00:00
Eric Mulvin
Welcome to the Unfinished Business podcast with Eric Mulvin. I’m your host Eric Mulvin and this is a show where I sit down with CEOs, visionaries, creative business leaders who are out there changing the world through business, through their organization, through leadership, more through creativity. Because it doesn’t matter what you started or what you’ve accomplished, even someone like Jordan who’s done it all still has unfinished business out there. And we explore those stories on this show. Unfinished Business. 

00:30
Theme Song
Where people in tech connect to amplify human intelligence. Plus AI new shot goals that launch you high. Listen close and you’ll learn why. 

00:52
Eric Mulvin
This episode is brought to you by Pac Biz Outsourcing. At Pac Biz, we help software, e-commerce, taxi and NEMTcompanies help outsource their customer support and back office tasks and dispatching with dedicated teams in the Philippines. These are full time remote staff who work as part of their team handling calls, emails, task support and admin tasks so that you can improve support, scale faster and keep costs under control. For example, one client has saved over $600,000 a year in payroll costs by switching over to key support roles at Pac Biz. So if you’re trying to lower cost or scale support, visit pac-biz.com to learn more or you can give us a call Monday through Friday during business hours. 480-771-3009. 

01:39
Eric Mulvin
All right, today I’m really excited for this interview for this guest and he is a emerging entrepreneur in the food and hospitality speaks, best known for his work with Mensho helping bring you back to the Phoenix. Now today he’s bringing it back at Egg Roll Express here in Tempe. And he’s had a very eclectic background from things like gate and ramp agent at American Airlines. He’s also worked with the Fraternal Order of Police where he was a parole supervisor and he’s helped many of the other positions which brought you here today, which we’re excited to talk about for today’s show. So without further ado, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the show. 

02:20
David Vu
If it’s bang, you make me forgot. 

02:22
Eric Mulvin
All right, awesome. Thank you for being here. So first off, I know I kind of do that intro there but because you’ve done a lot and we got a little guy I should mention here early on both now it’s a history together vocal into high school st my school. Yeah. So this is someone that I just met office we got. So yeah. So I have a real. Well, I’ve seen you off and on over the years. What have you been up to. It’s been like 20 years. 

02:57
David Vu
Yeah. I guess the beneficiaries. What have I not been up to? I’ve been pretty busy just getting this set up. 

03:05
Eric Mulvin
Honestly, it’s a long time conning to. 

03:08
David Vu
Just finally realized that you got to stop working for others. 

03:12
Eric Mulvin
Just got to start working for. So here we are. 

03:15
David Vu
Just been. 

03:16
Eric Mulvin
Now, for those of you here unaware,. 

03:19
David Vu
It’s called Vu Dynasty. My license. The dynasty stands for the fact that. 

03:24
Eric Mulvin
I want to have sentence. This is just going to be one minute. That’s what I’ve been up to. All right, awesome. So Vu Dynasty. We’re going to get into that in a moment, but we’re sitting here in. And I think a couple weeks ago, this was like a Bogo restaurant, and now you’re taking over and this is your first venture. Storefront venture. It’s not your first venture. 

03:48
David Vu
Correct. Many things. 

03:49
Eric Mulvin
So actually, let’s back up, though, a little bit, because I don’t think, like, part of this show is helping tell the stories of the journeys and what got you here. Okay. Because. Well, I don’t know if this one. Before went to high school together, and I don’t think anybody knew in high school what Edible Team did. So how did you go from high school together? We’re at student council together. Had to go from that to now. Opening your own. Opening your own restaurant. Four years old. 

04:23
David Vu
Yeah. A little backstory, I guess, would be that 30 years ago, when I was, like, 10, my parents owned the original Eggroll Express, which was a Chinese Vietnamese restaurant where the current cyclo for a cyclo is located on Dr. Chandler, Dorbon and Dobson. So that was ours many years ago. 

04:44
Eric Mulvin
Before. 

04:44
David Vu
Before the surrounding area, it was just dirt all around. And I always told myself I saw my mom, and I’m not gonna lie, I saw my parents, and all we did was the restaurant. So I was like, I don’t want. 

04:58
Eric Mulvin
To go into the restaurant industry. 

05:00
David Vu
So I actually got my master’s, my bachelor’s in a whole different field. I ventured out and went into that field to the fact that I even took the additional step and became a professor at TCU in that field, which is criminal justice. And here we are a few years later, and I’m not doing what I do. Basically took my entire career doing. 

05:23
Eric Mulvin
And I’m back to welcome to entrepreneurship. Yes. Nobody ever anticipates where they. I think for the most part, you’re in good company because, I mean, I. I tax you to ask me in high school that you Told me that I was going to be doing all that. So yeah, makes sense. You know that no one’s patented straight to gear now. Do you feel, I guess it might be an interesting question. No, you didn’t. You could invest so much time into your whole other career and did not. Do you feel like, is that a waste? Is that valuable? 

06:00
David Vu
I definitely feel that it was valuable because it taught me things that got. 

06:05
Eric Mulvin
To be where I am today. 

06:07
David Vu
Those lessons learned through politics, no matter what career you’re in, the lessons learned through just training and leadership abilities, through just honestly anywhere I’ve gone, even though I’ve had many careers, it’s given me the opportunity to kind of take a little bit from each entity and then. 

06:28
Eric Mulvin
Make it my own. Awesome. That’s a, that’s a great answer for you. What was the most difficult thing that you want back? Pivotal thing. 

06:42
David Vu
I think what tends to happen as human nature is we tend to trust and, or rely on others. Like we rely that our boss isn’t going to fire us or we rely that there’s going to be an opportunity for us to grow or rely on the opportunity to learn something. But at the end of the day, the only person that you can trust is yourself. And so as an entrepreneur, I think jumping through the hurdles and over the barrels and kind of just into the thick of it, you know, learning how to learn from other people’s mistakes, if you will, pretty much brought me to where I am today. Because had I not been brought those, you know, life lessons, I don’t think I would be sitting here opening up my own. 

07:32
David Vu
I probably would be go as an executive chef, as a vp, Director of Russian operations. I would be looking for a six figure job with somebody else working for somebody else. And I think finally it just took a little push to decide that no, you know what you’re doing, you know, have a little faith. And here we are. 

07:59
Eric Mulvin
Figure out. Cool. I want to dig into that more because, you know, a lot of people watching the show, like, I really try to bring people, like attract people that are angle so faithfully about starting. So. And it’s not even just starting. Maybe you have an established resource now you need to pivot mostly speed. Don’t slimly change what you’re doing. Like I would imagine if your job was a writer before AI right now, like AI is a competition. Like how do you differentiate yourself? So it doesn’t matter what you are. Like, we all got to be able to adapt. There’s a lot of listing there. So. So it’s Almost like starting a new business, starting with, like, other invites. So talk to me a little bit more about that. How did you. 

08:48
Eric Mulvin
How did you get to where, like, all right, it’s Tom, because I’m sure that question came up in your mind countless times over the years. Maybe now’s the time. How did you get to that? 

09:00
David Vu
I. I honestly, I love this question because I say it to myself. When self doubt is the enemy, right? You will doubt things that you’re uncomfortable with. You will doubt. You will stay in the things and continue to stay in the things that you know. And that is the day to day. That’s your Monday to Friday, right? But then you always look forward to your weekend. And then Monday comes around again and you’re like, oh, these are the Mondays. 

09:33
Eric Mulvin
I really don’t want to go to work. 

09:35
David Vu
When you continue to say those things, then are you ready? You’re not. You’re definitely not ready to venture onto new beginnings. Because when you work for yourself as an entrepreneur, as you know better than I do, Eric, finding a few companies as an entrepreneur, you’re not going to say, I don’t want to go to work today if you don’t go to work as an entrepreneur for yourself, that you are no longer doing something that is going to continue to not only pay the bills, but actually, like, make your heart happy, bring a smile to your face. And so to answer your question, at the end of the day, I am that person who likes to be coach. Although I have ventured out and have done a lot of different careers from. 

10:23
Eric Mulvin
Being a director of the Boys and Girls Club, from being a pro training. 

10:25
David Vu
Supervisor, from being a professor, from being. I’ve actually been in sales. I actually used to sell. I used to work for Heartland POS System. I’ve done it all. And I do like comfortability in a sense of I work for someone. 

10:42
Eric Mulvin
And as long as I put in. 

10:43
David Vu
My hours and when I get a paycheck, well, right now I’m not open yet. So I. I am working for someone, and that’s Uber and also American Airlines. So that is like my kind of income for now while I’m waiting for. 

10:56
Eric Mulvin
Permits or something like that. 

10:58
David Vu
But it finally took me to step out of that comfort zone because it actually ended up being a trust issue. I ended up no longer trusting my prior management, if you will. And it finally was like, okay, this is why, because you put in. 

11:17
Eric Mulvin
Your heart and your soul and your. 

11:18
David Vu
Hours as if it was yours. Everything I do, and I’m sure you remember from high school, everything I do. I do. 110%. So when I gave my all and the trust was lost, it was just like, huh, that statement is true. Where people say, if you want something done, do it yourself. So here we are. I’m doing it myself. 

11:42
Eric Mulvin
I love it. We knew each other from high school, which, by the way, I want to take this. I went on my computer and dug up some old pictures. 

11:50
David Vu
No, you did. 

11:51
Eric Mulvin
I did. So I was like, you gotta see this. Oh, man, I’m anxious. This is us at. I think this was right after high school graduation. Good look at everyone. Oh, that’s the best. That’s too funny. Yes. Wow. So it was interesting. You know, we. We were getting leadership experience back then. 

12:23
David Vu
Yes. 

12:23
Eric Mulvin
Not really realizing, like, what to come to, but how influential was your time, like, in high school? And you went on to, like, do a lot of stuff at the Boys and Girls Club right after that? I remember being active there. But you’re still active today. But how important was that to lead you to do what you’re doing? 

12:42
David Vu
Yeah, that’s a great question. Sleep. As people have asked me over and over again, how did you do all that in high school? And I legit would wake up tomorrow just to go back to high school. I loved how busy I was. I loved city council. I loved all of my leadership opportunities. You know, I was the drum major and a marching band. I was the volleyball captain my senior year. Like, I mean, I was everything. It was amazing, and I had a lot of fun. And so I think high school and student council specifically helped shape my future, helped shape who I was and how I always wanted to hold a leadership role. It’s interesting that I’ve actually never held, like, a retail position or, like, a minimalist position, except for when I was in high school. My minimalist position was a Harkins. 

13:34
David Vu
I was working at Harkins, but, like, within a month, they already promoted me to Roadrunner, which means I was able to do everything. And I think I was just always called to be elite. And I think student council was that. That first step into why I still a leader this day. 

13:51
Eric Mulvin
All right, when do you feel like there was a moment in your. The last 20, 30 years where you realized, like, that you are literally, like, meant to be a leader? Because maybe there was some lo. At a time where you’re like, okay, actually, I’m meant to be. 

14:08
David Vu
Yeah, I would go back to. 

14:12
Eric Mulvin
Sure. 

14:12
David Vu
I have a lot of examples. But the one example that I kind of vividly remember is I had just started at the airport. Nobody knew about my past, about my leadership. I never wanted to promote to a manager position, and I still am not a manager. But somehow, some way, someone found out something about me and was like, oh, David, we really need union reps. Can you help? And I’m good with that stuff. You know, I’m a union. I’m a fraternal order of police, and I’m a trustee, but also a grievance coordinator for them. And so I’m good with stuff like that. And so they found out and sure enough, I did it. And I was good at it. I got people out of trouble, not because they did something wrong, but because they were accused of something wrong. 

14:58
David Vu
And I was able to prove that, you know, it really wasn’t their fault, why they should be in trouble. So, yeah, I guess there’s been a few instances where I realized, oh, man, had I not been there, they may have gotten fired. Had I not been there, they may have. So looking at different angles and looking at the. The options of how to help someone, I’ve always taken up on that. 

15:23
Eric Mulvin
And that’s probably where you picked up some politics experience too. There’s probably a lot of that going on in the. 

15:29
David Vu
In every field. 

15:30
Eric Mulvin
In every. 

15:31
David Vu
Every field. It doesn’t matter what field you. 

15:33
Eric Mulvin
Yeah, we had a past guest on Justin Chase, recent, actually last week’s episode, and he gets to work with the government’s office all the time and he has to get funding from them. So, yeah, it doesn’t matter what level you are, you gotta. You gotta deal with the politics. It’s true. Which it’s interesting when you get to become, you know, when you’re the owner and now you’re staffing is involved with that to, you know, and that’s all behind the scenes happening to. Yeah. Be fun. Fun experiences. You get to go for you as you throw. Absolutely. All right, so you talked about your. You grew up with your parents, which I didn’t know that. That you grew up. Your parents owned a restaurant there. 

16:14
Eric Mulvin
So I’m guessing those probably the typical Asian experience of like, you probably at the restaurant late at night doing homework and the booth came back. 

16:23
David Vu
Yep, you got it. That. That was us. I was like 10 or 11, and my stepdad taught me how to walk. And so then I always wanted to walk. After that, as soon as I got off of school, I was walking the orders for the customers. 

16:39
Eric Mulvin
How old were you? 

16:40
David Vu
11. 10. 11. Yeah. 

16:42
Eric Mulvin
It was awesome. See, but that kind of experience, like you don’t realize, and I now I’m a parent and I got two kids that are under now, like 10 and about to be seven. And now I’m looking for those opportunities. 

16:56
David Vu
Filled out the senior 10 year old. Let’s go. They’re gonna learn. 

17:02
Eric Mulvin
Well, they, my girls do wanna open a restaurant. 

17:05
David Vu
Oh wow. 

17:06
Eric Mulvin
Talking about that and. Yeah, so maybe I’ll have some intern. So you grew up there and then what, do they still own the restaurant? 

17:19
David Vu
Yes. 

17:19
Eric Mulvin
Okay. 

17:19
David Vu
Yeah, they sold it before cyclo it was something else. And then now it’s been cyclo for. 

17:25
Eric Mulvin
The last like 20 years now. 

17:26
David Vu
Okay, so cyclo adopts and channel number. 

17:29
Eric Mulvin
One, that was ours. Original. Crazy. So before you brought this brand back to life, it’s been dead for like the last 20 years or so? Yeah, yeah. 

17:39
David Vu
It was Agor Express with the E. So we dropped the E and now we’re Agor Express. 

17:45
Eric Mulvin
But it’s all because of my parents. Cool. So what inspired you to follow in the footsteps? I mean you could have started any brand, could have went with any concept idea. You know, you got AI here, give me 10 ideas for a restaurant brand and boom, you got something new. Why follow in their footsteps with that? 

18:02
David Vu
So my vision is very big. I wanted to bring something into the valley that does not exist, which is an aggro concept. 

18:13
Eric Mulvin
So egg rolls from all around the world. 

18:15
David Vu
Our theme is global. When you walk into this restaurant, it’s very global. We’ve got a world map, we’ve got the explorer world. 

18:24
Eric Mulvin
Yeah. 

18:25
David Vu
We have planes. It’s a very global themed. And so there’s going to be. You can go to a Chinese restaurant and get a Chinese restaurant. Chinese egg roll. 

18:33
Eric Mulvin
You can go to a Thai restaurant. 

18:34
David Vu
And get a Thai egg roll. You can go to a Filipino restaurant and get Olympia. But where can you go if you want more than just one type of egg roll instead of driving around the whole town looking for it? And so our concept does not exist. Our concept is all things egg rolls, but there’ll be other things as well, like wonton tacos, fully loaded fries. We actually, I think you’re going to. 

18:57
Eric Mulvin
Be super excited about this one. 

18:59
David Vu
It is a spaghetti fries. Hear me out. It’s not spaghetti, it won’t be spaghetti, but it’s spaghetti sauce with the banana ketchup. 

19:07
Eric Mulvin
Just some Jollibee inspiration. 

19:09
David Vu
It’s so Jollibee doesn’t have this either, but it is a Filipino inspiration menu item. We have, we have had a lot of people try it just to like, you know, I’m fine tuning my egg Roll recipe down to the grams, how many grams of garlic. So that consistency is there. If MasterChef owner operator David Vu is not present, my mom can come in, who is the original MasterChef operator. But if my mom can come in and be like, oh, this is his recipe book for the lumpias, she can come in and make it down to the grams of salt, down to the grams of shallot, everything. So the egg roll concept is something that doesn’t exist and that’s why I’m bringing it to the Valley. Here’s your take. Come see me in five years. There’ll be one in every corner. 

19:57
Eric Mulvin
Okay. Old prediction. So this show will keep going on and we’re going to have him back again in a different location when he opens more locations. But I love it. Now for those of you watching, you might be thinking, wait a second, like, he’s talking about a lot of crazy stuff that someone who’s opening their first restaurant. I’m like, there’s a lot there. Like, maybe most people opening their first restaurant doesn’t have the level of experience you have. I’m guessing there’s a lot of. I’m starting this out for the first time. I’m gonna learn, I don’t know how many people are starting a restaurant and then measuring down to the ground new recipes and stuff like that. So what? Let’s talk about your background a little more in the food side. So we talked about your, all the different jobs that you have. 

20:44
Eric Mulvin
What about in the restaurant space? 

20:45
David Vu
Yes. So in the restaurant space, I helped single handedly. I, I am so on the record, I am the only non Japanese trained executive chef under the mental brand. That’s non Japanese. Yeah. 

21:01
Eric Mulvin
Super. 

21:02
David Vu
It’s pretty intense. And so I single handedly actually went to training in San Francisco over the bay. That’s where chef Shono San, the owner and creator of the Metro brand, Metro, started back in Japan, I want to say in 2012, maybe. Yeah, 2012. And for the last 14 years, he has curated something very unique and special to the point that it came to America and now it’s pretty much all. 

21:31
Eric Mulvin
Over the west coast. 

21:32
David Vu
I want to say there’s like 30 locations worldwide, including Singapore, Australia, India. So it’s a worldwide phenomenon, it’s viral, it’s delicious. And I was the person who trained under Shono San to help the current franchise owner of the three Arizona locations and the one Salt Lake City location. That was me. I did all of the training, all of the hiring, all of the code of conduct that was me who came in and. And got each of the men’s shows up and running on their own. 

22:04
Eric Mulvin
What incredible experience. What was that like? Because I’m sure that you were doing a lot of this stuff for the first time, right? 

22:11
David Vu
Well, I’ve always been, as you know, Eric, I’ve always been a leader. I’ve always been an organizer. So grabbing something and like, trying to figure out what needs to be done, when it needs to be done, where it needs to be done, how it needs to be done is not a problem for me. So I was able to take the training that Shan taught me, and there were rules. We just talked about politics. There were rules that we could do or couldn’t do. And so I had to take that and apply it to all the staff and let them realize what was allowed and not allowed per the menstrual standard. 

22:47
Eric Mulvin
So there’s. But I mean, you were doing this for the first time in the restaurant space, right? 

22:52
David Vu
Yes. Yeah. Well, I did. So a little more fun fact, so 30 years ago is when my parents opened up Agora Express. I’m not sure when they sold it. I was a teenager, but I. They sold it. And then when I was a sophomore, maybe junior at asu, my stepdad actually got his another restaurant, and I helped manage the front of the house as a college student. So managing a restaurant in the front of the house and obviously always already knowing how to cook, managing a restaurant at the front of the house on my own gave me more exposure to the restaurant side. So I’ve kind of always kind of had my hand in the restaurant industry because I’ve been catering with vou bears for the last two decades. And so, yeah, I’ve never had my own standalone, so this is my first standalone. 

23:42
David Vu
But I think alongside with Mensho and my parents, it’s given me a lot of opportunities to kind of sit where I am today in regards to creating my own brand, my own staffing, my own module. 

23:55
Eric Mulvin
That’s awesome. Do you think if your parents didn’t have that restaurant, would you be as confident with what you’re doing now opening? Because that’s. That’s a scary thing. I think, in my opinion, it’s about like cleaning an office. 

24:08
David Vu
It’s still scary. It’s still scary. I freak out every day, honestly. You may not see it. I handle stress very well. But I inside, I’m freaking out all the time. 

24:19
Eric Mulvin
Okay, how are we going to do this? 

24:21
David Vu
How are we going to do that? It took a little while to get the decor that we currently see Today, it’s not 100% done and ready, but it is 99% almost there. Just a little. Few minor tweaks and movements and stuff like that before grand opening. 

24:37
Eric Mulvin
But. 

24:38
David Vu
But I definitely, to answer your question, there’s no way on earth would I be sitting here with my own Rashad. 

24:45
Eric Mulvin
Had I not had that experience when I was 10. That’s. It’s over. By the way, you’re on the Asian leadership series of the podcast because we also highlight Asian business leaders and because not enough of us. 

24:59
David Vu
Yes. 

25:00
Eric Mulvin
And so going back to. Well, something I want touch on, which is interesting. You know, growing up in champion in the late 90s, early 2000s, there wasn’t a lot of Asians in Arizona, right? 

25:16
David Vu
Not at all. 

25:16
Eric Mulvin
Not at all. 

25:17
David Vu
Not even at our high school. 

25:19
Eric Mulvin
No. We were like one of like four of us. Yeah, literally, I think there was like four of us. And I’m half. So most of the time people thought I was Mexican anyway, so they never counted me. What does it mean to you to. To be out here? I mean, I don’t know. Is it. Is it important to you to represent Asian culture and females? 

25:38
David Vu
It is. We already have a huge Asian district because now Mekong area is called Asian district now. And I think being outside of the Asian district gives an opportunity for me. 

25:51
Eric Mulvin
To flourish a little more. 

25:54
David Vu
I think it’s important to focus on our heritage and our culture and what kind of brings us together. And everyone always says things that bring. 

26:06
Eric Mulvin
People together is food. And so I’m trying to bring people. 

26:09
David Vu
Together through global affairs, through global tastings and global food that’s also not only Asian, but jerk chicken egg rolls, Philly cheesesteak egg rolls. I have all kinds of different egg rolls that kind of appeal to all. 

26:27
Eric Mulvin
All people of all backgrounds. Awesome. Going back to startup question and fear to buy organs on a daily basis of situation. What happens? How do you. How do you overcome that? How do you get through the day? You know, is this Auburn for better or for worse, for year 11? I can tell you I had a crap day today. I had to hear about it from a client. I had to yesterday fire some. Like, as they call fire somebody. That happens. That’s part of business. How do you do. 

27:02
David Vu
You got to have thick skin, right? So empathy can obviously be there, but there you have to set that line. There has to be a threshold that you either can or cannot cross. And so there has to be a line and a threshold. And depending on what you allow others to cross will determine, you know, why somebody gets fired. Setting set standards and policies and code of conducts and. And new higher orientation booklet, which we’ve already had one. Even if you don’t have an open date, we’ve already had a new photo orientation because it’s setting the tone, it’s setting that standard. And so with the unknown, what you’re. You can control. Control what you cannot control. Have thick skin, have patience and take it one step at a time. I think that’s pretty much how I. 

27:55
Eric Mulvin
Have always handled stress. 

27:58
David Vu
I don’t let it pile onto me. I don’t let it affect me. If I can control it, then I’m going to control it so that I can diminish the stress that I have on my shoulders. But if it’s uncontrollable, then you need to say to yourself, one day at a time, one step at a time. What can I do to resolve this. 

28:17
Eric Mulvin
Problem that’s in front of me? That’s great advice. So if you’re out there stressed out about your business or what you’re trying to launch, running under roadblocks because I mean the one thing that’s guaranteed is you are going to face problems all the time. 

28:32
David Vu
That time. 

28:33
Eric Mulvin
Yeah. And despite all that, knowing that you’re jumping into it and saying, all right, Google, because why, why was it important for you to go out on your own? As you were mentioned, background, working, being I’m only a non Japanese training first. Why leave that safe world and go into this chaos? 

28:58
David Vu
I think the number one. I have a lot of answers to that question, but I think the number one answer to that specific question is doing something for myself and my family, creating my dynasty, giving my family an opportunity to flourish and realize that the sky is a limit. Do not always settle for what you know because when you settle for what you know, then you set yourself up for this consistency, which there’s nothing wrong with consistency. But in order to thrive and shine and become a true entrepreneur, you have. 

29:37
Eric Mulvin
To put things on Arrow. So here I am. 

29:40
David Vu
Yep. 

29:41
Eric Mulvin
That’s so true. And so obviously this is like faded down the. What’s that you got? The 20 Year Catering Company. I would consider that first business. I don’t know if you consider that. 

29:57
David Vu
Yes, I think I would. Yeah. My catering business, my blueberries business. 

30:03
Eric Mulvin
Don’t worry about it. I wanted to be authentic. 

30:09
David Vu
The canary business. Yeah, I would say that’s my first business. I got that ex a long time ago and I’ve just kind of been catering for birthdays, graduations, even weddings or wedding vow. Renewals. I’ve done it all. So I’ve even catered and was a MC for another wedding in both languages of Vietnamese and English. And so yeah and I actually still get requests for those to this day. I guess there was some video out there and oh, this guy lives in Arizona. You gotta hit him up. They’ll cater your food and be your mc. 

30:44
Eric Mulvin
So yeah, so you get all kinds. So you should have them on the website. 

30:49
David Vu
I. I should. Yeah. Upcharge 100% MC bilingual. 

30:55
Eric Mulvin
I yeah, I get the call. I think you know once people see was a microphone the call to be the McD. Yes. I was there MC at my cousin’s wedding last me and my wife. J. Ron of yeah, I get it. 

31:09
David Vu
But. 

31:10
Eric Mulvin
Well, because people look to you like it’s something about holding the mind of yourself about being in front of people sleeping. It shows that you’re a leader and it’s attracting. This is hard. It’s hard because put yourself out. It’s like a good and be vulnerable and take. Take risks and take two challenges knowing that many times and the financial now this is your first storefront location. But you were talking earlier before. You know it’s not just egg roll express, it’s food darts. Right? Yes. So tell me more about this. I think so. 

31:50
David Vu
The Vu Dynasty will eventually bring other concepts to Valley. That’s not just all things eggs rolls. We won’t share too much or a little. But the. The at the end of the day, there are a few other food concepts that we’re looking to build bring to the Valley that currently does not exist in the Valley. 

32:10
Eric Mulvin
I thought we got all the Asian food. 

32:12
David Vu
Nope, we don’t. So we will dabble in that maybe at the next podcast. But I am definitely. The Dynasty is an umbrella and everything else is a dba. And the DBA falls under the dynasty. And the dynasty is what’s one going to ensure that the Vu Dynasty is in existence for many years to come. A moment ago, you saw a little boy run around and you saw his big old fro. That’s my nephew. He’s three years old and his name’s King. Believe it or not, the Vu Dynasty name did not get established until December 13th of 2020. He was already born. His name is King. I think it’s just fitting that it all kind of comes together that one day King will be the king of the dynasty. 

33:03
Eric Mulvin
Right. That’s a lot of pressure. 

33:07
David Vu
Yeah, for sure. 

33:08
Eric Mulvin
You’re gonna have to run the dynasty one day and we get in that. You know some of the people that we’ve had on the show part of the. There’s this core value that I have of my business. I’ve read you guys a lot of my clients, multi generation competitive clients that have businesses that have been around for third generation and I’m hearing a little bit about that. What is your vision for? 

33:36
David Vu
My vision is to be similar to a cane one in like every corner. Yeah. To have an opportunity for people to franchise it as well. But the problem is even if you had billions of dollars I wouldn’t just let anybody franchise my dynasty. They would have to be family and or over there. I know the viewers can’t see it but I’ve got a picture perfect. I’ve got a global ambassador plaque and these are people who have contributed to the dynasty either financially, physically, through labor, voluntarily. And those are the people. If you believe in my vision, you have an opportunity to franchise my vision. So it will be franchisable to those people. And there’s just going to be a. 

34:26
Eric Mulvin
Lot of work for myself so because. 

34:28
David Vu
I’ve spoken to a few of those people and oh, I’m not running direction David. So. So there are people that don’t even want to dabble into that. But the goal is to. 

34:38
Eric Mulvin
To have unifications and we actually we had another guest on couple weeks ago done pretty. He’s the founder and president of Chamber which happens to be based here but they got chapters all around the lobby talking about global ambassador but they’ve been heavily involved with the timing semiconductor plant. They workshops they bring all the looms together organizations. But one of the things to say because of the involvement with the time is like Phoenix needs what are your thoughts? 

35:16
David Vu
So I do have some insights. Franchise owner of Metro also is looking to have a night market. I think he already has something getting it’s. It’s not publicized yet so a little it’s that little 411 is that he’s already has a location and has already booked in ground for a night market type of themed Asian district themed in downtown. So it is something that is to come. 

35:47
Eric Mulvin
Right. Stay tuned. 

35:48
David Vu
Yes. 

35:49
Eric Mulvin
People’s dreams are coming true. 

35:50
David Vu
I agreed. 

35:51
Eric Mulvin
I’m like man, I go to Taiwan. I love going to the nightmare. I’m gonna be there in like three weeks. Yes, get the nightmare. But I’m excited. But like what’s been happening in year three and has us that’s Asian going up here seeing the community like transform. 

36:08
David Vu
Yeah. 

36:08
Eric Mulvin
It is crazy. 

36:10
David Vu
It’s ridiculous because like what do you. 

36:12
Eric Mulvin
Say because like, again, growing up Tempe, I mean, it was like one thing I liked about Tiffany, how we’re graduating from very diverse compared to now that I’ve been going. Like, I. It’s not always like that. Right. Like, I should now realize, like, oh, that was pretty cool. Everywhere school. But with. With Phoenix here, I don’t know what. What are you most excited about what’s been happening here? I never expected it to be this big. 

36:46
David Vu
Yeah. I think that Phoenix is going to be the next county when it comes to Asian and Asian districts. Because we used to have a chinatown she. On 44th Street. 

36:58
Eric Mulvin
Costco Center. 

36:59
David Vu
Yeah. 

37:00
Eric Mulvin
Yeah. The equity company. 

37:01
David Vu
Yes. 

37:02
Eric Mulvin
Supposedly for someone there, some entrepreneur person. Those roof tiles they saved. Someone can take those. That turn it into something. 

37:09
David Vu
Okay. 

37:11
Eric Mulvin
I have a whole bunch of photos I took of that place before and shut it down. And every time I drive by, I’m like, this used to be where I get my Asian grocery. I used to get my ice fried. I live down the street. So I’m a little bummed out. But it’s. It’s. It’s a transformation that going away has caused, like, I think more attention to the ancient district than that I never imagined. 

37:37
David Vu
Yeah. 

37:38
Eric Mulvin
I mean, how do you think that this environment of. How do you think that environment of the people embracing the Asian culture like Dylan, businesses that are thriving now. How has that helped you make your decision to. 

37:55
David Vu
I think that’s exactly why I decided is because I’m seeing how many people are so, you know, opening up the three end. Three nationals in Arizona across the valley and in the one in Salt Lake City. I’m noticing that the clientele is not one specific clientele. 

38:19
Eric Mulvin
There are. 

38:19
David Vu
There are a diverse amount of people. I think, especially in Arizona, people are looking for something that is very tasty. 

38:27
Eric Mulvin
Made from scratch. Speaking of. Yeah. Made from scratch. 

38:30
David Vu
All my sauces are made from scratch. So you’re going to have your coconut flying. You’re going to have a mango chili fish sauce. You’re going to have obviously sweet sour. There’s going to be a lot of. 

38:40
Eric Mulvin
Different sauces, all different scratch, which I’ve. 

38:42
David Vu
Been curating and testing for a few weeks now. But with that, I think we’re having an Asian district. And then seeing it growing, the way it’s grown kind of just gave me like, okay, time to. Time to do it. Yeah. Just. It’s time. 

39:02
Eric Mulvin
Do you have any. Any mentor? Do you have, like, books that you. That help you out? Like, because. Why. The reason why I’m so. You didn’t go to school for pulses. 

39:12
David Vu
I did not. I did not get a degree. 

39:15
Eric Mulvin
So in that where, like, is there anything that inspires you that you look to for guidance as you’re starting work? 

39:24
David Vu
I think that everything that has brought me to where I am today has shaped and given me the skills and knowledge to be where I am today. So I don’t have a mentor. However, I. I have mentored myself to many people. I personally do not. My. The only mentor that I’ve had was. 

39:43
Eric Mulvin
Through the boys and Girls club. 

39:45
David Vu
She helped me get through YouTube year. 

39:47
Eric Mulvin
Her name is Michelle. 

39:48
David Vu
She helped me get through YouTube year. But when it comes to restaurant stuff, she doesn’t own a restaurant thing like that. So she helped me when I was. 

39:56
Eric Mulvin
A senior in high school competing for. 

39:59
David Vu
That title, which I did win back in 2003. I was the Tepe ladmo new to the year as well as the East Valley latmo year across 11 different clubs. And I was a top three candidate for the state. But she was a prime mentor in that. I don’t really have a rush off mentor. I think everything that I’m currently doing is through my family and my nieces who either approved the chandelier or not. Or not approved the chandelier. And so it’s kind of just a family affair. And I guess it’s a family making decision. That dynasty that we talked about. 

40:36
Eric Mulvin
Right. 

40:36
David Vu
Getting the whole dynasty involved. 

40:38
Eric Mulvin
So. All right, so going back to the dynasty, it’s essentially a restaurant, right? 

40:44
David Vu
Basically, yes, it’s a restaurant. And so think of Darden and how they have Red Lobster, Olive Garden. I don’t even know what else they have anymore. But Darden has a huge group of restaurants. 

40:55
Eric Mulvin
There has been a lot of very successful restaurant groups, most notably the Sad Fox group, which was inquired by Chief, which then he was able to go on and build a giant snow that was going on the 24th Street Temple. So I mean, it sounds like you’ve got like sets, like heights you’re looking to like that level. We’re talking about Dart, household names to every city. 

41:25
David Vu
Yeah, I am. We even actually, I wouldn’t say jokingly, but prematurely. That’s a better. 

41:33
Eric Mulvin
That’s a better word. 

41:34
David Vu
We even prematurely were talking to the nieces and everyone like, all right, so where do you want to run? You know, AR Express. And someone mentioned, oh, I definitely want the Vegas one. 

41:43
Eric Mulvin
And someone else, oh, I’ll take the Atlanta one. 

41:45
David Vu
So the markets are already down before we’re even opening our doors. You gotta dream big. So that you have something to look forward to. 

41:56
Eric Mulvin
All right, so we could talk about that for a second. So in theme song for the show, it even says in there moonshot goals at launching. Because the. There’s people that start a business and then there’s people that have crazy qualities of like being the next, you know, red box to bring like that. Well, and all of our. So why create such a big shot, homes? 

42:23
David Vu
I know I said this already and it’s a little cliche, but why not? 

42:27
Eric Mulvin
Right? 

42:27
David Vu
At the end of the day, if you can create a brand that makes people happy, right. But is tasty and noteworthy, but it’s also the experience because we’re not just come in order lead come in experience the aegor express experience the culture, the vibe, theme that we’re giving you because it’s about that experience. What we’re sitting in now is the first class lounge. And so it’s a. We want to give people an experience, an opportunity to experience that first class through our customer service set skills. Because of that. I think that’s what separates me from working for somebody else. If I work for somebody else. Oh, you’re not allowed to do that. And I’m not throwing anybody under the bus, but one of my prior employers was like, oh, you. 

43:21
David Vu
You cannot comp them that or you cannot do this, but you cannot give them a discount. You can give them this, but not that. And it was just like provide that utmost experience to a degree. Right. Obviously there will be. I hate to say it, but there will be the carrots that you just simply cannot help no matter how much you try to help them. And I, and I witness that all the time when I’m at the airport there, no matter the reason of their flight delay, it’s my fault. Right? Which is not true. But that’s why I mentioned earlier that you got to have thick skin. And with that, I know that I will not be able to help or get rude to everyone. What if I can help and get through to the majority? I think that I have left my job. 

44:08
Eric Mulvin
Okay, well, that’s a good answer for why you should be setting shock all this work. So yeah, why not? And, and you know, especially with you, I just want to see like your package being exposed to lady because you were there like how long before the. You had to do crazy intensive training. That is correct. Before you even opened the first location. 

44:33
David Vu
And it was about a year and a half and I was still maintaining my airport job then, so I would have to fly back for a day Work in a shift, fly out that night, back to the Bay Area, out of San Francisco or Oakland, and then catch the train. And so I worked hard through it. I didn’t want to give up my flights, so I didn’t want to give up my airport job. I don’t know if you’re aware, Eric, but I fly for free. I’m sure you follow me. And I have people all over the place because I fly for free. And a lot of times I get first class without first class fees. And so I will probably never give. 

45:09
Eric Mulvin
Up my airport job. 

45:10
David Vu
I don’t know, maybe when I have my 50 in Navy Express that I’ll. 

45:14
Eric Mulvin
Do how many hours, months you have to put. 

45:16
David Vu
It’s actually very flexible. I don’t think people realize how easy it is to have a job at the airport. I have been there coming up on four years now through that I have opened up four mentions. I went to training for a year and a half. One of the mentions was out of the state in Salt Lake City where I relocated for four months because originally I had a chef hired and trained here in Arizona. He flew to Arizona at my first location to train to open the Salt Lake City location. Unfortunately, I ended up having to fire him and so I had no chef to take over. So when finally it was time to open up Salt Lake, it was all me. And I relocated while maintaining my airport job through that. 

46:01
David Vu
So to say the least, I think to answer your question, Eric, you don’t have to work very much. You just have to work 50% of your required shifts. And that doesn’t mean a month, that doesn’t mean a week, that doesn’t mean a day. It just means as long as you work 50% of your bid, which a bid is every three months so you can knock it out real quick. And then you will have, you will be responsible for your shifts. So you will have to trade your shifts away. But it’s very easy to and maintain free flight benefit. 

46:32
Eric Mulvin
Well, I have a feeling once you start hitting some traction, you’ll probably be like, okay, it’s time. 

46:38
David Vu
I’m sure it’s just a matter of. 

46:39
Eric Mulvin
Like because you get to the point where like another place I got to take out but. But yeah, the trout, the business truck. Especially if you’re a track. Like you’re going to be almost locations all over the equipment. 

46:50
David Vu
So that’s the goal, brother. And I love that you said you will be like, thank you. That’s, that’s your literally theme song. 

47:00
Eric Mulvin
It’s it’s gonna like the hard work that you’re putting in. And that’s the thing. Thing, I think. I mean, it’s like being willing to move to Salt Lake City for four months and fill that role. You could have walked away. You’re like, yeah, you know what? I’m gonna pick up more hours at the airport and go drive for Uber for a little bit so I figure out my next thing. But no, you’re like, we’re gonna get this stuff fit into it. And I mean it’s. It takes stuff like that. But the hard part, it was like on your. Nobody else is going to have you walk away. There’s a dimension. Someone else is going to find somebody to figure it out. That’s. Yeah, but you’re doing it. Tell people on the show here, where are we? Why this location? 

47:48
Eric Mulvin
Talk to me a little bit about that. How did you, how did you land on this spot? 

47:51
David Vu
Well, I think it’s a blessing in disguise. My kitchen is ginormous, which will give me my hub that I’m looking for. Because the next dynasty concept I will give you. 

48:03
Eric Mulvin
I will give you a little snippet. 

48:04
David Vu
Is going to be a food truck. And so the food truck will have a lot of my food bears. What people have been ordering for me for the last two decades will have my food bears concept. But you always needed a commissary for that. And so this will be my commissary and hub for the food truck, which will be called. 

48:23
Eric Mulvin
So. 

48:23
David Vu
So Bloomberg will fall under the food guidance as well since it’s already a trainee that a lot of people know. 

48:30
Eric Mulvin
And then we’re here at the corner of Pinto in El Cor. 

48:38
David Vu
And this is a very well known place. I was just, I was texting them. 

48:41
Eric Mulvin
About this last night. I love this spot because the Pollock theater is here, which is like one of the best movie theaters of reality in. And so I don’t know what any. Besides the obvious big kitchen location, location. Why here? 

48:57
David Vu
I was working with an agent to actually look at many places. I. There was actually another location that I was ready to sack my life away that location. But I did more praying and I did more thinking and the answer was clear that this location with the many different. Because we’ve got a Mexican restaurant in here. We’ve got an Italian restaurant in here. We’ve got a breakfast biscuits cafe in here, a Thai restaurant in here. A church. The Pollock theater. Sports bar. Yeah, a great sports bar next door. I watched the NCAA over there. 

49:38
Eric Mulvin
While were in the process of opening up. 

49:41
David Vu
And so I think all in all, when were touring all of the facilities, this location kind of called home to me because not only the size, but just being in the Valley, being in Tempe, where I grew up, you know, my roots. And I could have gone to Mesa, I could have gone to the Asian district. I could have gone to Phoenix and probably paid a lot cheaper than, you know, especially I saw a location in Phoenix that I was really interested in as well. But this one didn’t need a whole lot of work. I already could. When I walked in here, I saw the vision already. When I walked in the other rush shots, it was like, I’d have to do this. I’d have to that. Oh, I don’t like this other. 

50:26
David Vu
So long story short, it was just this was the best location with the. 

50:31
Eric Mulvin
Less amount of work they said. So now, like, I would because I’ve been coming to this plaza for a long time. I’ve been plenty of times. I love that all the businesses here have been around a while. That’s a good thing for establishing yourself because there’s some places I’m like, that corner, I would never in a million years open any concept there. Like, it’s just been rotating revolving door after revolving door, businesses setting. So I think that’s what I. You got. What stuff wants me to hear. When are you open? So we’re watching this episode. It’s going to come out right away. So next Tuesday, we’re at the start of J. Right now. When can people start getting to experience the world? 

51:22
David Vu
Yeah, we’re hoping this month. So we have our final inspection and our inspection, our fire inspection all next week, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. So we’re hoping there’s no meat. This was a boba shop before we took it over. And it already had restaurant equipment, so we didn’t do any commercial changes. It was just minor changes to. So it shouldn’t really change the plans. 

51:52
Eric Mulvin
As much in the new tricks or like that. 

51:56
David Vu
And so therefore, we’re not looking for. 

51:58
Eric Mulvin
Like a very hefty inspectivity. Okay. Yeah. And so for people that don’t have any idea about the whole permitting stuff, there’s a lot of. A lot of hoops you got to jump through to get from concept to opening the doors. Yeah, it’s true. 

52:14
David Vu
Lots of stuff. 

52:16
Eric Mulvin
And you’re at like what, like the final. Final. 

52:18
David Vu
The final stretch. Yeah. 

52:20
Eric Mulvin
Final countdown. So possibly before the end of the month. That’s been. Okay. 

52:24
David Vu
Yeah. Any comments? 

52:26
Eric Mulvin
Are it. So then that leads me to I think we’re getting kind of at the end of the show here and the last question I always like to ask of you because the show is called business and so I think you spent a whole show talking unfinished business but you got some big goals and big this is I. I don’t think practice is ridiculous for you. What’s this for you? Maybe I cannot focus on shot but I mean is there anything else to share like as far as like your unfinished business or is that it? 

53:00
David Vu
I think it’s just the dynasty. 

53:01
Eric Mulvin
Right. 

53:02
David Vu
Vu Dynasty and establishing all of my. 

53:05
Eric Mulvin
Concepts that I have having at least. 

53:07
David Vu
One location in all concepts under the Vu Dynasty umbrella would be the unfinished business. Committing to registering the Vu Dynasty as. 

53:17
Eric Mulvin
An LLC on December 13, 2025 to. 

53:21
David Vu
Seeing it move forward from just one concept. 

53:24
Eric Mulvin
No, those days are so pivotal. I mean for me, December 1, 2011 was when I got a first tax ember for the tax law and yeah and I registered it. I was in the club in Scottsdale was four friend and when we decided we’re gonna do this it was like October of again so that’s when I registered this llc. 

53:48
David Vu
Yep. 

53:49
Eric Mulvin
And I knew have an LLC from one of the like you get older than the so this guy’s got a lot of experience. Well I think we had to follow graph turn out for this young I can’t wait for this place to open. Oh I going to be in the same thing so when I come back that family will be a and some try the spaghetti. What is it? Spaghetti. What? 

54:18
David Vu
It’s spaghetti fries. 

54:19
Eric Mulvin
Spaghetti fries. All right. I’m. I’m curious. Quite interesting. You’ll see especially with your background. I know you’re not going to put out something scratch. It’s going to be fun. 

54:28
David Vu
It’s going to mark my words here going to be viral. 

54:31
Eric Mulvin
Right. All right, so you’re getting ready to launch. Where can people follow you so they can find out when you get the opening? And also like how do they want to know how they follow the Vu Dynasty so they can see your journey as you start opening up locations all over the country. 

54:45
David Vu
Okay, so you’re a step ahead of me because I don’t have a Dynasty page yet, but I do have an Agro Express page and you can follow us @Eggroll_Xpress without the E just an X press P R E S S. And right now we’re actually running a promo where the first hundred followers were at 66. So and we just created the page two days ago. But the first hundred followers is going to get a free combo, a global combo, which is a little tour of the world in Europe. 

55:17
Eric Mulvin
So, yes, 67 followers, because I’m going to go follow him after this. And by the time the show was released on Tuesday, which is just a couple days away, get on there so that you can. If you’re in Phoenix. So you can. And if you’re not, just get on there. Anyways, follow this, guys. 

55:31
David Vu
Who knows, Maybe you’re working for the airlines. You can fly in for free to. 

55:35
Eric Mulvin
Grab your own combo box. Yeah. All right, David. Well, hey, congrats on all your success and best of luck here as you get ready to launch. And best of luck as you start taking over the world with your dynasties. Thank you, brother. Appreciate you. 

55:49
David Vu
Thank you for your time and having me on the show. 

55:50
Eric Mulvin
Absolutely. Well, thank you guys for watching the show today. And if you like the stories you heard, please subscribe. We’re @BizWith Eric on social media and look up unfinished business with Eric Malvin on Spotify. IHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts. Wherever you listen to podcasts, we’re there. 

56:07
David Vu
And until next time, we’ll catch you. 

56:09
Eric Mulvin
On the next episode. 

56:09
David Vu
See you guys. 

56:16
Theme Song
CEO’s and visionaries shaping what to come. Building more than profit lifting everyone. Every path’s unique but it takes a choice to grow, set your goals and shape the way your future goes. People in tech connect to amplify human intelligence. Plus AI moonshot goals that launch you high. Listen close and you’ll learn why. Business on Spotify, Apple Podcast, YouTube, wherever you listen.