Good Neighbor Podcast Northport
Bringing Together Local Businesses and Neighbors of Tuscaloosa and Northport!
Good Neighbor Podcast Northport
Whataburger with Quinton White
Craving a behind-the-scenes look at the hectic but exciting world of the fast-food industry? Meet Quinton White, the managing partner of Whataburger, in our latest Good Neighbor podcast episode, as he peels back the layers of his intriguing journey from the bowling industry to restaurant management. Quinton offers a fascinating peek into the vibrant culture of Whataburger, detailing how the team harnesses exceptional hospitality, bold flavors, and community care to create a 'wow' experience for their customers. Listen in as he sheds light on the complexities of this industry, from logistics to food safety and remarkable customer service.
In this captivating conversation, Quinton also introduces us to his personal challenge of relocating 500 miles away to establish his career in Tuscaloosa. He shares his insights about embracing life's opportunities and his passionate commitment to continuous personal growth. When the apron comes off, you can find Quinton in the local bowling alleys, Shindig and Bowlero, pursuing his passion for the game. In a heartwarming end note, Quinton expresses Whataburger's commitment to serving their community that goes far beyond their menu. His vibrant spirit and inspiring journey make this podcast episode an unmissable treat! Plus, there's a special offer for our listeners you definitely wouldn't want to miss! #GNPNorthport #Burgers #TheStrip #24hours
This is the Good Neighbor podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Patricia Blondheim.
Speaker 2:Welcome to the Good Neighbor podcast. I'm your host Patricia Blondheim, and today we have Good Neighbor Quinton White. Quinton is the managing partner of the new Wettaburger on University Boulevard here in Tuscelusa. Quinton, how are you today?
Speaker 3:I'm doing great. Thank you for having me.
Speaker 2:I'm really excited to meet you. I met you at a Chamber of Commerce mixer at the tailgate, and this Wettaburger is going to be kind of special because it is the only Wettaburger that's going to be 24 hours. Is that correct?
Speaker 3:Well, we're not the only one. The other two units are 24 hours. We're one of the two restaurants on the University Strip that's 24 hours. It's the Wettaburger and it's the Waffle House.
Speaker 2:Oh, that's awesome. Yeah, exactly Okay, that's what I was trying to get at. I think I didn't state it very well, but tell us about Wettaburger.
Speaker 3:So Wettaburger has been around for a very long, long time. It's a culture that started back in the 1950s in the heart of Texas and the girl behind Wettaburger, our founder. He wanted to. Once you had a Wettaburger, that's what he wanted you to experience. Once you've been to the burger, he wanted you to say wow, wettaburger. So through our extraordinary hospitality, our bold flavors and our care that we give to our community and our family members, we try to live through that and offer through that all the time. So when anybody tries a Wettaburger, they think wow, wettaburger.
Speaker 2:That's terrific. So tell our listeners about your journey. Quinton, how did you get in this business? How did you end up being the managing partner?
Speaker 3:Well, my journey to Wettaburger was kind of a strategic but prayer move. To Wettaburger I applied, I saw a position in Tuscaloosa and I came from the bowling industry prior, so I had a great deal of restaurant experience along with bowling and I said, hey, I'm out of it. And Whataburger gave me that opportunity. So I relocated down to Tuscaloosa seven months ago. I started as a restaurant manager and every day I showed up on time. Every day I just soaked in the knowledge of Whataburger. So this day I still do. And thankfully my market leader saw light in me and he said hey, quinn, I wanna offer you this opportunity. What I was getting myself into I had no idea. But we are two games in from Texas, in Middle Tennessee, and I'm loving every day of it and Whataburger has helped me advance my career and that has been my journey so far. And we have Ole Miss this weekend, so every day has been fun and a knowledgeable experience.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no one's gonna be bowling hey tell us about any misconceptions people have about your industry, quinn?
Speaker 3:Well, I would say from my peers and coming from the bowling industry, a lot of people will say, hey, that fast food is easy, but with Whataburger and many other corporations it's a completely different beast. It's a different logistics way of looking at things with food and you add food safety on top of it and customers. It's a real, it's an experience, it's a restaurant experience. And the myth I would have to say would be some people think it's easy, but no, it's a different beast.
Speaker 2:It is. It's incredibly complex, isn't it? Well, do you yes, yes. When you're not doing this job right, which is probably overwhelming for you right now. You just got here. What do you do for fun? Do you go bowling? And where do you go bowling here?
Speaker 3:So when I'm not working, yes, I go bowling. There's only two centers in town Shindig and Bolero. I love Shindig. That's my local pro shot, where I get my bowling balls drilled right now. So both bowling alley's treat me well. But that's what I do I go bowling.
Speaker 2:That's great. I wasn't surprised. I wasn't surprised. Yeah, we got some good leagues here. Please, please.
Speaker 3:Yes, yes, you do.
Speaker 2:So can you describe one hardship or life challenge that you rose above and now you can say you know you're a better person for it?
Speaker 3:You know, I would have to say the one life challenge I had was the ability to be mobile and take a chance. Coming from the city I come from, a lot of people are reluctant to take chances. They stay stationary, they stay in the box, Whether if your chance is moving or whether if your chance is starting a new career or a new adventure. I think that is a life challenge and for me, the ability to take an opportunity 500 miles away from my family and put faith in a company that will push me forward and support me along the way. That was sitting back, looking at it. That was a difficult challenge and I'm still going through with it. It's an ongoing challenge.
Speaker 2:And you're gonna arise triumphant. You're gonna be a conqueror in this channel, and I can already tell Quinton what's the one thing that you wish our listeners knew about. What a burger.
Speaker 3:I wish the listeners knew that we are here to serve the community. We are here to offer a customer service experience like no other. Whether if you visit us on the strip or Skyline or McFarland, we're gonna have bright smiles. We're gonna have nice uniforms for you guys to look at. I know the color is not welcome that much but hopefully, with our service and our smiles that the community will know we are here to serve you through thick and thin Good weather, bad weather, Out of respect for you, quinton, I will not remark on the color coming so close to Tennessee, but you more than make up for the fact that your restaurant uses a disgusting color.
Speaker 3:We don't have it on the outside. We're the only one a burger. I will say this we're the only one a burger in town, in Tuscaloosa, maybe, alabama, with all white lettering and no orange on the outside.
Speaker 2:We thank you for that. How can listeners learn more? How can they contact you?
Speaker 3:You can contact us by just stopping by. Just stopping by the store. I would say mention us, mention our time together and learn a free banana pudding shake, and that's how you can learn about me, my restaurant. Yes, ma'am, my receipt, my name is on every single receipt and if you need a contact, we call the store and I'm always hiring. So just stop by.
Speaker 2:Okay, you heard it here first. Listeners just mentioned the Good Neighbor podcast and you get a free banana pudding. That is something extraordinary, thank you.
Speaker 3:You're welcome.
Speaker 2:It's been a pleasure having you in the studio, Quinton. I hope I get to see you again at the next Chamber of Commerce. Mixer.
Speaker 3:Yes, you will. It was great being here, Thank you.
Speaker 1:Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor podcast Northport. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to gnpnorthportcom. That's gnpnorthportcom, or call 205-809-4910. Here we go.