Today we’d like to introduce you to Jacci Castille.
Hi Jacci, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was laid off in October 2017. While trying to gain employment, I decided to start my own business during the downtime. I have plant-based and vegetarian daughters at home and the one thing they loved to eat was baked potatoes.
Although they could eat baked potatoes every day, I had to be more creative with my carnivore side. My nephew saw what I was doing and suggested that I should start a baked potato business.
I did some research and saw that the San Antonio market did not have an exclusive baked potato restaurant. I teamed up with Launch SA and UTSA Business and Development and they guided me with the resources, cohorts, and mentors to help me launch this business.
Being unemployed and only living off of my VA disability it was really hard to get a business loan especially being an idea of a concept. I was advised by Robert Melvin of limitless Creations of San Antonio, to test the market with a unique potato. We came up with “the Rob” Brisket loaded sweet potato.
I was up for the challenge but deep inside I wouldn’t eat that potato. To this day, I have still yet tried that potato. I do love sweet potatoes. So I decided to hit up friends and family to try “The Rob” and it was a hit. I was utilizing a commercial kitchen until I was able to raise money to open up my storefront.
Still unable to receive a loan, I made the ultimate sacrifice and sold my home and my tundra (that truck was my baby). Used the money to purchase equipment and open my store a year later. We opened one month before covid and I felt my world crumble. Like how are we going to keep this dream alive and how was I going to retain my staff?
I used my self-taught marketing skills and sent out campaigns to drive customers in for curbside and utilized the delivery apps such as post-mates, uber and door dash. We survived the 1st year of covid and snowstorms.
Now we are here for year 2 and even though things are not back to pre-Covid we are still standing.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Our road was not smooth at all. We were not bringing in customers pre-covid and we had to come up with advertisements to gain new customers and keep repeat customers utilizing our loyalty program.
If it wasn’t for Spurs Give, Lipton, African American Chamber of Commerce, PPP loans, and other funding sources. Jacked Potato probably would have joined the other restaurants that had to shut their doors.
We also have to give credit to the city of Converse and their EDC department. They have been on the sidelines cheering for us all the way through.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Jacked! The potato provides customers a creative twist on the classic potato. The potato is no longer the lonely side. It is the main dish featuring fresh ingredients, unique sauces, and quality grilled and roasted meats. With endless flavor combinations, our custom jacked!
Potatoes and supreme customer service make for an amazing and jacked! experience with every visit. Whether you’re looking for a classic loaded potato, Philly cheesesteak, sweet potato loaded with savory brisket, or our Cajun chicken with our signature jacked! sauce. You have options to create an experience, Jacked! Potato has you covered no matter what you are craving.
We are known for our Philly Cheesesteak loaded baked potato and or Peach Cobbler sweet potato. We are a spud above the rest.
We’d love to hear what you think about risk-taking?
I made the ultimate sacrifice and sold my home and my tundra (that truck was my baby). Used the money to purchase equipment and open my store a year later.
If you want something in life to build a legacy for your family sometimes you just have to jump out on Faith. Take that leap if you fail, at least you tried. But don’t give up on your dream.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www,jackedpotato.com
- Instagram: @jackedpotatollc
- Facebook: jackedpotato
- Twitter: @jackedpotato
- Other: https://g.page/jacked-potato?share
