Alumni Voices

 

Alumni Interview: Devon Raab,

Owner, Doozies Place, Ocean City, NJ

 

Sarah Grady (SG): Hello, and welcome to the alumni interview for my dear friend Devon Raab, who is joining us today. My name is Sarah Grady. I'm the assistant director of the Lloyd D. Levenson Institute of Gaming, Hospitality and Tourism, and I welcome you all to this interview.

I would like to start by introducing Devon and inviting her to tell us a little bit about herself.

Devon Raab (DR): Hi, thank you so much for having me. I'm so excited.

I am a ��˾�������� graduate of class of 2021. I graduated with my degree in hospitality. I grew up in Ocean City, New Jersey, not far from ��˾��������. I went to Ocean City High School and then I ended up going to school for my freshman year at Alvernia University. I studied a completely different major, and just completely felt out of my realm. So, I transferred home, and I went to ��˾��������. That's where I fell into exactly where I was supposed to be and that was studying hospitality and being involved on campus – and all of the fun stuff.

I always like to tell people when they ask, “How did I get into the restaurant industry?”

It's been a childhood dream since I was probably about 5 years old. I have always played restaurant with my mom, and I was always her server. I was always making food for her, and I always had fake menus printed. I drew all different things on different menus. It just became this ongoing dream. I knew that I wanted to open my own restaurant one day.

I always loved breakfast food. Growing up, my parents always took my brother and I to breakfast every Sunday morning after church. That was our thing. So, it became a childhood dream to open my own breakfast and lunch restaurant.

And now here I am. I own Doozie's Place in Ocean City.

My nickname is Doozie. So that's where the name came from. People often think that “Doozie” has a negative connotation, but really it means something outstanding or unique of its kind. I love to tell everyone that, because everyone thinks, ‘oh, boy, she's a doozie,’  and I'm like no, I promise it means something good.

SG: That must have been an exciting journey to come and open your own place.

What we always love to ask our alumni, with their experience in the industry, what would you describe as a current challenge?

DR: I'd say there's so many challenges. Obviously, I think one of my biggest challenges is was learning how to balance work and my life.

As a business owner it's not easy, going home and just being able to shut off your brain – your phone, shut your laptop. You know what I mean?

Especially as a restaurant owner, it takes so much attention to detail. Everything from start to finish just takes a lot of time and effort. I learned that very, very quickly. I'd say, within the first week of being open. I'm like, ‘Oh, yeah, this is, this is it. This is it.’

SG:How do you feel that ��˾�������� prepared you to meet that challenge?

DR: The hospitality industry is so unpredictable. You never know what you're going to walk into.

You never know if equipment is going to be down or just stop working, or an employee is just not going to show up.

And honestly, ��˾�������� helped me. I'll never forget my career development class. I found this new confidence in myself, not only as a student, but as a boss. How I could be a boss and manage all of these people. I have 27 employees. That's a lot of people to manage, but I was involved in Greek life at ��˾��������, and that helped me a lot. That helped me a lot with gaining my confidence – being able to stand in front of a room and talk to all these people and say, ‘Oh, yeah, I'm your boss now. Hi, it's nice to meet you guys.’

In my career development class, we also did mock interviews, and, when I first opened Doozie's Place, I did something like 150 interviews. It was a lot. I really do think the hospitality program helped so much with my confidence, and just being able to start fresh with that mindset of, ‘OK, I can do this. I do have a support system. I know that I can do this. Let's go for it.’

SG: It's very inspiring to hear you speak about your business, and how excited you are about this new enterprise. It's very inspiring, and I'm sure there are a lot of listeners who might be interested to hear what advice you might have for somebody who's looking to follow a similar path.

DR: Right, absolutely.

Dive in headfirst. I know that that's something that probably a lot of people say. But I have come across so many people that tried to sway me differently and sway me in a different direction. Saying, ‘Are you sure that you want to open a restaurant? What, do you not like yourself? Why are you doing that to yourself?’

I stayed true to who I was and stayed true to what I was so passionate about, and said, ‘Oh, yes, I am opening a restaurant. It will be called Doozie's Place. It will be in Ocean City, New Jersey.’ Even though so many people tried to say, ‘Well, there's a lot of restaurants in Ocean City. Are you sure you just want to be another one?’ Yes, I'm absolutely positive. I know that I can stick out. I know that I can shine brighter.

I definitely would say, just dive in headfirst, and don't be afraid to make mistakes. I'm only 25. I've made so many mistakes when it comes to being a business owner. But you get through it. Everyone understands. People give you grace.

It's such an experience that I think everyone should have in their lifetime. Either work in the hospitality industry, or just be some sort of business owner, or have some sort of ownership in anything. It just is so rewarding.

SG: That is excellent advice and an excellent insight to hear from you as you embark on this.

Do you have any other comments for our listeners today? Any other thoughts to share?

DR: When I was in college, I was all over the place because I was just trying to focus on getting through the semesters and trying to get that diploma. So then I could go out into the real world and let my wings spread.

I would say, set goals for yourself, because that will help you tremendously. I set a 2-year goal out of college, and then I set a 5-year goal out of college, and I have set a 10-year goal out of college. I am right on track with my goals, and it helps me.  

You have to physically write it down. Do not have it in your head. Do not put it in your phone.  I tell you it helps so much to just write it down on a piece of paper and either make a vision board or anything.  Just put it up in your office or your room at your desk. Anything. Just so you're constantly looking at it. You're reminding yourself, ‘OK, I have to stick to these goals, and I have to make the right decision so that I am moving in the right direction.’

Set goals. 2 years, 5 years, 10 years, 5, 10,15, whatever you want to do. But write it down definitely. Write it down with a pen and paper.

SG: That is wonderful advice, wonderful insight again. It's been such a pleasure to speak with you today, Devon.

I want to thank you for your time today, and we're going to wrap up this interview now. But of course, we will be sharing some links and other information about Doozie's Place. If anyone's interested in learning more or perhaps stopping by to see what it's all about.

And again, thank you so much, Devon.

DR: Thank you. I appreciate it. Have a happy holidays!

SG: You too.

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