Today we’d like to introduce you to Tim Ratcliff.
Hi Tim, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I have been a magician from the Magic Castle, and I have been eating here for the last 13 years and about nine years ago. I got the opportunity to own the place. Unfortunately, the previous owner had an accident and jumped out of an airplane with a parachute and hit a bridge, and hit the ground. On the way down. He was in a coma for four months and in a hospital for two years. During the time he was in a coma, his business partner decided to get rid of the business, and I ended up with the favorite business I’ve ever had in my life. I never knew how much I would enjoy owning a restaurant as I get to perform magic for my customers, and I get to make people smile and make people happy.
When I first got the restaurant, it was 700 square-foot and over time. I took over the two businesses next to it, and during the pandemic, I was able to expand and get my beer and wine license so that we’re just over 2100 square-foot now.
In 2013, 2014, and again in 2023 our business was featured in the Shin Yokohama Rahman Museum in Japan. We are the only company outside of Japan that has ever been featured in the museum. There have been 45 companies ever featured in the museum and we are the only one ever featured for our dip Rahman, which is also called Tsukeman Ramen. We are extremely proud to continue serving the exact same Rahman that we have been for the last 13 years that have won us multiple awards.
In 2020 during our expansion, we built a sushi bar and hired him a phenomenal chef that has trained everyone from Katsuya for over 17 years. We spent the better part of 3 1/2 months making and trying and adjusting recipes for our sushi rice, as well as many other dishes that we serve.
Besides the food that we are known for being excellent, our service is something that we pride ourselves on.
During the time I have had this place, I have spent a lot of my time to make the area better than what it already is. I have donated time and food too many homeless as well as many events that the city throws nearby. My neighbors have called me the local vigilante as I ensure that everyone is taken care of.
In 2022, I was named the Hollywood hero as there was a patron outside my neighbor in business that was assaulted and robbed and I ran after the guy that did it and tackled him on Hollywood Boulevard. The police came and took him into custody, where he remains today. I never expected it to blow up the way it did as I was interviewed on the Today Show; inside addition, all the Fox stations, NBC, ABC, and CBS, as well as international TV shows like the BBC and a South Korean station as well…
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not a perfect road. The Pandemic has made me make a lot of hard choices. One of which was selling my home to continue our business. That was a difficult decision as a single father, but my children both have given a lot of time and effort into helping keep the business going and I could not be a prouder father than I am now.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
For over 20 years, I was a catalytic converter specialist. I ran a company where I was the executive vice president of the company. I had almost 100 employees, and I am truly proud to say that I care about every single employee that I have and have ever had. Even my employees stay in contact with me afterward, and I have been told so many times that I’ve been the best boss they’ve ever had in their life. It makes me happy to make others happy, and I believe if you treat your employees well that they will work better for you and not worried about their pay and worry more about their job.
I also offer full benefits, medical dental and vision along with retirement plans for all my employees.
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
One of my favorite childhood memories was growing up in Japan and learning about the culture and to say the least, the food. I’m a foodie at heart, and I truly love Japanese food more than any other food there is.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.hollywoodshin.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/hollywoodshin
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/hollywoodshin
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/shin-los-angeles-5
