We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jill Jose. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jill below.

Jill, appreciate you joining us today. Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.

I took a risk putting all my savings into my current business. Rather than selling the business after Covid, I continued to put effort and worked hard to build my brand and support my team so they could have stability and job security. It’s important for me to be part of a community where my employees feel like they are part of a team. That growth, personally or professionally is supported and congratulated. It’s important for me to create an environment where guests feel welcome and know they have a home away from home. I am honored to be part of my Brooklyn community. We are finally striving and building momentum. I have a really great team and it is reflected by the people who continue to support us and new guests who have come to dine with us.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I got into the restaurant business by working as a hostess, to working at an ice cream shop, then serving in a restaurant, to bartending at night clubs and bars. I never in a million years thought I would ever be a restaurant owner. I studied to be an actor and still continue to work as an actor to this day. It is still one of my passions. But my love for the food culture has always been an interest. I am intrigued by recipe concepts and design, from sweet treats to hearty soups, to learning how soy sauce is made. Everything about the food industry is special to me. It brings comfort and joy when people gather for a moment in time to celebrate memories and create new ones that stay with us for a lifetime. I grew up with a big Filipino community and food has always been an integral part of our lives.

The most distinctive thing I can say about what sets me apart from others is my love for my community and why I value their success.. Without my team, my community, there is no Suzume. I am honored to be part of this community and the lives that are affected by our presence. I am proud that I am able to provide a space that allows my team to thrive, have stability so they can survive in an economy that is inconsistent and can feel like it’s not supportive to the people who choose to work in the hospitality industry. We love what we do. The labor is hard and the days are long but we choose to be here because it’s also just as gratifying to give people a place they can eat a good meal and feel like we are a home away from home.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

After Covid, I was unsure I had the energy, the creativity, the motivation to keep going. I was at a cross roads with the decision to sell the business or close down, altogether. Guests who I hadn’t seen since Covid started coming back and were so happy to see that Suzume was still around, that we faced a very hard battle. Everyone was so supportive that we were basically rebuilding and finding stability in a market that was against us. Knowing how much my restaurant, my spirit, my team affected the community as deeply as it did, I made the decision to fight for my restaurant. To dedicate my energy with ways to thrive and succeed. That is what gives me the motivation and the spirit to keep doing. I am part of an ecosystem and I only wish to be part of it in a positive light. Providing jobs and a place where people feel comfort through food and community is my way of giving back. It’s my way of carrying out my lineage and what I inherited from my Filipino culture.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

The biggest lesson I had to learn is that mistakes have to happen to only get better. Most of my life I always wanted to know before I could fully see my own light and purpose because I never wanted to make mistakes. But I know now more than ever, that is wisdom. To make mistakes and grow from them only gives me more insight and knowledge. But now at this time in my life, I take these lessons with grace rather than feeling failure or regret. I take them and see them as opportunity. It gives me energy and motivates me even more.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.suzumebk.com
• Instagram: business: suzumebk personal: jillsalazarjose
• Linkedin: Jill Jose
• Twitter: Jill Jose
• Yelp: suzumebk

Image Credits
All of the images were taken by me or co-workers.