Nathan Webster

Was honored to be able to help out today by providing lunch to Amtrak and Norfolk Southern Executives for their Whistle Stop tour which introduces a second rail car service to DC daily from Roanoke, Va. As well as announcing rail service for the New River Valley in 2026. This is great news for our local economy here!!!

“Discipline is the greatest thing in the world. Where there is no discipline, there is no character. And without character, there is no progress….Adversity gives us opportunities to grow. And we usually get what we work for. If we have problems and overcome them, we grow tall in character, and the qualities that bring success.”

J. Willard Marriott, Sr.

Simon is one of my favorite authors and speakers. This video encapsulates one of the several reasons why.

Simon Sinek’s Life-Changing Advice Will Leave You SPEECHLESS (MUST WATCH) Simon Sinek may be best known for popularizing the concept of WHY in his first Ted Talk in 2009. It has since become one of the most watched talks of all tim...

“Every individual is like a thread in a beautiful tapestry with a vital contribution to make, not only to the sustenance of life as we know it, but in the creation and development of more beneficial expressions of life.”

John Templeton

As we all get ready for this coming week NEVER forget this!!!!

The online marketplace has changed the way we can all do business. We all have access to international audiences now with the power of the web. In my down time I’m doing my best to learn how to use the web to our advantage as we will be setting some up shops online for Scratch Biscuit Company to sell some of our goods and merchandise.

This year has been a challenging year in a lot of ways for everyone. As a restauranteur it’s been my job to guide the ship and provide ways for us to keep moving forward. I’m lucky to have the staff and community behind me to help.

An outside challenge we have also faced is we are having construction done on both sides of us. As you would expect this causes some issues because traffic and parking patterns change from what your customers are accustomed to as well as the general flow of how things have gone. How you interpret this will change the way you keep moving forward.

Now you could look at this as an inconvenience and that would be the easy way. The easy way is not the most enjoyable way though. Challenges build character and build relationships no matter what they are. As an entrepreneur, business owner or leader you are going to constantly need to be looking and thinking of the bigger picture.

I am absolutely thrilled to see this progress happen on both sides of us. I am thankful for the people that are making the investments to make them happen. Once the dust settles we will be adjoined by beautiful new buildings with a more modern and appealing appearance. This in turn will benefit our properties that we have fixed up over the years and continue to do so. It also benefits the overall neighborhood and helps us move forward being more and more desirable for public appeal.

To sum it up. Don’t be afraid of change as an entrepreneur. Embrace it with open arms and allow the positive possibilities to appear. Keep a clear mindset that your future is untapped and you are presented with new opportunities to grow and continue on.

When times are tough they are tough for a reason. You are being tested on your commitment to your dreams and goals. Don't give in. Pass the test and embrace success.

I have this number above my desk. It’s a constant reminder to me that all it takes is one action or one comment to make or break you. Sometimes it can be multiples actions, but each individual action or reaction can be so important to how you move forward. This is a lesson that none of us stop learning. Constant reminders are a way that helps me personally.

When you are facing a difficult decision remember this number and make sure you are making the right decision that reflects where you ultimately want to be. Often times through simplicity like using this number as a reference we can find valuable guidance that helps strengthen our desire to succeed.

Baking is a skill that takes time to learn. It’s not just throwing some ingredients together and putting it in the oven. Variables like humidity, water and room temperature can make a difference. This is why our biscuit bakers at Scratch Biscuit Company go through training. You can see the difference here in someone’s first batch of biscuits and our normal biscuits.

Now I am not criticizing this person’s biscuit, but in our training just like life it’s good to fail at times. It allows us to learn what we did wrong and have a visual representation of it so we know how to improve. I’m happy to report the future batches of biscuits from this staff member are the quality we strive for!!!

Today was an off day at Scratch. In business you are naturally going to have those and you need to know how to handle them. This one was out of our control which can add a layer of frustration to it, but you can’t let that materialize.

We could not get our computers working properly and thought we had it band aided until we closed and could fix the issue. We were good for a few hours and then the same thing happened again. As I was looking around I could sense the tension with some of the staff from a problem that was just not allowing us to operate like we needed to.

I made the decision to comp all meals for customers in line and in dining room since this was not their fault and they had come to support us, close for the day once they were done eating and get our computer team in there to fix the issue so we would be good to go tomorrow morning. The lesson here is in business you have to pick your battles. There are going to be battles you lose and that’s ok. As long as you are focused on the ultimate goal of being successful a lost battle won’t hurt you.

When a situation arises that’s out of your control and not fixable to the extent that you can’t operate like you need to you need to shut it down and address the situation. Don’t put your team or your brand in a position where they are not able to perform the job you have asked them to do. There comes a time in business where you need to realize it’s not just about profit and being open all the time. It’s about providing an environment where your staff and your customers know they can trust you to make the needed decisions that reflect the values you want your business to uphold.

Habit forming is a major component to attaining success professionally and personally. We can all learn to do better in creating better habits that enable us to achieve goals and desires which are important to us.

This is a good read for anyone looking for tips on this subject matter. It breaks it down into simple steps that help you hold yourself accountable for building and continuing those habits until they eventually become a natural routine. Our mind is one of our most powerful assets and training our mind to lead us where we want to be is the first step in building a lifestyle we strive for.

We got some new tacos we are rolling out for Taco Tuesday at The Village Grill!!! These Tijuana Tacos are where it’s at!! Stop by for some flavor and fun today!!!

As spaces open up for new restaurant concepts or if you are looking to start your own restaurant here is a brief article to help you know what to look for before signing anything. Get as much as you can in writing so it will always be available in case any discrepancies should arise. Additionally ask any and all questions you may have before signing a lease. Success is in the details.

Hidden Costs You Should Be Aware of When Leasing or Buying a Restaurant Impact Fees, Code Upgrades and More

"A business that makes nothing but money is a poor business." -Henry Ford

Business is about establishing relationships and community involvement. Without these two philosophies you just have numbers on paper and no loyalty towards a brand.

“Make your peace with the fact that saying ‘no’ often requires trading popularity for respect” - Greg McKeown, Essentialism

I’m just going to throw this out there. I can understand the notion and agree that some things need to change here in the US. I think every evolving country can always improve as they move forward. This whole America sucks attitude though is confusing to me.

We live in the greatest time alive to work for what you want. You really have two options when it comes to this. You can constantly complain or you can constantly hustle.

We are living in a time where you can start a business and have an immediate international audience for your products via the internet. Now seriously think about that. If you would have told business owners this 30 years ago that they could sell their product to anyone in the United States or internationally by setting up a website and marketing plan they would have been ecstatic. There are several tools and websites to help you do this and all it takes is effort and a dream.

You can invest in a stock market with as little as a dollar. There are online trading platforms you can download on your phone and trade, research and browse all day. I personally use Fidelity and love it. You can learn to trade and how to make gains through again, your own effort. Small gains will eventually turn into big gains once you learn how to trade and how to not ppl react emotionally to the market. If you only make $20 your first month that’s $20 more than you have and we all have to start somewhere. If you lose $20 bucks, you paid $20 to learn a financial lesson and are in a better place for your next venture than you were before. Either way you are making progress.

You can trade in bitcoin if you feel inclined. You don’t have to buy a whole coin. You can buy fractions of coins and join free online trading platforms to help you do this. Again with effort you can learn if it’s right for you or something you would be interested in. You can look all this stuff up on your phone.

You can start a social media page, find a niche and become an “influencer”. It will take a while to build your following and your rhythm, but if you are dedicated and determined you can do it and make money from it through advertising and sponsors. Again, it all takes effort. You can also start this from your phone on any social media app.

You can blog and podcast. Just find your passion and a niche and start. It’s that simple. The difficult part is having the dedication and discipline to keep it going. It has to be consistent content to keep people engaged. Again, it just takes effort.

Anyone can do any of the above things and there are still more that I didn’t mention. What I really want y’all to do is to think when you are complaining about it here, what are you personally doing to make it better for yourself and others. It all starts there. I’m of course going to think of business opportunities because that’s the way my brain is wired, but there are endless opportunities out there for you. Only you are responsible for finding them. If you wait for something to happen you better be prepared to keep waiting. Progress starts with you and without you there is no progress. Really think about that, because you are only one action away from moving in the right direction for your personal life. It only takes effort.

I would imagine a lot of people don’t realize how much our teachers come out of pocket to help supply their students with school supplies. Being the son of a lifelong elementary school teacher I learned this first hand. Teachers are not only underpaid right now, but they need our help.

As school starts so many kids will not have supplies for a variety of reasons. It’s not our job to judge, it’s our job to provide for this issue. Please drop off any school supplies you can. Masks, pencils, crayons, markers, glue, erasers, back packs etc.

There is a sense of pride a child holds when they have their own new supplies. It’s their first experience in a group setting to show they have things. Please consider stopping by either The Village Grill or Scratch Biscuit Company to drop off some supplies. You do not need to buy anything, this is for the kids. If you can't stop by you can purchase items from Amazon and have it shipped for free to us at 1802 Memorial Ave. SW Roanoke, Va. 24015 Show some love and drop off some supplies for a kid in need!!!

Another first for me in my restaurant career and I’m posting this because we all need to see there is still so much good out there and the fact that I love our customers. This was our mistake for letting the sandwich go out with their order, but they still took the time to write us a note and send us a check for it. In today’s world of digital communication there is still something very powerful in a hand written note. I want to thank this couple for putting a smile on my face. Please don’t forget there is always much more positive going on than negative. It’s just easier for people to get wrapped up in the negative.

“The limits of my language mean the limits of my world.” - Ludwig Wittgenstein

In other words. You will never grow past the education you allow yourself. Always be looking for ways to learn.

Finger pointing never solves issues. Solutions are the only way to solve issues. The longer you point fingers the longer you deal with the issue.

Just a little FYI for everyone. We are all good, just being cautious for the moment till we feel 100% comfortable opening back up. Business is about relationships not profits in my mind. It’s so important for a business to be completely transparent so customers and staff know their best interest are considered at all times.

Hello friends! So these are the kinds of announcements we get to make these days ... we've had a member of the Village Grill staff test positive for COVID-19. The employee is asymptomatic and the positive test came from a test kit obtained from CVS. Others who have come in contact took a similar test that came back negative. Out of an abundance of caution we will be closing the Grill and having those in contact get tested by a medical professional for a secondary result. When we receive medical clearance to safely re-open, we will do so.

We apologize for the inconvenience and apologize for abruptly closing for part of the day yesterday. We simply needed to figure out how to best proceed and what information to convey both professionally for the business and personally for the employees. We are incredibly grateful for the continued support of the community and will keep you posted as to our next step. Stay safe all!

Additional information: To answer some questions ... this employee last worked on Sunday (7/5). No other employee has tested positive that we are aware of at this time. All employees were wearing masks. Given the unknown accuracy of many COVID tests, we are having individuals take a second test thru a medical professional.

Let the lies, rumors and trash talk die on its own. All fires die out when less oxygen is given to them. Not every attack deserves a response. Be better, be smarter and be more focused.

We do a contest at the restaurants where one person from front of house and back of house gets a $100 cash prize every month. It’s judged based off most compliments from guests, going the extra mile to help customers, showing up on time for shifts etc. This month at Scratch Biscuit Company Michele was our front of the house winner and she has been with us since we opened. She is a valuable member of the crew who is always dependable and we love her for that!!! Congrats Michele!!!

You know we are going to be using fresh baked bread for PB's Po' Boys!!! 24 inches of fresh from the oven love straight to the prep table to be filled with all that Po’ Boy lovin!!!

A question I get asked from people new to starting their own business is how do you deal with people who don’t like you?

The answer is simple and this can very easily apply to real life as well. The answer is I don’t. A secure mind won’t let the opinions of people who don’t know you or know the whole story bother them. I refuse to waste time on people who have made judgements based off personal feelings only which are often times just projected opinions based off their own personal unhappiness.

Focus is what is going to carry you forward in any capacity. The more time you waste on negative attention the more time you waste on positive production. Very few criticisms deserve a reply when your body of work can do all the talking you need to be done. Build your body of work so you don’t have to talk about who you are.

Today I want to touch on the circle you keep. In business and in life you are going to be judged not only by your actions, but the people you surround yourself with. If you are in a leadership role you especially need to be cognizant of this.

I have encountered several people throughout my business career that as soon they tell me a certain individual is their friend I will back away from them. In these instances the certain individual is someone who has a record of not treating employees well, paying them consistently, keeping clean businesses and just closing down with no warnings to staff among several other personal traits that don’t line up with mine.

If you justify that behavior by saying well that’s just how so and so is then you are also not doing the best you can to be a productive member of society. Productive and helpful people don’t treat others like they are to be taken for granted and they don’t hang out with people who do so. Period. If you consider someone like that a friend you are ultimately doing yourself a disservice with your time and ability to grow in a positive manner.

Point being. Always be aware of how those around you treat others because if they do it to someone else there is no reason they won’t eventually do it to you. If you want to accomplish success in your life, learning how to keep the right people around you will be the key to your ultimate path and how easily you get there.

Some Monday motivation for you!!! Stay focused!!!

The newest project that I’m excited to bring to the Grandin Village is PB's Po' Boys!!! We are looking at a July 20, 2020 start date in the Scratch Biscuit Company space. This will not alter the way Scratch runs at all and you will still be able to get biscuits daily till 2pm.

The only change is you will know be able to get a Po’ Boy sandwich starting at 11am daily. I’m excited to bring this to Grandin because we have the space we are not using in the afternoons and evenings and there is no place in Roanoke that focuses just on Po’ Boys. Our bread will be baked local at Bread Craft and will have everything from meat to seafood Po’ Boys!!! Even Oyster from Rappahannock River Oysters, LLC. Homemade chips and bottled sodas and beer will also be available. Can’t wait to get these sandwiches rolling out the door soon.

It’s all about providing more options for a neighborhood that I love!!! 📸 Hungry Asian

At Scratch Biscuit Company we are obviously known for our delicious huge made from scratch biscuits, but that’s all made possible from our staff. This is Mary our head biscuit baker and her talent with the flour is what makes all that love happen.

As a business owner your staff is either going to believe in your product or not based off the overall actions and presence of the owner. Bottom line is any business owner would not have a business without a staff. Always make sure your staff knows they are appreciated and cared for. It takes a family type atmosphere for a business to run in a positive and productive manner. Next time you’re in and see Mary let her know she’s appreciated because I sure do know I’m thankful for her.