Today we’d like to introduce you to Shane Nasby.
Hi Shane, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My grandparents had a cafe when I was little called the Midway Cafe in Charlottesville, IN. I guess you could say I was born into the hospitality industry.
I spent many years as a young adult leading and managing various restaurants. During that time, I also had a heart for helping others and became deeply compassionate for the unhoused and poverty-stricken community.
I’ve always wanted to have a restaurant, but I wanted it to have a deeper purpose than just food. So, I launched Cledis Burgers & Beer Garden for the sole purpose of serving both the community we live in, as well as the unhoused and poverty-stricken communities.
Cledis was my grandfather who owned the Miday Cafe. He was the most kind and generous man I’ve ever known. So, it felt right to name the restaurant in his honor. It’s also just a fun name.
Cledis is a mission-based business that provides over 500 meals a month to the unhoused and poverty-stricken communities of Nashville. We have a goal to serve 1 million meals in the next 10 years.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I certainly consider our first year a successful one. But it was challenging also.
Opening a restaurant is hard work. Lots of long hours and sleepless nights. Great days and bad days. But it’s what I was made to do so ultimately there’s a grace for it all.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I competed on the pro-BBQ circuit for years before opening my first restaurant.
It took me a while to figure out how to compete at a high level in cooking competitions. But once I got my first grand championship under my belt it gave me the confidence, I needed to take the next steps and make a living out of creating dishes and cooking food.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
There’s so much risk involved in opening a restaurant. When you sign your name for a lease or loan, you risk your home and everything you have as a personal guarantor.
If the business fails, you could lose everything you own. But I truly believe if the risk attached to your dream doesn’t make you shake on the inside it’s probably not worth doing.
Contact Info:
- Website: Cledis.com
- Instagram: @lovecledis
- Facebook: @lovecledis
Image Credits
Jeb Wilson
