Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Daron Arnold. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Daron, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Parents can play a significant role in affecting how our lives and careers turn out – and so we think it’s important to look back and have conversations about what our parents did that affected us positive (or negatively) so that we can learn from the billions of experiences in each generation. What’s something you feel your parents did right that impacted you positively.

When my parents started Arnolds Quick Shop in 1984, it was because of a dream that my father, John Henry Arnold Sr, always wanted. He wanted to have a building of his own where his children would not have to go without. And with the help of my mother, Deborah Ann Arnold, they started down the road that was ahead of them. Even though the journey was not easy, they didn’t lose faith in the process they had created for themselves as well as for all of us. Having 5 boys and 1 girl (John Henry Arnold Jr, Luther Issaiah Arnold, Anthony Jerome Arnold, (myself) Daron Lamont Arnold, Matthew Elliott Arnold, and Justice Amanda Summerville Arnold, they didn’t lose hope. Of course the road wasn’t easy. But we made ourselves know throughout the St. Louis community. During those years I got to see how my parents kept themselves motivated and determined to push through each and everyday no matter the obstacles that came their way. Unfortunately on June 30,2011, my father, John Henry Arnold Sr, passed away and even though it put a damper on our spirits, my mother didn’t lose faith. She kept pressing forward each and everyday never giving up on her and my father’s dream of having their own restaurant. It was then that I needed to pick up the torch and keep his legacy going by helping my mother keep their dream alive. During those years we took a break to assess what needed to be done and rebrand the business as a whole. I didn’t want those years of dedication nor did I want the legacy to end. I felt that as long as have the same determination and faith that my parents had to keep things going, then I knew that things were going to get better from there.

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?

Arnolds Quick Shop started back in 1984 with my mother and father, John Henry Arnold Sr, and Deborah Ann Arnold where we started with a store as well as a daycare on 39th and Shenadoah for about 8 years (1991), We shortly located ourselves in the Page & Ferguson community, where we established ourselves for 2 years (1993). Shortly after, we found ourselves in the University City area (Heman Park) where we established ourselves for 1 year as well (1994). We went back to 39th and Shenadoah, and we stayed in the community for 5 years (1999). 8 years later, we established ourselves in the Tower Grove community right on the corner of Taylor & Chouteau where we resided there for 10 years (2017).We ended up moving again to another location in the Bevo Mill area around Chippewa & Morganford in 2018. We provide a culinary experience where the client is #1. We believe in our motto “All you need is Just a Lil Taste” where we feel that once you taste our food, you will know that we put our all into it. We provide excellent hospitality and customer service to make you feel at home. Some companies have a list to go by whenever they are doing catering or service but we work with your budget because it is difficult at times and we understand where everyone is going through. So, you tell us what you are looking to spend and we will give you ideas and options that will satisfy and suit your needs. We have been in the industry for over 20 years so we can provide some at-home quality as well as some modern things to make the client satisfied with the result.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

My advice for managing a team and maintaining high morale is to trust the people who work with you and to treat them with the same respect you feel that you want in return. Whenever I have an event that involves me and my crew, I have to make sure that they have everything they need to provide our clients with our best service and hospitality. And we can’t provide it if I’m not trusting that they are able to do great things if they believe in themselves. That’s why I believe in the concept “work with me” not “work for me”. To me this concept means that as long as we are able to accomplish everything together as a team and not as a dictatorship, then I know that my crew can accomplish anything whether I’m there or not.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

So this past year, November 09,2021, I had heart surgery where they had to place 3 stents in my heart in order to open up my arteries of my heart. The procedure put a pause on my life because I needed to step back and reevaluate myself as well as my priorities in my life. I had to think more about what needed to come first and not put the important things on hold. During these last 9 months I had to go through a series of lifestyle changes: physical therapy for 3-6 months, leaning on others for help, as well as stepping back to take better care of my health and wellness for my family sake. Because of what I went through, I was able to better prioritize my personal as well as my business lifestyle in order to be the person/entrepreneur I am today.

Contact Info:

• Facebook: www.facebook.com/arnoldscateringllc
• Other: Email address: [email protected]

Image Credits
Chef Ron-Arnolds Catering Services LLC Deborah Arnold John Arnold Jr Luther Arnold Anthony Arnold Matthew Arnold