Meet Aaron Krebs | Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Aaron Krebs and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Aaron, Let’s talk about principles and values – what matters to you most?
In any business I create I think first about the customer experience. I’m not out to sell the most widgets. I’m out to sell the most pleasing experience when you come in to buy a widget. I create experiences. That’s the goal. I also look to do business with honesty. There are so many companies out there that hide fees or language in contracts. I’m not looking to do that. I want to have an honest exchange with someone. I believe that if you treat people right, they will continue to patronize your establishments. It feels old fashion. Which is a shame. It should just be how we all treat each other and do business. Sacrificing your customers and customer experience to make 2-3% more is a short dollar move. I value treating customers the way I would want to be treated when I do business.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I have been starting various businesses since I was 5 years old. I would sell pecans that grew wild on my grandparent’s trees. I realized that people could buy these at the store, but they could also buy them from me and my “nut stand” on the corner. That was a better story. We all want stories to tell around the water cooler and dinner table. So, I would push nuts. Sounds weird when I write it out like that. Then it became green beans from dad’s garden. Then plums. Then I became too old to get people to stop, so I talked my younger sisters into selling these and I cut them in. No one taught it to me. I just was how I saw it.

Skip forward, my friend Lloyd Ahlquist and I, came up with this idea of moving to Chicago after college and creating an improv comedy business. We grabbed four more guys and moved from UMASS Amherst to Chicago. Comedy wasn’t a hobby for us. It was a business. We had creative meetings and multiple business meetings weekly. We focused on what we provide. What was our style of comedy? What market would that live best in? How do we get into these markets? M.i. Productions was born out of that early 2000s time. It is still going today. We all eventually moved to LA for writing and acting. We opened the Westside Comedy Theater in 2009. Also, still going strong today. That has birthed many other business. A small production company, a corporate training company, etc. I started my own acting studio in 2009 and have a real estate business now with my wife Jill.

The big one now is Inkwell Tavern in Burbank. My business partners and I wanted to try something in the food space. We found a place that we could create a menu, wine experience, craft cocktails….essentially the whole VIP experience for Burbank locals. And this is what we do. Our goal with Inkwell Tavern is to give everyone who comes through those doors an experience, not just a smash burger. We want them to be surprised, in a good way, by something at least once while they are here. We just got voted on Yelp’s Top 100 Place to Eat, #11 place in LA County.

I’m truly proud of the staff, the vibe of the room, the way we treat customers, the extra mile we will go for you here, the menu, the drinks, all of it. It’s a great space. Who knows what’s next?

www.westsidecomedy.com
www.inkwelltavern.com

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I always love showing people around the Santa Barbara wine areas like Los Olivos, Solvang, Buelton, Santa Ynez, Santa Maria, etc. So many great wine producers in that region. I’ve loved watching this area grow over the last 20 years. It’s still growing rapidly too.

Other options in LA would be the classic steak house circuit. Dear John’s, Taylor’s, Morton’s, The Palm, etc. I love a classic leather booth, steak house.

If you’re in LA…you should 100% see some of the comedy classics. The Improv and The Comedy Store are both a great night out. Of course, come visit us at The Westside Comedy Theater too in Santa Monica.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I have a whole stable of people who have influenced me. I’m blessed to work with some of my best friends as my business partners. Their trust and support has allowed me to take chances and evolve as someone who starts businesses. Growing up I worked for a comic book and baseball card shop in Dallas. The guys, J.B. and Tim Frazin, who owned that store gave me my first taste of commerce. IE- Buy for X and sell for Y, but make the relationship. One deal is short sighted. Your goal is to create a thriving relationship that benefits both you and the client. That will provide fruit for years.

Website: https://www.inkwelltavern.com

Instagram: @InkwellTavern

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/inkwell-tavern-burbank