953: Jesse and Scott Spellman Co-Owners of Utopia Bagels

Scott and Jesse Spellman are co-owners at Utopia Bagels. They are father and son, respectively. They have an additional co-owner as well, Anthony Panteleo, who is one of the original founders. Utopia Bagels was opened in 1981 in Whitestone, NY by Anthony and two other partners. Scott began working at the shop around 2010 and began a co-owner in 2013. They began by using the old world process of individually hand-rolling bagels, kettle boiling them, and baking them in their 1947 carousel oven. Today, Utopia Bagels is extremely popular, with lines out the door almost daily, over 62,000 Instagram followers, and wholesale. They can be found on Goldbelly, and exclusively on Uber Eats for delivery.

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Show notes…

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Favor success quote/mantra:

• Hands on. Do it today and not tomorrow. Quality first."

In this episode with Jessie and Scott Spellman we will discuss:

• Wholesale
• Partners
• Bagels
• Helping employees grow
• Expansion
• Catering
• The best practices of building a following on Instagram
• Goldbelly

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Knowledge bombs

1. Which "it factor" habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success?
   • Hands on
   • Time Management
2. What is your biggest weakness?
   • Shooting for the stars
   • Taking on too much at once
3. What's one thing you ask or look for when interviewing/growing your team?
   • Simple things should come quickly
4. What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it?
   • Keeping growth going
5. Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team.
   • Cleanliness
   • Make the person next to you better
6. What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff?
   • We get your order correct
7. What's one book we must read to become a better person or restaurant owner?
   • Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson
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8. What's one piece of technology you've adopted within your restaurant walls and how has it influence operations?
   • Egg mixer, tape machine, conveyor belt
9. If you got the news that you'd be leaving this world tomorrow and all memories of you, your work, and your restaurants would be lost with your departure with the exception of 3 pieces of wisdom you could leave behind for the good of humanity, what would they be?
   • Be true to yourself
   • Love what you do
   • Don't put off anything to tomorrow if you can do it today

Contact:

Instagram: @utopiabagels

Website: utopiabagelsny.com

Thanks for listening!

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Huge thanks to Jesse and Scott Spellman for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time!

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