Some people fall into the restaurant business; Mark fell in love with it. "I had always had a job, but I fell in love with the restaurant industry as soon as I started," he says. "Everyone was always cutting up, cracking jokes, and I became addicted to the fast-paced nature of this world. I would walk out of the building every night with my tip out after bussing tables, and I was immediately hooked. There was never a dull moment, and I love that about this industry."
That same energy pulses through Waldo's Chicken & Beer, the Nashville-born fast-casual concept Mark launched in 2019 after stepping away from running someone else's brand. "We have a saying in our world: 'Lead, follow or get out of the way,' and I felt like I was more interested in leading than following," he says. "So I got out of the way in the burger world and took a stab at the chicken space."
Waldo's isn't your average fried chicken joint. "We like to call our brand full-service chicken in a fast-casual setting," he explains. "We have everything from tenders to bone-in chicken, fried rotisserie, salads and a full bar. We strive to bring our best in all categories."
That commitment shows up in every detail, especially in the kitchen. "We make everything from scratch everyday and that's incredibly important to us," Mark says. "We talk all the time about making decisions around things being better and not easier."
Mark credits his team for building Waldo's culture more than the menu. "It all comes down to the people you put on your team," he says. "We are super blessed to have folks on our teams that derive a lot of satisfaction from making their food from scratch daily." One moment that stuck with him? "I overheard a young cashier calling his parents one day at our Cool Springs store, and they said, 'Mom, you got to come to the store today and eat the ranch, I made it!'"
Mark keeps his team centered through clear values: "One of our five core values at Waldo's Chicken & Beer is 'stay humble and always seek to learn and develop.'" That humble approach extends to the community, too. Whether supporting local schools, Second Harvest Food Bank or the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Waldo's always looks to give back. "We talk about 'generosity as our default,'" he says. "It goes much deeper than just free upgrades. It's about showing up when our community needs us."
With new locations opening across the South and big goals ahead, Mark is just getting started. "Our next goal is to open 50 stores and expand out west and north. Stay tuned, it's gonna be a wild ride."
Waldo's Menu Favorites from Belle Meade Lifestyle
The Roost - Slow-Roasted Pulled Chicken, Pickles and Alabama White Sauce on a Toasted Bun
Chicken Scratch Salad - Fresh Garden Greens, Fried Chicken, Cheddar, Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Chopped Bacon, Toasted Almonds & Housemade Croutons with Buttermilk Ranch