The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf opened its 20th Southern Nevada location in March at the Venetian. Phil Patent is president and chief operating officer of Las Vegas Coffee Investors, founded in 2001 by Jeffrey Fine. Patent was entrusted last year with improving the coffee shops’ food program and started by “pushing the envelope on delivering excellent salads, sandwiches and wraps,” as well as introducing a panini line at Strip locations.
What is the best business advice you’ve received, and whom did it come from?
Frank Dunkel, who was vice president of purchasing for a 140-year-old restaurant chain in California, always encouraged me to be firm, fair and consistent, even when it was difficult. He implored me to always rise above the emotions of the moment.
What attracted you to the coffee industry?
I love the simplicity and straightforward nature of it. Coffee shops have become an everyday meeting place. You interact with the customers on a close level. You have to have pride in the product and recognize how important product consistency is to the customer. It’s important they start off their day in a consistent and pleasant manner, otherwise it can set them on a road which is difficult to correct. Also, when people come in as a respite to get a break from their normal daily stresses, they look to the coffee shop as an oasis. So this is a covenant we have created.
What are you reading?
I just finished “Season of the Witch” by David Talbot, which is based on San Francisco during the ’70s and ’80s. The book examines the evolution of the hippie culture, the Grateful Dead and the music scene, and the unfortunate assassination of San Francisco’s mayor, George Moscone, and how all of those events affected that area.
What do you do after work?
I like to spend time with my wife and daughters. I sit on the Juvenile Diabetes Research Board and am diligently helping to raise funds toward a cure to eliminate Type 1 diabetes. I also am proactive with Opportunity Village, Best Buddies and programs that serve special-needs children. I think it’s important to break down perceived social barriers and cherish everyone for their uniqueness.
Describe your management style.
I adjust to the individual and the situation. I believe in developing a proprietorship mentality within our management team. I do not believe in hiding financials; rather, I believe the employees should know the financials and understand the business, because we are in a for-profit business. I believe in educating employees so they understand the ramifications of even the smallest actions within our four walls. They should take pride in representing Las Vegas Coffee Investors.
Where do you see yourself and your company in 10 years?
We would hope that in 10 years, we would be double our size and be open in more neighborhoods within the Las Vegas Valley because we believe we are a local business.
What is your dream job, outside of your current field?
I would want to be president of the San Francisco Giants. I love baseball. It’s a microcosm of American society, except with one major caveat: Everyone gets to start fresh every year with a clean slate. There is renewed hope every year, and everyone just kind of goes for it.
If you could live anywhere else in the world, where would it be and why?
I would live in San Francisco, because that is where my family is from and that’s where I have many longtime friends and memories. I was educated at San Francisco State University.
Whom do you admire and why?
I admire Jeffrey Fine. I have had the opportunity to watch him grow as a business professional and as a person who cares about the community he lives in. He has become a wonderful, family-oriented, proactive individual in the 14 years I have known him.
What is your biggest pet peeve?
Dishonesty. To me, even the smallest lie or white lie is indicative of a person’s integrity. Without integrity, you can’t base a relationship, build a career or grow a business.
Where do you like to go for business lunches?
I like to take people to I Love Burgers in the Palazzo or, for a fast, casual break, I go to Lobster Me in the Miracle Mile Shops. The Daily Kitchen on Eastern Avenue and Triple George downtown also are favorites.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
My single-mindedness. I focus on the completion of a task to the point that I am the type who, if I have a tube of toothpaste, I have to get every last drop out of it. While this is a great trait, sometimes to squeeze that every last bit out of something is inconsequential.
What is something that people might not know about you?
I played softball with Barry Bonds when he was 16 years old. He could hit a softball farther than you can imagine. At the time, I had no idea who this kid was.