Jerry J. Bobb, the enigmatic businessman and culinary artist, recounts how he founded the world-famous “Super Taters” and the obstacles he faced. Today, his independently owned/operated restaurant is celebrated for its unique SUPER-sized stuffed baked potatoes and an expansive menu full of “BIG Menu Energy,” that offers over 100+ mix-and-match combinations of flavors alongside homemade Smash Burgers, wraps, soups, and salads.

Could you start by sharing your background and what inspired you to start Super Taters?

I grew up in humble beginnings, which taught me the value of hard work and creativity early on. With few resources, I knew I had to push myself and think strategically to realize my dreams. After years of saving and gaining experience in various industries, I finally opened Super Taters in 2014. My inspiration came from the culinary lessons I learned in my mother and grandmother’s kitchen, where I developed a passion for creating unique dishes. My travel experiences inspire the Super Taters’ menu and, most importantly, my customers.

Super Taters is renowned for its creative approach to food! Tell us about your philosophy. 

One important thing to know about me is that I am not a classically trained chef—I’m a businessman who just happens to learn how to cook well. I consider myself a “Culinary Artist,” meaning I use food as my canvas to create unique (edible) art, much like a painter might. My philosophy focuses on diversifying my menu and business through my experiences, travels, and customers’ requests. Over the years, my menu has grown so diverse and innovative that it takes up the entire restaurant wall! I also credit my amazing support staff, my “backbone,” for helping bring my creative vision to life and ensuring the success of Super Taters through every challenge.

What new menu items or culinary innovations have you introduced recently that embody your “BIG Menu Energy?”

I’m a creator, so I’m ALWAYS one step ahead of creating! My pride has always been in offering a FULL menu of original recipes, homemade, original recipe wraps, salads, soups, quesadillas, hot sandwiches, and classic burgers, but recently, we’ve upped the options! This summer, we introduced our homemade Smash Burgers, which quickly became a crowd favorite. Of course, our supersized taters remain the stars of the show, with over 100+ mix-and-match combinations of fresh cheeses, veggies, meats, signature tater sauces, and other delicious toppings. With so many options, you could go months without repeating the same flavor combination! I call it “BIG Menu Energy”. 

What is “BIG Menu Energy?”

BIG Menu Energy is about blending creativity, deliciousness, and a deep personal commitment to satisfying my patrons. Flavors are inspired by my experiences, travels, and, most importantly, my customers. I prioritize staying connected to my patrons, always striving to stay one step ahead of emerging trends, new flavor combinations, and all things food. This approach ensures I can meet and exceed their expectations. The menu is now so expansive that it literally takes up an entire wall of my restaurant, offering a variety of options that allow every customer to request almost whatever they like, made to order to their specifications. 

Community involvement has always been a cornerstone of your mission. Can you share any recent projects or events that Super Taters has participated in to strengthen its ties to the community? 

We recently participated in The 20th annual Buddy Walk, which assists individuals with Down syndrome. There was a point before I opened for business when I was a Coach for The Special Olympics where I could meet all these fantastic individuals and help coach their team! I still volunteer for Special Olympics events as my schedule permits. However, events like The DSAA Buddy Walk allow me to still spend time with a few fantastically talented individuals I had the pleasure of coaching many years ago. Also, during the Christmas Holidays, you can catch me volunteering as Tater Claus (a.k.a Chocolate Santa), spreading joy to underserved community kids. 

Your journey serves as a powerful inspiration for aspiring business owners. What key pieces of advice would you offer to those starting out or looking to expand their own ventures?

Stay committed to the course. There is a myth of entrepreneurship where many think of it as a fast track to being wealthy or, at best, being released from the constraints of a corporate job. The irony of this is (although entrepreneurship can be a pathway to financial independence) that you often get out what you put in, meaning you have to put in the work to be successful. Putting in work to be successful may mean a lot of time spent fine-tuning your craft, putting out fires, and covering the details. Covering the details may not always mean you have the freedom you imagined you might have. Even after you are established, there will be times when your expertise and energy are still required to help keep your entrepreneurship dream alive. Lastly, don’t forget the “U” in entrepreneurship! Work hard, but don’t forget to take care of yourself by prioritizing your mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. 

Sidenote: The key word here is successful, and there are levels to success, so your individual goals come into play here. You can build your business into whatever you want, whether wildly successful or… a path to achieving a certain lifestyle, or even just a creative outlet to express yourself. I purposely choose a happy medium where I can have freedom, make a living, stay connected to the community, and maintain a creative outlet.

After a decade of success, what continues to motivate you to innovate and maintain your commitment to excellence in your work at Super Taters?

I like seeing people satisfied and happy. I like seeing the look on my patrons’ faces when they genuinely enjoy something I’ve prepared for them. I enjoy being an establishment that people can come to that can make unique, edible pieces of art. People will appreciate you and connect with your business philosophy when you can do that. Lastly, I like being a positive beacon in the community, meaning I like still being connected to my customers as well as being active in the community. Many are surprised that despite all my success, I still insist on being on location, setting an example by working alongside my dedicated staff. 

What is your biggest challenge?

1. The biggest challenge is not knowing your future challenges. I compare it to navigating a ship in uncharted waters where you may have a solid idea of where you are and where you have already been (or have done)… but are not 100% sure what the future path will be like. 

2. People read about you in magazines and see you on TV and now have the high expectations that come with that level of visibility. Now that you’ve built up expectations, it’s time to measure up to those expectations consistently in a very public and very accessible social media age. Information is now delivered in seconds, which means high public praise and an even higher potential for criticism, which means the need for quality control is even more important.

What are your future plans?

The next phase of my career is Business Consulting. I deeply desire to share the knowledge I’ve gained and use my real-world, real-time experiences to help advise new businesses and other entrepreneurs who may be having difficulty navigating the uncertainty of the business world. As “The Biz Bobbcat,” I plan to launch a consulting venture that will provide practical advice and real-life solutions tailored to the challenges of today’s ever-changing landscape. My goal is to guide others and inspire them to pursue their dreams with the same level of dedication and ingenuity that has defined my career.

Published by: Holy Minoza