We were lucky to catch up with Christopher Jones recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Christopher, thanks for joining us today. What’s been the best thing you’ve ever seen (or done yourself) to show a customer that you appreciate them?

I often say that my business isn’t about me. It’s about serving and helping the community.

I’m not rich in money, but one way I can give back is by feeding people. Even if I have to break my own loaf of bread into three pieces, that’s still two fewer hungry mouths going without a meal. It’s a quiet act of kindness that many people never see, but it’s something I believe in deeply.

I will never turn away a hungry person.

One day, a couple came into the restaurant and asked if we had anything in the back because they hadn’t eaten in three days. Without hesitation, I asked my cook to prepare food not only for that meal, but enough for at least two more meals later. The couple cried, and we even prayed together before they left.

Today, that same couple comes into the restaurant every week as paying customers. They spend time with us, and my staff has built a wonderful relationship with them.

This is just one example of how we try to help those in need. There are many others.

Sometimes we forget that wealth isn’t always measured by the amount of money in our bank accounts. True riches can be found in compassion, generosity, and the impact we make on the lives of others.

Christopher, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a culinary-trained and self-taught soul food chef, Christopher Jones. While I’ve been cooking for more than 20 years, my true journey toward mastering the craft began in 2018. My passion extends far beyond cooking. I love creating new concepts, developing restaurant ideas, crafting innovative dishes, and curating experiences tailored to the people we serve. Cooking is what I do, but creation is who I am.

My business name is often considered controversial, and honestly, I enjoy the conversations it sparks: Hoodrolls.

Talk about a risky restaurant name.

To understand it, you have to go back to the true meaning of the word hood. In its purest form, a hood is simply a neighborhood, the place you call home, where people share a sense of identity, culture, and belonging.

That’s exactly what Hoodrolls is meant to represent.

Hoodrolls is designed to feel like home. The vision has always been to place one in every neighborhood, serving exceptional egg rolls and sandwiches while also becoming a community anchor. We want to create jobs, provide training, develop future leaders, and open doors to opportunities that extend far beyond food.

Hoodrolls is more than a restaurant. It’s a platform for growth, innovation, and community impact.

Not everyone understands the vision right away, and that’s okay. Some ideas aren’t fully appreciated until they begin to take shape. We’ve always embraced being different.

I enjoy building a brand that refuses to fit neatly into a category. We aren’t trying to follow industry trends. We’re creating our own lane. That’s one of our greatest advantages.

As our brands continue to grow, we’ll keep pushing the boundaries of what a restaurant can be and what the culinary industry can become. This first year in business felt like kicking the door down. We made our presence known, challenged expectations, and proved the concept.

Now it’s time to settle in, strengthen the foundation, and build something that lasts..

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

Going from caterer, to executive chef, to business owner was one of the hardest transitions I’ve ever had to make.

As a caterer and executive chef, you’re used to being the person everyone depends on. You’re hands-on. You’re handling the important daily tasks. You’re leading every event, every service, and every challenge that comes your way. For years, I became comfortable being in my business.

In fact, it felt wrong when I wasn’t working alongside my team.

As we continued to grow, I began to realize something important: my team couldn’t fully execute without me because they had become too reliant on me. They leaned on me for every decision, every solution, and every obstacle. While I thought I was helping, I was actually limiting their growth. My presence had become so necessary that it was preventing them from developing the confidence and leadership skills they needed.

Fast forward five years and I found myself facing the same challenge as a restaurant owner.

I wanted to be in the business every day. I wanted my hands on everything. But I eventually learned that if I wanted to build a truly successful business, I had to learn how to step back. I had to be willing to take my hands off the wheel, take my eyes off every detail, and trust the people I had invested my time, training, and energy into.

The goal isn’t to build a business that depends on you.

The goal is to build a team that can operate successfully without you.

That’s a lesson every entrepreneur who dreams of owning multiple businesses must learn. If you want to grow, scale, and create something bigger than yourself, you have to build leaders. You have to develop people who are just as passionate about the vision as you are.

Letting go is difficult. Trusting others with something you’ve poured your heart into is difficult. Unlearning years of habits is difficult.

But one of the greatest challenges, and greatest responsibilities, of an owner is learning to trust your team to get it right.

Because real growth begins when the business no longer needs you in every room, every meeting, and every decision.

That’s when you’ve truly built something that can last.

How’d you meet your business partner?

This one’s pretty simple.

My business partner happens to be my uncle, my mentor, and one of my closest friends.

People always say you should find someone who’s better than you at what you think you’re great at and learn from them. Over the last two years, I don’t think I’ve ever been challenged more than I have working alongside him. The pressure to produce, grow, and succeed has never been higher.

I remember conversations we had early on where we both understood one thing: we couldn’t afford to lose again.

The reality is, though, that losing is part of this industry.

Your first concept may not work. Your second concept may not work. Your third concept may not work. But every experience teaches you something. You gain knowledge. You build relationships. You learn what works and what doesn’t. You find great people along the way. Every setback becomes part of the foundation for the next opportunity.

One of the greatest blessings in business is having a partner who’s willing to share the burden. Someone who can carry responsibilities that allow you the freedom and space to create. That’s a big part of what has made our business so special.

We work hand in hand every day to make our businesses the best versions of themselves. We challenge each other, push each other, and hold each other accountable. Sometimes it’s hard to turn it off, but when you’re this close to the vision you’ve been chasing, why would you?

So this is a special shout-out to my business partner, Cash.

Thank you for believing in your nephew. Thank you for mentoring me, challenging me, and helping shape me into a better businessman. Most importantly, thank you for taking this journey with me.

None of this happens alone, and I’m grateful to have a partner who’s been willing to build something bigger than either of us could have built by ourselves.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.hoodrolls.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefamor2u?igsh=Mm5oa2N1a2VnZ2lv&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/19yk8rSVEu/?mibextid=wwXIfr