Good Neighbor Podcast: Colorado Springs

EP #16: Savoring Southern Cajun Delights with Tom Gillispie's Culinary Journey in Colorado Springs

• Tony Hills & Tom Gillispie • Episode 16

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What makes Tom Gillispie with Po’ Brothers LLC a good neighbor? 

Tom Gillispie’s journey from a teenager flipping burgers in a small-town restaurant to co-founding Po’ Brothers LLC is a testament to passion and dedication. On this episode of the Good Neighbor Podcast, we sit down with Tom, the culinary force behind one of Colorado Springs’ favorite Southern Cajun food trucks. Learn how Tom's experiences in the Army and at the Culinary Institute of America shaped his approach to cooking and inspired him to share the rich flavors of jambalaya, gumbo, and po'boys with a growing community of food enthusiasts. His story isn't just about food; it's about creating moments of joy and bringing people together over authentic Cajun dishes.

Tom also sheds light on the often misunderstood world of food trucks, highlighting their vital role in enhancing the local culinary landscape. He shares his philosophy of staying rooted in one location, allowing him to foster connections with his diverse customer base and maintain the quality and passion in every dish. With a mix of traditional Southern recipes and a strategic presence on platforms like DoorDash and Google, Tom attracts an eclectic mix of patrons—each with their own unique appreciation for Cajun flavors. This episode is a heartwarming exploration of how food and community intersect, promising to leave you hungry for both conversation and a taste of Tom's mouthwatering creations.

To learn more about Po’ Brothers LLC go to: 

https://po-brothers.com/

Po’ Brothers LLC

719-650-0770



Speaker 1:

This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Tony Hills.

Speaker 2:

Welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast. Are you looking for a great Southern Cajun cuisine restaurant? One might be closer than you think. Today I have the pleasure of introducing our good neighbor Tom Gillespie of Poe Brothers LLC. Tom, how's it going?

Speaker 3:

Not bad Just hanging out on this Monday.

Speaker 2:

Awesome, awesome, awesome. Hey, we're excited to have you on the show and learn about you and your business. Tell us about your company.

Speaker 3:

Well, poe Brothers, I'm serving Southern southern cajun cuisine out of this food truck. Uh, I built a full kitchen and a car hauler so I'm set up in one location at 18 20 60s plat, colorado springs. I am on google for location and hours. Uh, I serve anything from jambalaya, gumbo, etouffee, po'boys and fried baskets and have some sides to accompany, like red beans and rice, mac and cheese, dirty rice, collard greens when my wife helps me pick them anyway. So I'm usually open Tuesday through Saturday, 12 to 7. Lately I've been trying to open a little bit more so you might catch me on a Sunday or Monday.

Speaker 2:

Awesome, awesome, awesome. How did you get into this business?

Speaker 3:

Well, I've been cooking since I was about 16 years old, I guess. I started cooking in a small family restaurant and it was an open kitchen to the dining room and a small town, so local people got to see me cooking. I was working the charbroiler and the recognition and people tasting the food that you cooked and giving you feedback right after was just instant satisfaction. So I've dabbled in many fields but always turned back to cooking, was a cook in the army and then I went to culinary school, afterwards to culinary institute of america in Hyde Park, new York, and I just cooking in the Army.

Speaker 3:

We here at Fort Carson we had soul food Thursdays and I started to learn the history about southern cuisine and put it together in culinary school and really didn't look back started cooking for different retirement communities I was a chef for different ones here in town and met up with a guy I like to call my brother, reggie, and we had the same style and we just clicked and cooked for probably the past 15 years together. So about five years ago I started Poe Brothers just because it made us laugh and it fit into our lives. Uh, you know, we were cooks. You're not looking for riches and fame you're looking for to serve people and just give them good food and have a good time and bring people together that's awesome, awesome.

Speaker 2:

So what are myths or misconceptions in your industry?

Speaker 3:

uh well, food trucks for one. Uh, you know, I try traveling around. In the beginning people always say you should go here, go there. I like sitting right here. I get to cook more. When I was moving around I had other people cooking. I wasn't cooking as much and the passion was not there, so when I sat. Still, I've had a lot of fun here for the past five years and so I'm looking to do some stuff this year. But you know, food trucks, I think, are more sought after in this town just because there's love put into the food. Small businesses in this town, small mom-and-pop restaurants everybody cares about what they're putting out, they care about the customers that are coming in. So I think those misconceptions are starting to be changed with just the passion you see in the food scene here in town.

Speaker 2:

Okay, okay. Who are your target customers and how do you attract them?

Speaker 3:

Really okay. Who are your target customers and how do you attract them? Really, everybody. That's probably my favorite part about this. I get everybody at my window and it just makes me smile every day, because some people come up and you don't expect them to maybe appreciate this type of cuisine I'm serving, but they end up ordering the cool little stuff on the menu, getting my pork cracklings or whatever, or just coming straight at Gator, whether it's their first time or they just haven't had it for a while, and so, yeah, it's just amazing, awesome.

Speaker 3:

Sorry about that I forgot the second part of the question. I guess the way I tracked them. I'm on DoorDash. I haven't done much social media but Google does really well for me. People search a lot for Southern Cajun. I've been getting a lot of requests for boudin balls. So word of mouth is my name in my game. I try to stay hidden and when people come here they've wanted to come here or heard about me hidden. And when people come here, they've wanted to come here or heard about me and uh, um, I don't know, five years I I'm starting to see the, you know the payoff and the dedication uh taking place.

Speaker 2:

so okay, outside of work, what do you do for fun?

Speaker 3:

Well, I have six kids Right now. I've got a senior and a freshman. So my senior just finished up his football season. That was a big focus of this last year for me. He's got a few offers to play in college and I'm really looking forward to see what he can do. He's put a lot of hard work in so it's been a lot of fun just watching him grow and succeed in what he's trying to do. Then my freshman basketball football track. He's just trying to compete with his brothers. We have six kids all together, so he's the last one coming up. He's got a lot to prove, I think. So, other than that, I just do woodworking as a hobby and then help my wife with her up-and-coming business. So she's got a growth shed in the backyard and she grows succulents and houseplants and different things. So this last year we've just had a lot of fun as a family and trying to get everybody to grow in their own space.

Speaker 2:

Okay, okay, let's switch gears a little bit. Can you describe a hardship or life challenge you overcame, how it made you stronger and what comes to mind?

Speaker 3:

Well, that's touchy. So this last year we did lose our oldest daughter of six. She helped me on the truck a lot and thereafter my S and brothers came back to support me and about a month after he came back he passed away. So this last year, you know, I've stepped back a lot, focused on what really matters and, you know, spreading flavor and love and family and food happens to bring all that together. So that's how I'm overcoming my hardships is just cooking, having fun and hoping people enjoy what I'm putting out.

Speaker 2:

Awesome, awesome, awesome. So, Tom, tell our listeners one thing they should remember about Pro Brothers LLC.

Speaker 3:

It's what's good today. You know, every day something makes me smile, so if you're looking for something good, come check out what's good today.

Speaker 2:

And how can our listeners learn more about Poe Brothers LLC?

Speaker 3:

I am trying to work on my website so you can check out po po-brotherscom. I've done some work on there and plan to do some more, and I've got a lot of help from friends and family coming through. That's how I've stayed open this long. It's just me cooking and family supporting the heck out of me. So, yeah, just check us out at po dash brotherscom. You can order pick up delivery from their uh schedule orders. Check out my catering. Uh, I'm trying to focus a little bit more on that. So I appreciate the orders that have been coming through on my catering. So, um, yeah, just look forward to feeding people, Thank you.

Speaker 2:

That's awesome, awesome. Well, tom, I really appreciate you being on the show.

Speaker 3:

We wish you and your business the best moving forward.

Speaker 1:

Thank you very much. Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to gnpcoloradospringscom. That's gnpcoloradospringscom, or call 719-679-4720.