"If you want open a successful deli, restaurant or anything…make it about you. Put your energy, put your emotion into it."

As I look back, I’ve known Rami Balat since high school. I remember the day he expressed to me his goal to open a sandwich shop. One year later from that day and now going on for ten plus years, Rami Balat’s sandwich shop Subs Inc. is a San Francisco neighborhood’s favorite.

Subs Inc. is located in the trendy family neighborhood of Noe Valley. This is where his signature sandwiches are stacked up with scrumptious ingredients. He says it all starts with the bread and the Bay Area has unique bread choices such as Sourdough and Dutch Crunch. From the many types of meat and cheeses to choose from to the freshest produces from the local produce market and to his special in-house made sauces, these special ingredients are what makes a Subs Inc. sandwich so tasty. If you're not into creating your own sandwich then order from his signature sub menu. He tends to spin the ingredients of traditional sandwiches to make them become a Subs Inc. Signature Subs.

Beyond the business side of the sandwich shop, we talk about what keeps him going and what he wants his legacy to be. Rami also shares some of his hobbies that help him be a better owner, boss, entrepreneur and overall person.

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It’s learning how to be okay with making mistakes as long as your trying and use those experiences as learning experiences.

Some Questions I Ask:

What’s your typical day like? (4:40)

What’s your biggest challenge of being a business owner beyond just running the business? (6:19)

Where is the deli industry going? (9:48)

We talk bread?  (13:08)

Work-Life balance and hobbies. (7:13)

WIDWID (Why I Do What I Do). (23:25)

What’s your favorite book? (24:13)

What’s Rami’s alcohol drink of choice? (24:47)

We talk real estate. (25:35)

How do you define your legacy? (26:53)

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

Emotional Piggy Bank (3:37)

Having Employees and working with employees (6:30)

Make it about you (10:20)

Rami’s Next Move (14:20)

Investing In Yourself Will Help Your Business Thrive (18:36)

Learning From Mistakes (20:37)

Get Out Of Your Comfort Zone (21:42)

Think Big, Dream (23:01)

Rami Balat is…(27:10)

Personal Training Shoutout (28:18)

Editor’s Note: This story was shared through the Scotch Parlor podcast. Photography shoot was at the San Francisco Produce Terminal and at Subs Inc. Videography shoot was at Subs Inc.