What happens when you grow up surrounded by the restaurant hustle, promise yourself you will never join the family business, and then find yourself running it anyway? That’s the story of Joe Wong, second-generation restaurateur and co-owner of The Boston and Cate Street Seafood Station in Louisiana.

Joe’s journey is one of unexpected turns from earning a degree in sports management to stepping into his family’s restaurant legacy. Along the way, he discovered the challenges of leadership, the pressure of keeping a business alive in a fast-changing world, and the pride that comes from carrying on something bigger than yourself.

In this conversation, Shelby reunites with her high school crew and sits down with Joe for a reunion-style episode that mixes humor, nostalgia, and unfiltered business wisdom. The laughs are plenty, but so are the lessons.

Here’s what you will discover in this episode:

-The unvarnished truth about growing up in a family restaurant

-How a career path in sports shifted into managing a seafood empire

-The behind-the-scenes struggles (yes, including the infamous rice cooker punch on Valentine’s Day)

-Why small-town businesses thrive when they embrace community support

-The lessons Joe wants to pass on to his soon-to-arrive baby about work ethic and entrepreneurship

-Why patience, resilience, and a thick skin are non-negotiables in business

This is more than a restaurant story, it’s a conversation about entrepreneurship, legacy, family, and what it really takes to grow something that lasts. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, small-town dreamer, or someone who just loves hearing real stories about business, this episode will leave you inspired and entertained.

Connect with Shelby Clement:

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