EDDIE FLORES JR.

What this episode covers

Eddie came to Hawaii as an immigrant and has become one of Hawaii’s most prevalent success stories. He used a $20,000 investment in a small mom and pop restaurant that he bought for his mother into a multimillion dollar franchise with 147 locations throughout the U.S. Eddie is also very involved in the community in which he raised $14.2 million for the Filipino Community Center. Some questions asked: Eddie, you purchased your first L&L restaurant in 1976 as a gift for your mother. Was it for her to own something and work to build it into something big or was it something else? What was your mother’s reaction to her gift? At that time did you have any restaurant experience? Management experience? Did the previous owner give you their recipes or did you create your own menu? Why did you buy L&L? What attracted you to this company? When you first arrived to Hawaii when you were sixteen what did you do for work? Who was your first mentor that taught you the laws of success as an entrepreneur? How have you been able to expand to the mainland? How did you decide that you wanted to franchise and not just expand on your own? Was it difficult to expand? Have most of your stores been successful? You are known for your generosity and unselfishness because you provide loans, credit and lease guaranty for employees in the L&L chain so that they can own a store, could you tell us more about his? How do you decide if you’re going to provide the credit or loan to a person? Any criteria? What is your average day like now? How do you manage your time? Where did you learn the value of a successful entrepreneur and being a community activist? At what age did you realize that it was important for you to give back and be involved in the community? Did you always think that way or did someone “enlighten” you to this way of thinking? What’s your philosophy on whether or not business people should give back to the community? Our show focuses on businesses giving back to the community, what is your take on giving back to the community? What do you say to those people who say there just isn’t enough time to get involved with the community because they need to focus on their careers first and primary? You also started a real estate company many years ago, is that still open? If so, do you still manage the company? Do you still do real estate transactions? Why did you get into real estate? You have a list of accomplishment with your role in the community, how do you find the time to be involved with so many boards and committees? Could you tell us about the Filipino Community Center? What happens there? What are the most important laws to becoming successful? How do you manage your time between business and family, especially with travel? Does your wife work in the business also? Why or why not? What is your wife’s role? What is the most important thing to teach your children? Are you preparing them to take over the business later? What was your biggest business challenge and how did you overcome it? Any last advice for business people? What can we look forward to in the future? What message would you like our listeners to receive from this discussion? What are the reasons you decided to come on this show? Can you tell us why other people should come on this show? Can you tell us why people should listen to this show? BIO: Eddie Flores Jr. is the president and CEO of L & L Drive-Inn and L & L Hawaiian Barbecue restaurant chain (currently 145 locations in Hawaii, Washington, Nevada, New York, Michigan, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and California). He bought the first L & L as a gift to his mother in 1976. Education: University of Hawaii,