BLOG
Architecture Graduate Turned Burger Mogul
A Burger Legend Is Born
He couldn’t see it at the start of 2020, but our curly-haired bro Ernesto Villaneuva would come to know it as one of the worst times in history to open a new restaurant. With forced closures and city-wide lockdowns, businesses everywhere were crumbling under the weight of COVID-19.
Meanwhile, three friends in Southern California would bet it all on the dream of owning something of their own. From the rubble that was social distancing and unforeseen restrictions sprouted one of San Diego’s best hole-in-the-walls, Hayes Burger.
Quality In The Details
Neto’s winding tale from desert upbringing to burger-preneur is laced with curiosity and career changes. But the success of Hayes Burger is underpinned with a common theme throughout his journey: quality.
Quality and detail find themselves at the root of Ernesto Villanueva’s success, and it’s what keeps the patrons of his pandemic burger baby coming back again and again.
Join us on this episode of Let It Ride for all the juicy details.
What you'll hear about
- Leaving architecture to work for minimum wage
- Starting a restaurant right before the pandemic
- What people think about the curls
- Not being a poser
- Starring in a commercial
- Super punk rock shit, like owning a burger shop
WATCH
Watch Ernesto Villanueva on The Longhairs podcast.
LISTEN
Right here, or find Let It Ride wherever you listen to podcasts.
This episode of Let It Ride is brought to you by The Great Cut 2024, where The Longhairs will attempt another world-record charity hair donation for Children With Hair Loss.
Bros On This Episode
El Garvinski
Media Producer for The Longhairs, El Garvinski stays active with communications, art and health. He produced the iconic Hair Ties For Guys commercial in 2014. After coming back from creative endeavors abroad he returned to The Longhairs to continue firing off heavy content.
What’s your favorite burger?
