Connect
To Top

Meet Christopher Jones of Chicken n Chips/Jones Effects Photography in Atwater Village

Avatar photo

Today we’d like to introduce you to Christopher Jones.

Christopher, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I’ve always been a hustler and had a strong desire to be successful. I first started in the restaurant industry in my early 20’s, I’ve worked all along the East Coast- From Philly to Atlanta and have always had a desire to create my own destiny. Running my own business consistently existed in my mind.

After going out on a ledge in 2013 and accepting a position as Assistant Tour manager for Prince, I met an amazing Creative Director & Photographer who really opened my eyes to the world of photography. I followed this newly awakened passion and moved to LA and started to practice the art of photography.

As most creatives in LA know, in the beginning of following one’s passion you often need to supplement your income, which is when I started to draw upon my 15 plus years experience in the restaurant industry. I’m definitely a personality that needs to “run the show”, so the thought of starting my own restaurant began to take shape. After many long nights and many investor meetings; Chicken N Chips was born!

Currently, I’m in a place where I’m able to successfully run Chicken N Chips and work on my passion with photography.

Has it been a smooth road?
It hasn’t been the easiest road, but I have learned that I would rather take the hard road than the easy one because I will cherish it more in the end. In 2012 I lost everything, my Mother passed away from Cancer, my Dad passed away due to health related causes, went thru a divorce, lost my job, and found myself homeless with nowhere to go.

I had no drive in me left and I became very depressed, but I had a good friend who picked me up and showed me a new way of thinking. Once I changed my mindset everything started to change. It is not what we go thru but it is the choices that we make while we are going thru a struggle. We cannot change the past but we can choose how we move forward.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
Chicken n Chips is a rotisserie chicken – fast casual restaurant in the heart of Atwater Village, a neighborhood between Silverlake and Glendale. We make rotisserie chicken, french fries, stuffing, and gravy (our stuffing and gravy are made from scratch). And we also have the Best Chicken Sandwich in LA!! @chickennchips

Before getting into Food & Beverage, I worked heavily in the Entertainment Industry and got the opportunity of a lifetime to work for Prince as his Assistant Tour Manager. This job afforded me the opportunity to move to LA where I met an incredibly talented photographer named Sheron Barber. By working with Sheron I was able to watch how he used his gifts and I became a silent student. Soon I grew a passion for photography and creativity and then Jones Effects Photography was born. @joneseffects

A lot of my time is taken up by running the restaurant but I shoot any chance I get. No matter what I am doing whether working in food or photography, I am always helping people. I always say if I had a superpower that would be it, helping people. It is my natural gift and what I was created to do.

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Absolutely!! LA is a great place to start your dream! Although LA is expensive to live it is possible. I believe that if you have a strong enough drive and the will to succeed you can make your dreams happen anywhere. LA is home to so many talented people who before they started had nothing but determination and heart. LA has a large community of people in every field you can think of you just have to do the research and find them.

I say this because when I first moved here, I didn’t have much because I spent everything I had just to move here, but I knew that I was meant to be here. I knew in my heart that great things were going to happen. I had no choice but to succeed.

I love helping the homeless community in LA because I was once homeless and needed help. I feel that the homeless community needs more attention and more resources in order for it to get better, along with that I feel that it is up to us to help how we can with those needs.

Pricing:

  • Jones Effects Photography Shoots start at $250

Contact Info:

Suggest a story: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.

Related Items

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More in