We recently connected with Kristen Smith and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Kristen thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We love asking folks what they would do differently if they were starting today – how they would speed up the process, etc. We’d love to hear how you would set everything up if you were to start from step 1 today

If I had approached things differently, I would have taken more time to prepare for the upcoming challenges mentally and physically. Initially, we had planned a vacation before our business launch, but we canceled it and hastily dived into our venture. Fast forward three years, and we’ve experienced consistent year-over-year growth, undertaken expansions, secured new deals, and now find ourselves carving out time for a well-deserved vacation.
My primary focus is to avoid plunging in and strategically planning each facet of the business to create more time for activities I genuinely enjoy. The journey to success has demanded significant sacrifices, and now that I’ve found my stride, I’m eager to allocate time for people and experiences that bring me joy.

Hindsight is always clearer, and if you’re a first-time entrepreneur, the unpredictability of the journey is something to consider. Before you begin a venture, please take a moment to reflect: Have you given yourself ample time to plan and ready yourself for the exhilarating and unpredictable ride ahead?

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Established in 2020, Tre’s Street Kitchen specializes in mobile catering, emergency and disaster relief catering, campus dining, concessions services, corporate catering, and food service management. The crown jewel of our entrepreneurship is our Louisiana Certified All-Purpose BBQ Sauce, “Tre’s Street Sauce,” available on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BZRJHYX7 Our success is driven by an unwavering commitment to delivering a delightful dining experience. Our customers are the lifeblood of our business and our most important stakeholder, encouraging us to strive to meet or exceed their expectations with every dining experience. Tre’s Street Kitchen is a minority woman-owned family business dedicated to positively impacting the community. This impact flows into every aspect of our operations, including the exceptional quality of our products and services.

As the co-founder and CXO, I oversee our operations’ critical aspects. As the driving force behind project management, strategic partnerships, planning, contract compliance, supplier development, and manufacturing and retail operations, I’ve played a pivotal role in shaping our success to experience year-over-year growth, expansion across three geographies, and scaling from a mobile food service operation to a food service company with a manufactured product available for retail in less than three years.

Before embarking on my entrepreneurial journey, I dedicated over a decade to a career in education. I navigated various roles, from Early Head Start to P-12 classrooms and model college-in-prison settings, and actively contributed to the non-profit sector.

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

For many years, I found myself confined by the attempts of others to categorize or limit my talents. Despite being blessed with many abilities, I allowed myself to be pigeonholed. The crucial lesson I had to unlearn was to care less about other people’s expectations and perceptions of me.

One of my favorite Instagram accounts is Brandi Freely’s, and her quote resonates with me is “Onward, but first inward.” Realizing that I could embrace and utilize multiple talents, transcending the constraints imposed by others, has been transformative. By applying skills honed in my former field in education to various areas in our company, I’ve witnessed a significant increase in my success. Whenever I am unlearning, I go inward and hone in on who I am, not what others want me to be.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Just a week after our grand opening event, the governor issued an ordinance closing down non-essential bars. Interestingly, we were at a bar when we received this news. It marked the first time I felt a sense of panic, questioning the wisdom of our decision and uncertain about what lay ahead. Despite facing such uncertainty, we consistently adapted our business model. For instance, in under three years, we transitioned from a mobile food truck to a food service contracting company. Adaptability is crucial in the business world, and we’ve learned to pivot when necessary.

A special acknowledgment goes to Pinky Cole. I am reading her latest book, “I Hope You Fail,” and I’m confident it will continue to inspire me to view failure differently throughout this entrepreneurial journey. This week, my fiancé and co-founder, Chef Tre, was featured in a cover story by 225 Magazine’s 2024 Class of People to Watch in the Capital Region. We eagerly anticipate what lies ahead, feeling well-prepared to navigate challenges and celebrate triumphs along the way.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.tresstreetkitchen.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tresstreetkitchen/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Tresstreetkitchen/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristencsmith1/
• Other: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BZRJHYX7

Image Credits
I have permison.