The Beginning of Beginnings
Today, I signed a lease for a 3,750 sq ft restaurant as the Co-Owner and Managing Partner of Agnes and Sherman, a modern Asian American diner located in the heart of Houston, Texas. We’re on a mission to deliver a nostalgic, whimsical, and inclusive dining experience through the lens of Asian American food; and by doing so, expand the definition of American culture.
I left DoorDash to pursue this exact goal. What may feel like a sharp turn from the C-suite has been years in the making. As the daughter of entrepreneurs, I knew early on that one day I'd launch my own business. Therefore, everything I did in the last decade was with an eye towards this dream, including selecting the companies at which I worked, obtaining financial and psychic security (the attachment to who and what you're supposed to be is real), and cutting my teeth on solving seemingly impossible problems so that I’d have the reps, the confidence, and fearless attitude to step out on my own.
While I didn’t always know that my entrepreneurial journey would start with a restaurant — and trust, I’ve had a front row seat to the difficulties of the restaurant industry and understand them to be even worse financial investments — I look back at what I’ve accomplished and the through line is so clearly there. What has driven me my whole career and life has only deepened over time to become an insatiable appetite to build the future that I want for me and my loved ones.
For one, I’ve always been drawn to, and operated at the intersection of business and community. From arts and media to tech, I’ve led with the belief that one can’t, and shouldn’t be without the other. What’s good for community is good for business. Being a “socially responsible business” is not a buzz phrase, but an operating code of ethics. It's an active practice, and we are not going to always get it right but we will certainly work hard to deserve this label.
Two, even as I have leaned into the power of being an “other” instead of being othered, I also know and have felt intimately that our power is exponentially multiplied when we are in spaces of acceptance and belonging. I’ve advocated and fought for these places of belonging, often bottling up the disappointing effects of one step forward and two steps back. Now, I get to build this into the fabric of my restaurant - no ifs, buts, and whys. My perpetual push for those who I've worked with to take more courageous actions that challenge the status quo will continue to be channeled into my own deeds. Sadly, over the last year I’ve watched and counseled from the sidelines that what is foundational to our humanity has been demonized and weaponized. Equality and equity somehow became dirty words and this is simply wrong. The power imbalance that have been constructed and used to hurt those who are vulnerable has fueled my anger and motivation to create an unwavering space of love.
Last, but most importantly, while I've been able to make tremendous impact in my career amongst some of the smartest minds in our industry, the most rewarding moments have always been when I’ve been able to elevate the people I believe in. And, when that support is reciprocal. So it was a no brainer to collaborate with one of my best friends, the immensely talented Chef Nick Wong, as Co-Owner and Executive Chef of Agnes and Sherman. Our friendship spans over twenty years and once upon a time we were awkward theatre kids just trying to find our people, but now we’re in a position to care for our people. Not only does he have incredible experiences from some of the best restaurants you may have heard of, the alignment of our core values — accountability, community, creativity, joy, and, sustainability — is a sure sign that together, we’re embarking on something real special.
Signing a lease as a step forward in our adventure is the best Valentine’s Day gift I could’ve given to myself. This milestone demonstrates a (re)commitment to bet on myself and trust that everything I’ve experienced, everything I've done, have led me right here.
A few months ago, I turned to Nick and said, "We are so lucky to have such amazing friends." It's true, and you know who you are. Thank you for your generosity in sharing expertise, knowledge, and wisdom with us. We hope to make you proud and pay it forward by sharing our learnings along the way (I know you can’t wait to read more about commercial lease, investor relations, and SBA loans).
Agnes and Sherman is slated to open spring 2025. Stay tuned and here's to all the dreamers who have a plan.
-Lisa
*The original article was published on LinkedIn
“What has driven me my whole career and life has only deepened over time to become an insatiable appetite to build the future that I want for me and my loved ones.”
-Lisa
