Jim Morasso, Restauranteur and Developer, is our guest for this episode of Getting Real With Rob. A Gastonia changemaker who believes success is the result of creating opportunities for people to thrive. With over 30 years of education and experience in the hospitality industry –Steak & Ale, Houston’s, TGI Fridays, Harpers and Mickey & Mooch – his experiences laid the groundwork to establish, build and create along with his partners the iconic restaurants such as Epic Chophouse in Mooresville NC, and Chillfire Bar & Grill in Denver NC. But it’s the story of how he secured, imagined, and opened Webb Custom Kitchen in Gastonia NC -- Voted top 100 Romantic Restaurants in America by Forbes Magazine, and top 25 private steakhouses in America – that has caught the attention of so many of his peers. His ability to ‘paint a picture’ for the town leaders, as he refers to it in the interview, sets him apart in momentum and agility. The perfect reason to make him a guest on our podcast.

Jim tells us his formula for success has always been to focus on five key topics. “First, the guests and the quality of their experience. Number two, people, who are the life blood of our business. Training, development, and opportunity for our associates is number three. Strong systems and procedures are number four. And number five states that if you follow the first four, then our community and the company will always thrive.”

For REBIC members who believe it is our responsibility to convey our vision with conviction and a sense of stewardship, all will enjoy hearing Jim talk about how he works to marry the community with the future in a cooperative and healthy way. His journey from Gastonia naysayer to local virtuoso will help inform the entire entrepreneurial narrative for anyone who believes relationships should be at the heart of development.

* NOTE, ERROR: During this podcast, our guest, Jim Morasso mistakenly mentioned the value of the Gastonia downtown condominiums as selling for $375,000. The correct number is a value of $875,000. It refers to the development in the former Rustin Furniture Building on West Main Ave, Gastonia NC. To preserve the cadence of the episode, and with the permission of Jim, we did not edit out this error.

Background on Gastonia Development by Jim:

A board member of the Gaston Business Administration (G.B.A.), this group’s focus is to develop the 13 small cities and towns in Gaston County.

Built in 1927 by renowned architect Hugh White for J B Webb, Webb Theater was transformed in 2016 to Webb Custom Kitchen. Attention to history and acquiring artifacts that once graced the theater were just some of the strategies to return this gem to its prior brilliance. Featured in Architectural Digest and Smithsonian Magazine. A Morasso/Shrake partnership.

TRW2020 LLC was created to repurpose the historic Rustin Furniture store built in 1900. One of the first furniture stores to place a TV in the windows capturing the City of Gastonia with standing room only on Main Ave. After 30 years of neglect and leaking roofs eating the inner structures integrity of the building, we moved ahead to restore and repurpose this center of Main Ave landmark. The building will be called Rustin on Main and will showcase 3 luxury condominiums on the top floor and 3 retail office spaces at street level. A Morasso/Shrake partnership.

Working with the City of Gastonia, CNB1920 LLC purchased the Historic Citizens National Bank. Designed and built by Hugh White in 1920. The plan for this grand place has always been slated to serve its community. Once a savings and trust, we want to transfer this into a brain-trust. Education and business startups are the rebirth of forgotten cities. This facility has deep community ties and will realize its true potential to combine education, mentorship, business rebirth in a live work environment. Other amenities within this campus will include a business club and a landmark restaurant named the FED. A Morasso/Shrake partnership

Community Service highlights:

“There are many deserving groups in our community and our involvement grows every year. Groups like The Least of these for Foster Children, Boys & Girls Club, Webb Street School for intellectual disabilities, Salvation Army, Off the Streets homeless initiative, and Dove House a Childs advocacy center to name a few have been adopted and embraced due to the needs of our communities.”