Connect with Michael and Bob
The Climb on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-climb-podcast/
Bob Wierema: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-wierema/
Michael Moore: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelpmoore/
More on Concho
Concho's blog post that dives deep into the specifics of the Billy Bob's fiasco: https://www.ulterre.com/blog/lessons-from-the-honky-tonk/
Connect with Concho: https://www.linkedin.com/in/concho-minick-62916910/
[00:00:00] Concho: [00:00:00] You know, he found himself wanting to align with the people who wanted to develop the stock yards without any sort of historical context. Right. And that was an economic opportunity, I think, in his mind. But what I didn't know at the time is that to my other partners were offering him real incentives to align, but I learned that later and.
[00:00:28] You know, there was, there was also some conflict occurred just prior with me, my stepmother and my dad, you know, through that whole process of the transition of me coming into the business and they hadn't gotten over it, you know, there were some imposter syndrome kind of things going on there. And you know, there's a whole lot to talk about.
[00:00:47] They're given time that I, it really it's probably worthwhile talking about, but they couldn't let go of not being in control of Billy Bob's anymore. And I think they felt that was. My fault in some ways that I was now the president, no, I'm the president. I gotta be the precedent, but they weren't supposed to be working there.
[00:01:07] And, you know, they were just about transitioned out and gone at the time we went through that whole real estate conflict. And, does that push them into a camp opposite of me? You know, I stood up in front of city council and argued for form basis and know some sort of developmental guidelines in control, but the stockyards, which would not have occurred had Philip benign, many other people not done that.
[00:01:33] But I guess to get back to your question, Michael, and an answer, it is, I just can't imagine this. Anything other than just someone making their best economic. Right. And he made a bet against family at the same time
[00:01:51] Michael Moore: [00:01:51] today, the climb Bob and I are joined by Concho Minnick. Hold on for a fascinating ride, deep into the world of honkytonks politics and legal maneuvers.
[00:02:01] From growing up in Fort worth to attending Gale, to building Billy Bob's globally to now running a real estate firm. This episode is chocked full of life lessons. Enjoy the climb.
[00:02:27] gotcha. Minute. Welcome to the client.
[00:02:30] Concho: [00:02:30] Thank you. It's great to be here,
[00:02:32] Michael Moore: [00:02:32] Bob and I are really excited to cohost you today. Bob always laughed at always say everything's bigger in Texas, but, nothing rings truer than Billy Bob's largest honky tonk in the world. certainly a big part of Fort worth history, big part of Texas history.
[00:02:49] And under your guidance, a big part of the world's music scene.
[00:02:53] Bob Wierema: [00:02:53] Now
[00:02:54] Michael, hold on, hold on. I gotta interrupt because you know, from us Chicago boys, now I know what a hockey tuck is, but like let's, let's let for our other listeners, like what, what does that even mean? What is it?
[00:03:07]Concho: [00:03:07] Good point. So you're the resident an error, you know, Billy Bob's is a hundred thousand square foot entertainment venue.
[00:03:18] It's, you know, [00:03:20] driven really around. You know, live music is originally a barn that was built in, I think it was 1908 or so, and came to life as a music venue in 1981. And really, you know, I would say that it's more of a, kind of a Western culture entertainment complex, and this is the way we started thinking about it because we, you know, did bull riding and food and private parties.
[00:03:45] And. Music festivals. And then we were starting to do music festivals around the world and the United States. And so, you know, it's really a, this big sprawling music video that whole 5,000 people. It shows every single day, just about closed one day a year, you know, with food and live bull, riding inside, believe it or not, inside of the bar.
[00:04:07] And it's just, you know, it doesn't really look like a music venue. It looks like a barn that might fall in on you at any moment. You know, the ceiling's awkwardly low and in big columns in your way, depending on what kind of seat you have. But. That's Billy buzzes. It sits in the historic dish, the Fort worth historic district, which, you know, kind of sets the stage more, you know, authentic Western culture.
[00:04:33] Which is kind of how, you know, Billy Bob's is that it's authentic. It's, they're presenting Western culture through music, food experience, rodeo, you know, that's, that's Billy bouts
[00:04:46] Michael Moore: [00:04:46] and don't forget Willie's picnic.
[00:04:48] Concho: [00:04:48] That's right.
[00:04:49] Michael Moore: [00:04:49] Yeah. That was huge. He had attended a lot of
[00:04:52] Concho: [00:04:52] that. I think we, I get how many Willie's picnics, Billy Bob's is hosted, but I ha I, I put on four w during my tenure there.
[00:05:00] Michael Moore: [00:05:00] So before we jump into that though, because that is going to be the bulk of the conversation today, let's step back and just talk about how you grew up things that shaped and defined you college, ultimately, president of Billy Bob's and now CEO of Christie's Altair here in Fort worth, Texas.
[00:05:23] Concho: [00:05:23] How much time do I have,
[00:05:27] you know, I grew up right here, Texas and, out by Eagle mountain Lake and which was just. It was the country back then, you know, it was, it was just typical suburbia in some ways, but it was just wide open living. You know, the bite, your bicycle is the most important piece of equipment. You could own country club on one end rec center and the Lake on the other end and, you know, just tons of open space.
[00:05:53] And it was just. You know, it was good living out there. We were re in a, you know, my, my parents, divorced and remarried. Right. And so, you know, some of my earliest memories, I remember life briefly with my father, but, you know, once those families combined, there was six kids. So. You know, my two brother, my three, my two brothers, my sister was four and then two stepbrothers.
[00:06:22] Then life really grabbed me around the head and I was like, Oh Jesus, okay. This is what it's all about. This was first grade or so when we put our families together and. We, we had moved. And I remember the story I tell a lot is, it was all happening so [00:06:40] fast. I didn't even know where I lived. Cause we, I went to Eagle mountain elementary.
[00:06:43] The first day of school, I came home on the bus and I didn't know whe...
