Today we’d like to introduce you to Joseph Kim.
Joseph, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I was in the dry cleaning industry for over seven years before my mother in law introduced me to the chef at the Westminster location who was looking for a partner. Long story short I partnered with him in 2010.
Bought out his shares in 2011 and rebranded in 2012 to DAE GEE. Not knowing what I was doing I just spontaneously just put the name on everything and gave it away for free.
DAE GEE #2 Colorado Blvd in Sep 2014
DAE GEE #3 Broadway in May 2016
DAE GEE #4 Havana in Sep 2017
DAE GEE #5 FOCO in May 2019
DAE GEE #6 Aurora in Sep 2020
DAE GEE #7 In the works Out of State and Boulder Potentially
These are current locations that are operating and in the negotiations but nothing is final.
Before I started in this industry, I never served, bussed or cooked in my life. Only thing I knew how to do inside a restaurant was to order and eat the food. Through my entrepreneurial career the only thing I have stuck by and still hold true today is BEING RESOURCEFUL and by that, I mean finding the answer to any problem that exists.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
In the beginning, the biggest struggle was just learning the business and staying open. Keeping the food consistent, cleanly environment and great customer service. It was literally my mother-in-law and I for two years straight, everyday and growing the business enough for us to employ individuals.
What I have found out from those beginnings is that I will not be young forever and had to work smarter and incentivize employees to stay not only with higher pay but giving them ownership in return for there hard work. Still to this day the #1 most difficult challenge is employee retention because there are so many better-paying jobs and also it is difficult to change people’s mindset.
Please tell us about Dae Gee Korean BBQ.
Currently, I am on the admin side of the business and fully out of operations. I am always ready to jump in but I like to say my specialty is in site selections and development.
We are known for Korean BBQ and the grill tops at your table when you dine. Not only is Korean food a new concept but the cook it yourself has been a huge trend.
We are most proud of our Brand and we also believe that is what sets us apart from our competition.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Waking up Saturday mornings watching cartoons and cooking my own food and cleaning the house. Not that I enjoyed it but I’m thankful for the work ethic my parents instilled in my siblings and me at an early age and taught us responsibility with the daily and weekly chores.
Contact Info:
- Address: 827 Colorado Blvd Denver, CO 80206
- Website: www.DAEGEE.com
- Phone: 720-639-9986
- Email: joe@daegee.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daegee_pigout/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/daegee.pigout/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Dae_Gee
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/dae-gee-korean-bbq-denver-4
Getting in touch: VoyageDenver is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
