Betting on people pays huge dividends
How a two‑month‑old restaurant beat the pandemic and why my next chapter will involve selfishness.
When COVID-19 struck, CraftWay Kitchen in Plano had been open just two months—barely long enough to build regulars, much less weather a global pandemic. But instead of retreating, the owners doubled down on quality and service, banking on loyalty from customers and staff.
Five years later, their bet paid off, with multiple thriving locations and plans for expansion. In my latest Dallas Morning News column, I explore how CraftWay Kitchen, and others, survived—and thrived—by investing in people and principles rather than cutting corners.
“Two months. That’s how long CraftWay Kitchen had been open when the COVID-19 shutdown occurred. For co-owners Troy Cooper and Mike Hutchinson, the timing couldn’t have been worse. Their polished, upscale-casual restaurant in Plano was just getting its footing when the pandemic emptied dining rooms across Texas.
“But instead of folding, they doubled down — prioritizing staff, dialing in service and refusing to compromise on food quality. Five years later, they’re not just still standing; they’re growing, with a third location on the horizon. Hutchinson, who admits to sweating bullets during that period, credits the wise decision-making of his partner, the loyalty of their staff, and the sincere appreciation of their customers with the restaurant’s survival.
“A lot of restaurants started minimizing the menu and cutting portions,” he said. “Our regulars continued to come in, and they loved on our staff — they were giving $20 bills to employees — because they knew it was bad, but they wanted us to stick around. In turn, it we didn’t cut our menu or our portions; we just kept taking care of people the best we could.”
“They opened a second location, in Frisco, in 2022.
“CraftWay is one of the lucky ones.”
Final Southlake City Council meeting was one of the longest
My last city council meeting is in the books. It was a bittersweet night. It was also one of the longest, ending at 12:05 am. The record for latest meeting during my tenure was 12:27 am.
Quote of the week
“I’ve loved every minute of supporting the community for the last six years as your city councilman. Now, though, it’s time to be selfish. I’m going to focus on the five F’s: faith, family, fun, friends, and finances. Everything I do going forward has to fit into one of those buckets.” —From my parting message at my final city council meeting.
Funniest thing I saw last week
This video was hilarious—and apt—for me and my oldest daughter.
We reserve extra space in our luggage for the books that we’ll bring home when traveling.
Our bags are always much heavier and larger for the return trip.
It’s a bibliophile thing; you don’t understand. :D
What I’m reading
Tiny Experiments: How to Live Freely in a Goal-Obsessed World, by Anne-Laure Le Cunff
Continuing a trend I’m excited about, the book—while not concise—is small in stature and feels shorter than 300 pages.
It addresses a common struggle—escaping goal-driven burnout—with empathy, intelligence, and clarity.
Readers leave with practical tools and actionable insights, ready to rethink productivity through playful curiosity rather than rigid routines.
In a nutshell: Le Cunff brilliantly reframes productivity as an experimental playground, nudging readers away from rigid goals toward flexible, curiosity-driven growth. Instead of overwhelming with prescriptive rules, she empowers readers to embrace small, intentional actions (er, tiny experiments) that fuel personal growth without burnout. Full review forthcoming.