Episode 620: Raise the Bar: Heidi Whitcomb's Mission to Bring Heart Back to Hospitality

Episode Summary
In this heartfelt episode of Restaurant Owners Uncorked, host Wil chats with Heidi Whitcomb a passionate and deeply committed independent restaurant owner in Florida. With nearly 40 years in hospitality, Heidi embodies service, gratitude, and resilience. She shares her journey from early jobs at Subway and Kmart to bartending, truck driving, entrepreneurship, and ultimately founding Raise the Bar & Grill. Her approach to hospitality goes far beyond food and drinks. It's about people, community, empathy, and raising standards in an industry where service and heart are often lost. Through adversity, hard work, and unfiltered honesty, Heidi proves that leading with love and purpose creates meaningful impact in business and in life.

Key Takeaways

1. Hospitality Is About People First – Heidi believes the industry is about serving others with genuine love, not just making money.
   
   
2. Happy Teams = Happy Guests – Run your business by caring for your employees first; great service starts with a strong culture.
   
   
3. Lead From the Front – As an owner, Heidi jumps behind the bar, onto the line, or wherever needed—no task is beneath her.
   
   
4. Mental Health Matters – Her restaurant practices “Mental Health Mondays” to check in with both staff and guests.
   
   
5. Serving Others Is a Responsibility – Hospitality is a service profession that requires intention—details like garnishes and quality matter.
   
   
6. ADHD as a Superpower – Heidi credits her ADHD for her energy, multitasking ability, and relentless drive.
   
   
7. Resilience Through Adversity – From working 20-hour days to surviving a car accident that broke her neck, Heidi keeps moving forward.
   
   
8. Build Community Through Service – Her business prioritizes veterans, seniors, children, and local neighbors with loyalty and purpose.
   
   
9. Consistency Builds Trust – She refuses to cut quality even with rising costs—customers deserve value.
   
   
10. Gratitude Is Everything – Heidi tears up when talking about her customers—her success is built on human connection and thankfulness.