In October, the ClearCOGS team had the pleasure of attending the CREATE conference in Nashville. While on site, we got to catch up with Charlie Eblen, Founder of Single Tree BBQ. Check out our conversation below.
As the founder and host of Single Tree Nation ESPN Radio/Podcast, Charlie leverages his culinary arts background and ServSafe certification to create engaging and informative content about food, hospitality, and community. He has grown a loyal and diverse audience that shares his passion and vision for storytelling and social impact.
Eblen is also the founder and president of Single Tree BBQ, a catering and BBQ company that delivers the perfect plate of BBQ to customers and events. Since 2020, he has led a team of dedicated and talented professionals who uphold the highest standards of quality, service, and safety. They have achieved industry-leading sales and profit growth, broken multiple records, and earned recognition from Entrepreneur.com and Nashville Voyager.
Charlie’s mission is to honor his grandfather’s legacy and help build and grow our community through food and beverage.
Topics Covered:
Pandemic Pivot and Restaurant Startup Journey Charlie Eblen shares how losing his corporate hospitality job during COVID-19 became the catalyst for launching Single Tree BBQ. Starting with just a 26-foot food trailer and limited savings, he transformed unemployment into entrepreneurship by following his passion for barbecue and community service.
Building a Restaurant Brand Through Social Media and Authenticity Learn how a restaurant owner with zero media experience grew his brand by going live on Instagram and sharing his authentic journey. Charlie discusses leveraging vulnerability and real-time storytelling to connect with customers and build a loyal following that extends far beyond his physical location.
Community-Driven Restaurant Marketing and Local Fundraising Discover how Single Tree BBQ uses undeniable hospitality and community engagement to drive business growth. Charlie shares the emotional story of organizing a major barbecue fundraiser that sent nine-year-old Mason Asher, a child battling a brain tumor, to Disney World—and why giving back is central to his restaurant’s mission.
From Food Trailer to Radio Host: Expanding a Restaurant Business Charlie reveals his unexpected journey from operating a barbecue food trailer to hosting “Single Tree Nation” on ESPN Radio. He explains how restaurants can leverage media partnerships and personal branding to scale their impact and reach new customers in competitive markets.
Restaurant Growth Strategy Inspired by Nike’s Business Philosophy Charlie breaks down his vision for making Single Tree BBQ “the Nike of barbecue”—building a brand focused on serving the community first, with hospitality and storytelling at its core. He shares lessons from 30 years in the restaurant industry about depending on yourself instead of corporate structures.
Ideal For: Restaurant owners considering a startup, food truck operators looking to scale, hospitality professionals exploring community-based marketing, barbecue restaurant entrepreneurs, and anyone interested in restaurant success stories built on authenticity and local engagement.
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