Anthony Anderson is succeeding in business alongside fellow comedian and “Barbershop” castmate Cedric the Entertainer.
AC Barbeque
The pair fulfilled a lifelong dream of becoming owners of a lifestyle barbecue brand named AC Barbeque in 2022, as previously reported by AFROTECH™.
According to the company’s website, the brand seeks to uphold pillars of Black excellence and family tradition while helping consumers improve their grilling skills through tools, flavor and community.
Speaking on the transition from acting to entrepreneurship, Anderson emphasized that the key to successfully navigating the food industry is surrounding oneself with business-minded individuals who understand how to identify opportunities for success.
This was during an interview with AFROTECH™ while at the Essence Festival of Culture — presented by Coca-Cola — in the New Orleans Caesars Superdome.
“To know what you don’t know and to prepare for that and to surround yourself with people who are much smarter than you with regards to what you’re doing. Have a passion for it. Have an understanding, but also understand that it’s a different world, and it takes a different you [to] maneuver differently,” Anderson told AFROTECH™. “It takes a different skill set. And it’s all …about surrounding yourself with people who are much smarter than you in that field, in that space, and listening to them.”
He continued, “Even though it’s me and Cedric’s company, we hire people around us that know the business much better than we do. Even though this is our inception, we created this. This is our baby, and it’s only going to be successful if we allow the people or put people in the positions to run this business the way that it needs to be run.”
First Storefront
That advice has certainly served the pair’s brand well, which expanded its concept to its first brick-and-mortar storefront in partnership with Planet Hollywood owner Robert Earl, according to Restaurant Hospitality.
Located in Los Angeles at the Westfield Century City outdoor mall, the business features a menu co-created by executive chef Burt Bakman, offering St. Louis ribs, smoked chicken, pulled pork, and brisket, each served with signature sauces.
What’s more, the venture is proving to be a hot commodity, becoming one of the highest-grossing restaurants at the mall’s food court.
“We just found out we are the fourth highest grossing restaurant in the food court behind Chick-fil-A, Chipotle, and Panda Express. And right after that is AC Barbeque. So, it’s doing well,” Anderson expressed.
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