Joel Torre (JT), founder of the popular JT’s Manukan Grille restaurant chain, recently shared the significance of New York in his life journey.
His experiences in the “Big Apple” were some of the reasons why he started his own restaurant business.
The veteran actor and seasoned entrepreneur was in New York City from Oct 2000 to April 2001 where he acted both on film and on stage.
He was part of the film “Batang West Side (2001),” by Lav Diaz, and also took part in New York’s Public Theater production of Jessica Hagedorn’s “Dogeaters” (2001).
During Torre’s stay in New York City for the performances in the above-mentioned projects, he noticed the food outlets operated by the migrants there serving food from their native lands.
He thought to himself that he could start his own food business and perhaps also someday serve his own hometown’s chicken “inasal” to New Yorkers.
In 2005, JT was also part of “Rigodon,” the Sari Lluch Dalena and Keith Sicat film about Filipino immigrants in New York City whose lives intersect as they journey on with their immigrant life.
These visits to the “Big Apple” taught JT valuable lessons.
During his interview at the Follow The Money business feature program of the Bilyonaryo News Channel, the award-winning actor and entrepreneur stated that “one of our key ideas is to start small but dream big.”
READ ALSO: JT’s Manukan expands in Singapore; ‘namit’ and ‘inasal’ now in Lucky Plaza
JT’s Manukan Grille: Humble beginning
In 2003, JT co-founded JT’s Manukan Grille, together with his wife Cristy.
Starting with a roadside take-out counter in Quezon City, JT’s Manukan Grille now has 39 Philippine stores and one branch in Singapore.
Recently, JT’s Manukan Grille was featured in the Grab OOH advertisement on the NASDAQ Tower digital billboard at Times Square, Midtown Manhattan, New York City.
The billboard is recognized as having immense reach, including global Livecam. It has exhibited brands that have gained great consumer confidence. These include Apple, Amazon, Coca-Cola, and Netflix. The billboard is monitored by investors, financial experts, and other business leaders.
“Start small but dream big,” indeed.
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