University Daily Kansan / Tuesday, December 5, 1989
/
Student cooks up successful restaurant business
Pup's owner self-taught
By Steve Buckner Kansan staff writer
One of the many things that separates John Hetler from a typical businessman is that Hetler has managed three careers before graduating from college.
John Hetler owns Pup's Grill, 847 Indiana St.
Hetter's first company, Pinnacle Productions, a disc jockey service, was successful enough to pay for his education at the University of Kansas. His second venture, a T-shirt screening company called S&B Promotions, covered expenses for spring break trips.
His most recent business, Pup's Grill, 847 Indiana St.,
opened last year and may provide a career for the Lake
Forest, ill., senior, after he graduates in May.
Hether didn't attend school last year in order to get Pup's started. This semester he is taking 21 hours to make up the lost class time. He said his psychology major was good preparation for a business career, and he offered straightforward advice to students who want to become entrepreneurs.
"If you can imagine it, you can do it," Hetler said. "If you have a good idea, act on it. But wait 'til you're out of school."
"I went to employees and owners" to learn more about the restaurant business, he said. "The employees said 'Great,' the owners said 'No way.'"
Although he had never worked for a restaurant before opening Pup's, Hetler wasn't deterred in his career choice.
The words of discouragement Heller received from the owners were a good thing, he said, because it made him dig for solutions. Heller said he heard more positive things than negative, so he opened a restaurant that served Chicago-style hot dogs, which are called "pups" in his home area.
"People in business want to help. It's a big thrill for them," he said.
Hetler's on-the-job training was an eye-opener, he said. When the restaurant opened, he concentrated on running the business instead of managing it.
Running the business, he said, meant doing anything to keep the doors open. Keeping organized was crucial, Hether said, and he devoted himself to things-to-do lists to stay on top of his business. Despite his penchant for organization, he said he made plenty of mistakes in the first months of business.
In four months of bullying,
"If you're doing things and failing, that's all right,"
Hether said. "That is, it's all right if you learn from the
mistakes and don't do it again."
Hetter said he had progressed from running Pup's to managing it. Managing, he said, entailed communicating with his two managers, establishing employee relations and setting and reviewing goals.
Jim Watson, a friend of Heter during college and one of two Pup's managers, said he was impressed with his
If you can imagine it, you can do it. If you have a good idea, act on it. But wait 'til you're out of school.'
- John Hetler
Entrepreneur and KU student
"He doesn't have a business background, but he has a head for business," Watson said. "He's learning quickly and doing a really good job. The employees love working here for him."
boss's results.
Hetter said he got his ambition from his parents, whom he characterized as hard workers who put the family first. He said he grew up in an affluent suburb of Chicago and worked as a teacher, teaching the family and neighborhood, instead of only feeding it.
John Hetler assists employee Byron Myrick, Chicago junior, at the restaurant.
Heller said he was happy that he had been able to mix Chicago with Lawrence.
"I'm grateful that Lawrence is so understanding in letting us learn," he said. "We could not have done this in another town. The people are great; they stuck with us."
Bill Lytle, a Kansas City media broker and entrepreneur expert, said people such as Hetler should succeed in places such as Lawrence.
"University towns that size would be good for small and medium-sized entrepreneurs in fast-food restaurants," he said. "There is a stable economy because of
the University dollars pumped in by KU and the students. Lawrence is still a place where an entrepreneur can get started because there are so many diverse interests.[14]
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