Today we’d like to introduce you to Max Poppel.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Max. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My business partner, Dan Rose, and I moved here in 2005 to follow our passion for rock climbing. At the time we had no idea to start businesses, we just needed to support our climbing and sushi habits. To do so, I was working corporate retirement plans and life insurance, and Dan was waiting tables.
After a few years, we saw the need for a community hub for all the climbers coming through town. That idea grew from a climber specific camp ground outside of the city to a more centralized location catering to all the outdoor enthusiasts in the form of an uncommon hostel.
We call it an uncommon hostel because we tried to blend the best of the hostel model, namely the communal nature and affordability, with the style, cleanliness, and charm you’d find at a boutique hotel. The Crash Pad opened to guests in 2011 and quickly became a home for all travelers looking for a safe, secure, affordable, centrally located base camp for their Chattanooga adventure.
As part of the overall plan for The Crash Pad, we knew we wanted to be able to serve booze to our guests. When we looked into a liquor license, it became clear we weren’t going to qualify with The Crash Pad due to seating and kitchen requirements. This meant the idea would have to grow into a stand-alone concept. We knew this neighborhood needed more dinner and nightlife options, as well as more Sunday Brunch spots, so we opened Flying Squirrel, a neighborhood bar and restaurant in 2013 to fill those needs.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
For me, the biggest challenge was having never managed people before. Learning to do that on the fly is rough for everyone involved.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Flying Squirrel and The Crash Pad story. Tell us more about the business.
We’re in the hospitality businesses. Nothing about the concepts is really original so much as our conglomeration of systems and best practices that we have found work for our operations, but what we excel in is delivering a consistent, top-notch hospitality experience to all our guests.
In this business, each day offers a new opportunity to wow guests, or fall flat on our face. Our people are great at doing all the little things, day-in and day-out, long after the glamour has worn off, which leads to a consistent base to exceed our guest’s expectations.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
It’s hard to separate luck from coincidental good timing, but I like the expression luck favors the prepared.
Contact Info:
- Address: 55 Johnson Street
- Website: flyingsquirrelbar.com and crashpadchattanooga.com
- Phone: 423-602-5980
- Email: max@flyingsquirrelbar.com
Image Credit:
Mandy Rhoden
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