'm saying just just know, like you know, you're bigger than you're bigger than my dreams and I hope you guys chase what you guys want to chase and they're're doing it and it makes me so happy, it makes me so proud to see their progression and you know what I mean. Like I don't know, it's just it's very, it's a very interesting state to be an entrepreneur right now, around these times.
Speaker 4You know what I'm saying. So like speaking on that, like what are some cons that you've gone through? What are some of the downs?
Speaker 3I mean the time. You know what I'm saying. Like you know, you're going to miss a lot of family-oriented things, a lot of events that you want to like go and do. I mean, like it's hard to even like pay myself out, you know, because everything goes back to the business, you know what I'm saying Like pay myself out, you know, because everything goes back to the business.
Speaker 3You know what I'm saying. Like, majority of the time I break even and then when I do make some profit or revenue, everything just goes back to the business, you know? Like paying off the fees on DoorDash, paying off the fees on Square, and those are just like some of the cons that I see. You know what I mean. And like, yeah, I mean it takes a big toll on your body, especially in the food industry too. You know what I mean. Like for me, like I got to, I do everything.
Speaker 3I pick up product, I prep, I set the kitchen up, you know, and I do all the cooking. Obviously, I assemble the sandwiches, you know I got to go out and give like, the orders out to the door dashers or the people coming through. And then when there's people that never heard of us, that don't know what to do, like I literally got to explain how to order my food to people every day. And don't get me wrong, I appreciate that for sure. But damn, like I'm like a broken record Just like, okay, this is what you got to do.
Speaker 3You got to order through the app and this and that blah, blah, you know. But you know it's just, you know, being a one-man army sometimes it just takes a lot of toll. But, um, I think I'm just really starting to learn how to, um, listen to my body more because, like a few weeks ago, I was like down and out. My body just shut down on me one time and then I was just super depleted and like it was bad. Like it was bad. I just got to the kitchen, my body just like shut down on me and then my head just started pounding and then I think, like I had a fever, you know, and that kind of really like messed me up, so I had to close.
Speaker 3And then, yeah, that's another con too. It's like you want to have these days off, but you got to like stay open. You know what I mean. So I was closed Thursday, friday, saturday and like those times I was closed, I just had like hella, calls from customers, hella, dms from customers saying are you guys open?
Speaker 3And that blah, blah, blah, you know what I mean. And it's like damn, like if I'm not operating the restaurant, then no one is. You know what I'm saying. So like that's just kind of like that's another like shitty con for sure, because like I gotta be the one to be in the kitchen and make sure everything's operating and all that stuff, but um, still learning the game still and unlearning some other things too at the same time. But that's just the beauty of it is, um, learning like learning new things every day, unlearning things that you did learn, that didn't work out, and then kind of just kind of figuring out what else, uh, what else could, uh, could work out, you know, in the future or like in the run, and all that stuff. So, yeah, man, it's just crazy, bro, yeah you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 2So what if you could get any form of resource or anything that kind of help you out in your business? What would you need the most? Um, uh, would you say funding. Would you say it'd be like yeah, I would.
Speaker 3I would probably say like investments if you, if you have like a good source of funding, that that can definitely uh jumpstart you in a in a good position. You know, um, luckily uh my business partner, he uh funded for uh, like you know, a good amount I'm not gonna say on camera.
Speaker 4You know I was about to.
Entrepreneurship Challenges
Speaker 3You know, but and then we had like a another, another investment funder, that like kind of that put into our business too, so that really helped out to really jumpstart our ship and just to get things going and on the roll and on the ball. You know, like that's just like the main one really. You know, just like whoever, if there's someone out there who like believes in your vision and they're going to invest in you and like put a certain amount of revenue into your business, then it's like all right, it's game time. You know Like every, you know every dollar counts, so make the best out of it. Like you can't waste time, you can't waste money or anything in that kind of sense, because you got to make sure, like everything counts.
Speaker 3You know what I'm saying like your time and money is just that's everything. It's everything for real. Like you can't just be like all right, start a business and I could do what I want to do. Like no, like you can't do what you got to do. Like you got to do what's required. You know I'm saying like that's the difference. I feel like people want to be a boss but they don't want to do the responsibility.
Speaker 4Yeah, you know, do the responsibility of the boss.
Speaker 3They don't want to, they don't, they don't know what it takes to cost to be a boss. You know what I'm saying. I don't know like it's funny to even call myself that too, because I still I'm like I said, I'm still trying to figure things out too as well. You know what I mean, but it's just um, it's just a lot. You know what I mean. Like you just got to really know the game and someone for me to be in my position too, like it's just so much, so much require requirements and so much uh, knowledge to know to really just own one and run one.
Speaker 2So well, outside of the business, what are some of the things that you like to do? Try and get your mind off of things. Oh, I mean I.
Speaker 3I would say I'm very simple, um. I just turned 30 this year, so like um big 30 yeah 30 30 man straight on status for real.
Speaker 3It's funny. Like all, like all the little homies, they want to be called on. I'm like, bro, like you haven't seen what I've seen. Bro, you know what I'm saying, you haven't walked in the shoes that I've walked on. Bro, like you got to earn that status for sure. You know what I mean. But I'm very simple.
Speaker 3Like, I love Muay Thai. I love to go to my gym Manny Monch's Kickboxing Gym. I love to do muay thai. That's one of my favorite things to do. My, it's crazy.
Speaker 3My business partner is my mentor. You know what I mean. He's my life coach and if, if you guys, if there's someone out there who's a mentor and a life coach, like you know, really, um, really require all that knowledge that they want to give you because, like, it can really change your life. Because, um, my business partner, he put me onto running, he put me onto muay thai. Oh, I'm sorry, but uh, muay thai and running, that's what I love to do. I like to run. We have a run club on sundays called 937 to run and, uh, my business partner started that run club in 2014. I started doing Muay Thai and running around 2019. And, yeah, that's what I love to do. I love chess. There's actually a chess club right down the street called the Fresno Chess Club. Shout out to Rudy really a good man over there and you know I love to listen to music, you know, and I love jazz.
Speaker 3I love to go to like anything like anything live music, whether it's like hip hop, alternative, rock and roll, metal, jazz, all that. I just love to see people in their element and just just doing what they love to do, same thing how people love my sandwiches. It's vice versa, you know what I mean. Like I actually like to see like the local acts or just see people just like in, like zoned in, locked in and just doing it, because it's like I'm so inspired by and inspired by like people doing things that I can't do. You know what I'm saying. Like you know, it's crazy how much love I have for music and how much I've been so involved with music Like I used to like before, like my Guy Market, I used to like do a lot of hosting and emceeing, for, like I did, I hosted like for like I I did.
Speaker 1I hosted like hawker halloween one year.
Speaker 3What? Yeah, I hosted um grizzly fest. The last grizzly fest I hosted that one crazy. Yeah, man, it was crazy. I mean people really see me as like the life of the party, you know.
Speaker 4But now it shows.
Speaker 3Yeah, I'll tell you that, yeah and you know it's just a trip because, like now, it's like I've I've calmed down so much since then and I love it, though you know what I mean and it's funny. But, man, those were great times, though. Fresno around like 2016,. 2019 was like such a good year, Such a good year run, Like you know, Tower District was cracking. Downtown Fresno was just super cracking.
Speaker 3Arhop I mean like the early stages of Arhop was just super fun. I mean we had shops like Rue General Scraps and just like all the community of downtown was just so supportive in everyone's endeavors. And man, those times, bro, were just so uh, so natural, so wholesome you know what I mean. And like everyone was just like really outside. Like the outside that we were going through around 2016 to 2019 is not the same, bro, like I'm gonna be for real, like it's not the same.
Speaker 3I mean it's cool now, but I don't know that time it was like the golden era and I was just I'm just so grateful to live around those times, man, because it was just super fun times and now seeing everyone now like everyone just grown up, now everyone's having kids, and it's just so beautiful to see everyone's growth from those times, because things were wild back in the day and like to see everyone.
Speaker 3Now it's like I love that everyone's still from those times, because things were wild back in the day and like to see everyone now it's like I love that everyone's still healthy, everyone still looks good and their kids are just so beautiful, so cute. And you know, every time I go see them, or wherever that case may be, they're like oh look, it's Uncle Eddie. I'm like, oh yeah, you know what I'm saying. And's like now it's like we're really building a new generation. Now you know what I'm saying and that's what we love to see. We want to see more growth and this right here is a great example of the growth, and I feel like you guys have a great platform and I feel like you guys can really make something out of this, but just stay consistent.
Speaker 3That's the one thing people like trying to figure out is just to stay consistent. You know what I'm saying. So kudos to you guys for making something like this happen, bro, because you know it's not easy to build something and keep it going.
Speaker 1You know what I?
Speaker 3mean.
Speaker 2Right.
Speaker 3So I'm pretty sure you guys like understand that.
Speaker 2Yeah, and thank you for recognizing that man. I guys like understand that. Yeah, and thank you for recognizing that man. I appreciate that. I mean, it's been a long time coming.
Speaker 3It's been a long, long time coming. I mean, what martin was telling me earlier was about to reach our 150th episode, oh wow congrats.
Speaker 2It's insane to know that number and I mean I was telling him all the time, like before we even started this podcast. I watched a lot of like joe rogan podcasts and stuff like that and it's just crazy. Because I see his podcast, I'm like bro, he's got thousands of episodes, yeah, thousands, and I'm like you know how long it's gonna take to get there. 150. We're already come on. Now you're over there, we're already there, so it's just crazy to see the growth in the platform.
Speaker 2uh, seeing, like, all the talent that fresno has, like you don't really know or see it until you really get out in the field and really like bring people on or just speak to people, like that's it. It's insane seeing how networking has gotten so far. I mean, I know people in so many different establishments, like you with the restaurant, knowing people who make music, people who produce, people who do videography, like I can only imagine what it's going to be like next year, what we all can create together, you know, and it's beautiful seeing the community.
Speaker 4We were at an art hop and we got invited and, um, and we didn't know what it was going to be like and just having people come up and be like I literally came out here because you guys were going to be out here, yeah, and then hugging us taking pictures with us and you guys were actually doing like live segments too at Dog Days.
Speaker 3right, yeah, at Dog Days.
Speaker 4Yeah, that's so far, and it's never been done before. We made history for Fresno. There you go.
Community Building in Fresno
Speaker 3Yeah, and, and that's what it is too. Um, yeah, I mean, community is everything you know, and um, that's what fresno's been building community, but sometimes, like, um, fresno could get lost in the sauce. Yeah, you know what I'm saying, but we just got to remember that you can't create community without unity. So it's, yeah, you're absolutely right together, create and see what comes about, because you just never know, and I mean there's so many great history. I mean my, my good friend, daniel Ramos, like he was on the VMAs, because he he's the main photographer, videographer for Bruno Mars, you know, and like, I'm just super proud of him for his accolades, for him to um, direct Die With A Smile, bruno Mars and Lady Gaga and direct that music video for that artist, rose, for, like, the apartment song and him being at the VMAs. You know what I mean. I'm all like bro, like anyone can make it out of Fresno. You know what I mean. I'm all like bro, anyone can make it out of Fresno. You know what?
Speaker 3I'm saying and like I mean, even this past weekend, I just want to say rest in peace to A$AP Rock, a$ap Black, and they just did his memorial at 455, and you know what I mean. It was beautiful. The CD came out, fash came out, fashan, planet Asia, mc Wigs, just showing their love and their gratitude to Aesop, you know, and like bro, like his spot's, like literally around the corner you know what I mean and like it's just a beautiful thing when the city comes out and it really like shows love. You know what I'm saying and like not not in some bullshit, and really just showing out and just appreciate, like what we have and what we got, because that's what we, that's what we have to offer is like we're not like la big city, new york, um, you know, bay area, you know. So we just really have to appreciate what we have here and make it the best of what we got exactly, yeah, which is why, like when I wanted to build the platform, I didn't.
Speaker 4I never wanted to be like. You know what? I'm gonna go to the bay area or I'm gonna go to la and and move out there and try to network out there. I just wanted to be here. I still wanted. That's why it's still broke. Boys from fresno, yeah still fresno.
Speaker 1I want to show out for the hell yeah, and that's.
Speaker 4I think we're blessed, because I mean look how far we've gotten, yeah, man. And then being showcased and having connections, having artists on and like, showcasing fresno, like, and continue being authentic, continue being ourselves like it's it's gonna continue elevating and that's that's the most important thing, is that I want to show people like no, like I don't have like a fat ass studio and and no, you have to get clearance before you see me. Like no, like it's more of like hey, I want to help you yeah, I.
Speaker 4Want to help and build the community together yeah, that's it.
Speaker 3I mean the, the. The recipe is very simple, you know, but sometimes people want to over complicate the recipe. They want to add this and that. That's like, bro, you're good, just add a little bit of this, add a little bit of that and see what comes about from it, and that's it.
Speaker 3You know, of course we wanted to, you know, make it the best dish we can ever make. But sometimes you got to just do those trial runs, those test runs and see where it comes about. And then, once you figure out the recipe, just keep following the recipe and you know, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Speaker 2Right, you know what I'm saying Exactly. What's one of the things that you want to see Fresno do, or what do you want to see out of Fresno in the coming months years?
Speaker 3I just want to see people just execute their ideas. You know, I just want to see creatives in any aspect. Just make things happen. You know what I mean. Um, and for me, I'm like I said I look at everything outside from, from the outside, and if, when I see people like just doing their thing and you can actually see and feel that it's actually genuine, um, I just want to see that just happen. You know what I mean. And then if I have an opportunity to see that just happen, you know what I mean. And then if I have an opportunity to see that person or that creative, whatever it is, and let them know, be like hey, I see you've been doing this and this and that I think it's really dope what you're doing. Just keep it going, keep it pushing. We just got to just keep supporting each other and just elevate. And yeah, I mean Fresno is like, like I said, like it's there, but we just, if we can go in a little bit deeper, yo pause.
Speaker 3Bro, but you know, and I feel like if Fresno could really amplify what it has, and I feel like we can really like make something out of it you know, I mean like, for like example, like Arhop Arhop when before, like they did the whole closure.
Speaker 3It was crazy, it was insane and at first I wasn't really fucking with it because it just got way too crazy and the essence of R-Hop wasn't really there. But I do appreciate the fact that people came out. That was the one thing that people came out to downtown was R-Hop, you know what I mean. But now R-H on coming back in, um, it's cool to see the city coming back out. Now, you know. And then, like you have other events like jazz fresno I mean not jazz fresno, jazz tuesdays. Now johnny q he's been curing that for months and like just really building a platform for artists to showcase their, their passion. You know what I mean and like I just really building a platform for artists to showcase their passion. You know what I mean. And like I just want to see Fresno just do more things. And you know, regardless of what it is like just give people their flowers instead of just like gatekeeping you know Like fuck the gatekeeping bro, fuck gatekeeping.
Speaker 3Just spread knowledge. That's all I want to see. You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 2And I never understood. Why do people gatekeep? What do you get out of that?
Speaker 3I don't know dude.
Speaker 4I think growing up in Fresno it was always like a hatred yeah.
Speaker 3An animosity towards another.
Speaker 4And it sucks just because you want to help out. You want to spread the love, Like come on bro. Spread the love like come on bro. We, we're doing this together. It doesn't mean that you're higher than me doesn't mean that I'm better than you like, that it's us working together and figuring things out exactly, which is why, like, I'm open to so many collaborations which is why it's like no, let's continue doing let's figure something out or let's throw off ideas, feed off ideas.
Speaker 4You were talking about that when you walked in, like yeah, it's just like stuff like that.
Speaker 3That's incredible, yes yeah, sometimes people like I, like I said, sometimes people get kind of lost in the sauce, because I remember there's some influencers that hit us up and be like hey, like we see you doing your thing, we, we love your sandwiches, and yada, yada, yada. Like let's do a collaboration, I was all right, cool, like let's make it happen. And then they're gonna come around, be like so, how is this gonna Like we want to monetize our time and this, and that I'm all like. Bro, first of all, how are you going to come to me?
Speaker 3and ask me to pay you to do a collaboration. I'm all like, bro, like and first of all like. Our following is way higher than yours. You know what I'm saying. So that doesn't make sense. But if you do want to do a collaboration, we're all for it. You know we'll slide you the sandwiches, you know, off the strength and off the love, but we ain't going to pay you, bro. Right, that's crazy, you got to chill.
Speaker 3That's so crazy, and they're all like oh, I'm like, I'm in my humbling era. I was like, ok, you're in your humbling era, but you're asking for money, like, come on, you know what?
Speaker 3I'm saying Make it make sense, bro, yeah, so, and that's like for influencers to like go to small businesses and like ask them to do a collaboration and then ask them to like oh yeah, this is our pricing, you know, if you want to make something happen, and blah, blah, blah. It's like, bro, like go to like a corporate company with that shit.
Speaker 4You know what I'm saying? It's counterproductive. Yeah, exactly, I hate that. I hate that. That's why when I go to businesses or something like that, I don't care, I'll pay.
Speaker 3And then I'll tag them. Yeah, it's all love and I love it when they're like what the fuck?
Speaker 4And they repost it.
Speaker 3That's the real flex love to do. You know what I mean? Because we got to make sure we support each other.
Speaker 2No, matter what.
Speaker 3You know what I mean.
Speaker 2Hey, with that being said, shout out Sweet Pangs. Bro MLC was able to host a car meet right there at Sweet Pangs, in front of the parking lot. Man, so many pop-up vendors came out there. I hope everybody was able to make their funds out there. But at the same time, everybody just came out and did their thing. Sweet Pangs didn't charge us a thing, we didn't charge them nothing. We just came together as a community and really just tried to show out. You know, it was amazing and I just want to see more stuff like that in the community, whether it's the car scene, whether it's, you know, entertainment. I mean obviously the entertainment scene is a little bit different.
Speaker 2They got to make their money. Artists got to get paid, right. But even if it's just local stuff, local pop-ups like, remember that the money isn't everything Like. Sometimes you got to remember what you're passionate about and share that with others without having to charge a dollar figure for it. Remember that everybody out here is just trying to make it on their own too.
Speaker 4Yeah, man, it's crazy times, bro, crazy times Well before we go ahead and wrap up this episode, is there anything that you would like to say, inspirations, whether just starting your own business, or any advice that you would like to give to the younger generations that are trying to get?
Speaker 3into this. Um, I don't know man, like honestly, just I don't know. It's just. I remember, like on my, on my run club there's a, there's this fellow and like it was his second week and I was like super excited from like he was running with us. But I was like, hey, man, you got this bro, like you're here, you're here right now and you're running, don't worry about like being first or being last, but you're here and you're moving forward, keep pushing. And he was all like man, I don't know how you do it, bro. I was like I just you just gotta do it, that's it, you just gotta do it. And he's like man, like I appreciate your, your words, like you should get paid to do this. I was like, bro, I just say shit on my ass and I hope it.
Finding Purpose and Closing Thoughts
Speaker 3I hope it really like spark something to really like keep you going. But I don't know. I mean just just know that like um, this shit wasn't easy to get where I was at. You know I worked hard to get where I'm in the position at right now. You know, and I didn't I don't come from a family, of a family that's like that has money backed up behind them. No, no, nipple baby over here. Everything I worked hard for my family to as well. You know I come from a family of immigrants and you know, just very blessed to be where I'm at and I don't know, like, if I can do what I do, like anyone else can do it. And you know I hold it down for the Lao Americans out here. I'm Laotian, I was raised in Fresno, I'm an Eastside baby. You know what I mean. But I'm allotian, I was raised in Fresno, I'm an Eastside baby. You know what I mean. But I'm all over the place and just be nice to everybody. You know what I'm saying. Like I think, just keep it simple.
Speaker 3Right now, I think, where times are like as of right now, like things are just crazy, and just really appreciate where we're at right now. You know being alive, being present. You know we get so strung up and what we see on social media, on our phones and what like, there's like so much fucking crazy shit. That's just like popping out our algorithm, even though if you don't want it to pop up, it's gonna like come at you. You know. But believe what's real, believe what you believe in, believe in yourself. You know what I'm saying Because, like, sometimes, like we got to make sure to believe in ourselves and believe in what we're passionate for to make things happen, because no one's not going to help you more than you are, and it's easier said than done, absolutely.
Speaker 3But when you work, when you work, take it where you get to and it's gonna feel much better. Of course, we want those big wins, but just stack up the small wins. You know what I'm saying. Like, like for me, like I wake up, I make my bed, I do my laundry and you know I I do the dishes. That's that's. That's a great day to start off my day.
Speaker 3You know what I'm saying all right, cool, what can I do now? I go to the gym, I work like. I go to the gym, I don't bullshit, I work hard, like I want to fucking make sure like I get this good workout in, okay, boom, that's another win. And then I get the. I get my, my kitchen started, I go picking my product, I prep, I get ready, orders come in. Busy day boom, I won again.
Speaker 3You know, it's just like you got to stack up those little wins to get those big wins. And you know, I just feel like just keep pushing forward and keep think positive. And I don't know, man, like I said, I'm just talking out of my ass and like just keep doing, just keep doing. You, you know, I think that's it right there and make sure to find your identity. Your identity is very important and don't forget where you come from, don't forget where your parents come from, your grandparents, your ancestors. You know what I'm saying. That's where I'm at in my life right now. Since I turned 30, I'm really starting to be more indulgent to my culture, my roots and everything, and I feel like I'm getting closer to actually loving myself. You know what I mean and like I feel good, I feel great, I look great, you know what I'm saying. And just be confident and I don't know.
Speaker 3Just go to MyGuy guy market and buy a sandwich please support me that's all I have to say too, as well, that's real hell, yeah, well, yeah, man, thank you guys. Thank you guys again for allowing me to be here no, thank you.
Speaker 4Thank you for having me had a good time, thank you for helping us. Yeah, for real it was a great opportunity.
Speaker 2Man, I'm happy to have you on. Where can we find you?
Speaker 3You could find me on Instagram MyGuyMarket. We're on Belmont and Roosevelt, right down the street. Been there four years running. You know what I'm saying. The block is always hot because we there.
Speaker 4Best sandwich in the Central Valley.
Speaker 1Two years running and yeah, Best pull-out game.
Speaker 4You know what?
Speaker 3I'm saying, like I said no kids, bro, you know what I mean. Straight clean with it. But yeah, come through, check us out, Stop playing with us, man, I ain't gonna tell you again, hell yeah.
Speaker 4Come on, that's right, thank you guys. Thank you guys for listening To another episode. We love you Much love.
Speaker 1Peace. Hell yeah, hell yeah Peace.
Speaker 4Peace, peace, peace, peace, peace, peace, peace, peace, peace, peace, peace. Is this really happening? I can't believe it's true. I'm just as surprised as you.
Speaker 1Is this really happening? I can't get too sure, but one day I'll be yours.
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