How S2 Grills Built a Chicago Empire with a “Championship Village”
Andre and Suheir Williams share how S2 Grills grew from a nightclub food concept into a multi-state brand with nine locations and over a million lamb chops sold. They break down what it really takes to scale without drowning in back-office chaos, why sales tax nearly became a monthly nightmare, and how automating it with Davo changed everything. The conversation explores building a “championship village,” keeping a core team intact through rapid growth, and why staying curious, showing up to industry events, and asking for help are essential for any operator who wants to grow the right way.
Interview Takeaways:
- Automate the Compliance, Not the Culture – You can’t automate a million lamb chops, but you can automate the tax code. By integrating Davo with Toast, S2 Grills shifted their sales tax to a “set it and forget it” model. This ensures 100% compliance and protects their cash flow daily.
- Build Your “Championship Village” – S2 Grills attributes their scale to treating their team like family. By bringing on partners with specific corporate, financial, and event planning expertise, they created a specialized unit that allows the founders to focus on the brand’s vision.
- Don’t Reinvent the Wheel – The fastest way to grow is to learn from those who came before you. The S2 founders prioritize networking and attending major industry conferences to find mentors and technology solutions that prevent them from repeating common industry mistakes.
Episode Links:
- Watch: Digital Hospitality on YouTube
- Listen: Digital Hospitality Podcast
- Visit: S2 Grills Online
- Toast POS: Try Out Toast
- DAVO: Davo Sales Tax Automation
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