BOCA RATON, Fla. — A Florida restaurant is expanding and attributes their growth in fast-casual to both food and an inclusive organizational culture. Bolay is set to open a third location west of Boca Raton and needs 60 new workers to make it happen.
Madelyn Rippo is like a lot of teens juggling school, sports and part-time work. At this Bolay in Boca Raton, she said the people are just as good as the ingredients.
"If you can't work together with the people you're working with your job is going to be 10 times harder," Rippo said. "We're like family -- flexible, accommodating and supportive."
WPTV heard the same thing at a second Boca Raton location.
"We're all about culture and all about group," Dean Korkoian, Bolay operating partner, said. "Bolay has changed my in the restaurant and hospitality industry and I don't think anything will ever be able to follow up. The impact we're able to make with our team is unmatched."
The same sentiments are already being echoed inside a soon-to-open third Boca Raton-area location.
"It is essential. It's critical for operations," Gerardo Aguilar, Bolay operating partner, said. "The one thing in this industry that we thrive on and we're fully aware of is we only get one chance to make a first impression."
Aguilar said Bolay may be known for signature "bols," but team members are the reason for the trajectory in business since 2016.
"It just attracts the masses," he said. "We're all about passion, respect and belonging."
Bolay CEO and co-founder Chris Gannon said the West Boca location will be the 19th Bolay to open. He adds investing in team members is the recipe to growth.
"We go through a cultural playbook," Gannon said. "Our ethos is to inspire our team and our guests to be the nest versions of themselves through our extraordinary culture, and we live by it. We don't just put that on a peace of paper. We own that."
Organization culture for Bolay includes outings and summits. Next year, Bolay will take it to Atlanta and Washington.
"There's so many things that we inspire within our team, other than just coming in and clocking in and getting your paycheck," Gannon said. "Giving the tools to grow within an organization, we really believe in giving life lessons and teaching incredible team work."
"It's the perfect combination," Aguilar added.
The West Boca location plans a soft open in late June and a grand opening in July. The company is also giving away $15,000 worth of Bolay promotions to guests. The first 100 guests to arrive at Bolay in West Boca on Day 1 (7/1), Day 2 (7/2) and Day 3 (7/3) will receive a $50 worth of Bolay. To learn more, click here.
To learn more about job opportunities and other locations, click here.