We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Theresa Spencer. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Theresa below.
Theresa, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.
I have worked in the food & beverage industry for over 25 years. I also work in corporate America side by side with my restaurant jobs because I have been a single income mother to my 6 children since each of them were born. I have been the sole financial supporter for my family since I was 16 years old when I had my first child in Passaic, NJ. I had a really hard life ever since I left my princess, fairy tale life in the Philippines, when I was adopted by angels at 3 years old, but decided to move to America at 11 years old, to chase after my biological mother. I’ve held so many jobs and have hustled my entire life to provide for my family. In 2020 when covid took over America and the entire world, I was working for an audio visual company and was making enough money to provide for my family, but I was not happy with my work environment. I got tired of working in an all male environment that made me feel uncomfortable at times and made me compromise my self respect and self worth. So when I made my highest sales commission, I decided to use the money to open my own restaurant in a food hall. It was the start of something so liberating for me and for the first time, I felt free. No matter how stressed I got and how scared I sometimes was, I felt so good and proud of myself for having my very own business. Especially since the basis and inspiration for the business was to continue my mother and grandmother’s legacy of being such amazing cooks and strong, independent, gorgeous, self made queens in their own rights. Best thing I ever did was to start my own business. I feel proud and happy everyday, no matter how stressful or how many mistakes I made along the way. I now have my second location in the River market in Kansas City and plan on having a full service bar and restaurant in the next year. This is my legacy that I want to leave for my children. There is so much more I want to accomplish and goals I want to reach, but for now, I will put my everything into the biggest risk I took in my life. Following my dreams.
Theresa, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I was born in the Philippines on Feb. 21, 1975 to a student nurse named Fely Valentin. She was a single mom since Roland Oliver decided both my mother and I were not enough to man him up. So my mother decided to give me up for adoption to her Aunt Norma who was a doctor who could not have children due to ovarian issues from childhood. She married a heart doctor who graduated from Harvard medicine and my life was off to a good start. Life was amazing for me until my father passed away when I was 11 and I decided that hearing my mother grieve for my father was too hard to handle, so I decided to want to live with my biological mother who lived in the States. My greatest memories growing up was the food my family made during get togethers and special occasions. Those are smells and sounds I will never forget. So when I was old enough and thought to myself that my kids were old enough for me to take a risk, I went full blast on my dream and decided to open my own Filipino spot inside Parlor food hall in KC. I have always had a passion for restaurant work and food representation from any and all cultures. So it was very easy for me to decide to show off my culture, traditional cuisine and my family’s recipes. I had not realized that as a child, that was the one thing that took me back home to my happy and safe place when I smell what’s cooking in the kitchen. So in a way, my dream of owning my own restaurant was not only my therapy but my salvation to a happy present and future life. I am so proud of my adoptive mom’s and biological grandmother’s recipes. Their love and presence taught me how to be the woman I am today. Their strength, their bright lights and their queen qualities make me who I am today. What makes my restaurant different from others is the passion, the history, the meaning and the love it brings me which I share with all my customers everyday. I am most proud of the legacy I want to leave my children. That even broken crayons can create the best masterpieces.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
I had been making good money working in sales and have always been successful in corporate America. It was always a prestigious environment to work in, lots of perks, benefits and fun stuff that comes with working for well known companies in the city I lived in. But all of that was not good enough after a while, since I was feeling the effects of being a woman in a predominantly man’s world. I didn’t get paid the same as men even doing the same job and better most of the time, having to endure sexism, discrimination and harassment. So when I finally decided to make the leap from worker to business owner, I had to make sure I was willing to lose all the perks and benefits of working for internationally known companies. I had to really make sure I was willing to give all that up and take a chance on myself and do my own thing. Choose me. I have not looked back since. And no matter what happens, I will never regret the time in my life when I chose my dream over convenience with a cost. I’ll do it over and over again the exact same way.
Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?
When you start your own business, especially an ethnic restaurant in a growing city like Kansas City, you’re going to come across a lot of skeptics, haters, jealousy and flat out people that want to see you fail. So I decided to stay true to myself and keep myself accountable for all my growing pains and lessons learned along the way. I stay true to my brand, I represent my culture and my family’s traditions true and honest. I make sure everyday i’m proud of what I am doing and what I am representing. I have established a respectable amount of regulars and clients that believe in what I’m doing so I know I’m on the right track. As long as I stay consistent to my beliefs, level of service and quality, I know I will be and stay successful. Something I can leave my children and beyond.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tingsbistrokc.com
- Facebook: Tings Filipino Bistro City Market
