In this episode, host Mark McNees welcomes Brad Buckenheimer, Founder and CEO of Canopy Road Cafe, to discuss his entrepreneurial journey. Born out of a shared college experience at Florida State University, Canopy Road Cafe thrives in multiple locations. Brad shares his experiences growing from a single location to franchising and how he managed bumps along the way. This engaging conversation covers topics from initial funding to overcoming operational hurdles and offers insight into the trials and triumphs of entrepreneurship.

00:05 Introduction and Guest Arrival

00:48 The Journey to Canopy Road Cafe

02:03 The Birth of Canopy Road Cafe

02:33 The Evolution of Canopy Road Cafe

04:39 The Story Behind the Name

05:00 The Challenges of Naming a Business

05:16 The Importance of Intellectual Property

10:24 The Journey from One to Multiple Stores

16:21 The Challenges of Scaling a Business

18:00 The Importance of Systems in Business

19:35 The Role of Commercial Real Estate in Business Expansion

19:49 Passion for Commercial Real Estate

19:57 The Journey to the Third Location

20:53 Building a Business from the Ground Up

21:13 Expanding to a Fourth Location

21:32 The Importance of Hiring the Right People

21:51 Mentoring and Giving Back

22:10 Venturing into Franchising

23:03 Expansion to Jacksonville

23:37 The Evolution of Store Locations

24:34 The Impact of Location on Business Success

30:10 Expansion to Tampa and the Beach Markets

33:46 Overcoming Challenges and Learning from Failures

36:03 Advice to Younger Self

37:07 Conclusion and Thanks