Today we’d like to introduce you to Taylor Mckinnon.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I found myself homeless in LA around eight years ago. I just hit rock bottom, the world felt too much and I had completely given up on myself. I was offered a space at the Dream Center. I had a lot of trust issues which really stemmed from my childhood, I think so many of us feel that weight which leads us to reacting out of fear, self-sabotaging and hurting those closest to us. Deep down I could still feel my heart asking me not to give up so I accepted the help, something I was never good at and something that really changed my life.
You see, without each other, we have nothing so I was grateful for the unconditional love shown to me by the Dream Center.
Months had gone by, my life was rebuilding when Mathew Barnett pulled me aside and changed my life again. He had told me that I was special and that I was so loved. He told me I was here for a reason and that he believed one day I would come back and help him. He gave me $1000 to help me get back on my feet. It had been a long time since I had been told I was loved, one of the reasons why I tell everyone around me I love them all the time, feels good to love and be loved.
Around the same time, I fell in love, I ended up marrying that amazing girl and had a little baby but if it wasn’t for my wife, I wouldn’t be here talking to you.
She believed in me like no other and was my mirror, she bought out the best in me and guided me back to rebuild a relationship with my family and to love myself.
We had started a little coffee business after I had moved out of the DC, that became really popular and what would lead me to meeting Aaron Haxton (Mr.Charlie’s co-founder/ creative director)
I had helped one of our staff at the coffee shop with an issue she was having and as a thank you, she connected me to Aaron who she had just worked with on a shoot. She said how incredibly talented and kind he was and that I HAD to meet him. I managed to get a last-minute meeting with this unicorn art director/photographer I had been told so much about. I needed help for a project I was working on. I had a small fashion label that gave back with each garment sold. I needed a photographer for a new collection, little did I know that I was about to meet my soul brother and the one person who could truly understand my crazy creative mind lol. Our brotherhood grew and so did our ideas to change the world together. We formed Clyde and Seventh back in 2019, an agency/investment group that helped brands find their voice and connect to charities to help make an impact to those really suffering in our world today. We pretty much-invested everything we made into up-and-coming brands/projects which helped create our foundation to be able to help as everything we worked on really seemed to take off.
We’ve worked on countless projects together, partnered with some of the most incredible charities and formed relationships with many A-lists/influencers, all by being a kind voice of change and support to those looking to give back. We could feel something big was about to happen but kept on the path of gratitude and patiently manifesting our future.
We found ourselves working on a pizza concept in LA for a client when we met Mr.Charlie, (Mr.Charlie Kim – our co-founder and COO) A.K.A Big Chuck
My buddy had purchased a pizza oven that was left in Charlie’s new space he had acquired on 615 La Brea Ave. I ended up chatting to Charlie one day inside his new shop, I’d asked him what he was planning to do here and he replied “I just felt the universe tell me to take it and that someone was gonna help me build something life-changing” I remember him telling me that he felt like something was different about me, that I had an energy. I really liked his softness and also, vibe. If you know Charlie you know what I’m taking about and if you don’t, I can’t wait for you to experience the magic that is Mr.Charlie Kim. He said he needed a cool name for the restaurant. I remember the universe loud and clear say in my mind…
“Mr.Charlie told me so” a lyric from an old blues song called “Mr.Charlie” made famous by my favorite band, The Grateful Dead.
I remember Chuck getting excited and said “partners”!! Implying we should partner together. He put his hand out to shake mine but I first needed the blessing of Aaron. I had FaceTimed him (thank you Steve Jobs)
I was explaining the situation but Aaron knew something was happening, we’re super connected like that. It was all happening really fast but it felt right so I went with the flow of the moment.
The next thing we knew, Mr.Charlie, Aaron and myself had just agreed to open a restaurant together. We had our name, location but no concept.
My heart kept telling me “plant based” and I saw us making a real change but could’ve put our finger on the menu.
I remember driving a few days later on the freeway when I saw the Dream center building. I felt the universe tell me to get off and go there. I did, to my surprise, Matthew Barnett, the man who helped me 8 years prior was standing in the car park. We embraced each other and then I felt it.
“How could you help them if you don’t know what it feels like”. In that moment, I had figured out why I was homeless at the DC, it was to help them. I had an understanding of the broken homeless system and my own journey back to relate to, I had empathy and it was enough to inspire what happened next.
We had partnered Mr. Charlie’s to the DC for a work program, The boys and I had put together this master plan on creating jobs and took on a single mom with children, living on the family ward at the DC. Suzanna was our gift to show the world that unconditional love will always win and if we all do a little, a lot gets done.
Suz joined the team and started a new life for her and the kids. She quickly gained a lot of attention and has been our spokeswoman for the brand, when I think of Mr. Charlie’s I think of her strength. If you haven’t watched her video yet on Fox 11, it’s worth a look. Get some tissues handy.
With the energy of Suz pushing us forward, it was now time for us to create the menu, something we’d all been excited to do.
I’ve been cooking all my life, same for Charlie and Aaron. We love food and have a pretty solid grasp on where we wanted to be.
We purchased every vegan/plant-based product available and had a cook-up. We knew it needed to feel timeless so we kept things simple and cooked up what we remembered eating as kids. My first memory of a fast food restaurant was Wendy’s, we had one on the high street in London where I grew up. When I was younger, the world wasn’t as hard as it is today so feeling that made me almost relax. We wanted to bring that vibration and make that part of the DNA. When you walk into a Mr.Charlie’s store, it’s full of wonder and love, just a safe space to forget about it all for a moment and be a big kid. By connecting you to your inner child, you will find more joy.
Our choice our colorways came from our love of the circus, that red and yellow theme is simply timeless. Our menu, a vegan burger accompanied by a classic British chip, vegan nuggets and a drink for $15!
We designed the logo to be a play on, its really to inspire and let others know that it’s okay to be sad sometimes, (why we have an unhappy smiley face)
Through your pain is the only way to grow and find unconditional self-love, the hard stuff builds character.
The true magic of Mr. Charlie’s is the community it serves but also the team behind the scenes. All of our crew have an incredible story but we all have one thing in common, we’ve all got each other’s back. We’re now almost 20 people hired since February which is nuts! Where does the time go? Lol.
The LA store opened Feb. 14th, Valentine’s Day and was rocket launched by Plant-based paradise who connected us to Lizzo.
Lizzo is an example of unconditional self-love and feminine balance in an over masculine world. She is bold and super sexy, we’re beyond grateful to her for the love she’s shown us and very much look forward to dropping the official Lizzo vegan box meal. Haha
Everything changed when she posted on TikTok and told the world about Mr. Charlie’s. Since then, we’ve had 120 + million views and have told our story on every major platform. It’s amazing what one video can do.
The store is flourishing and the change, well it’s real and we couldn’t be more proud. We truly believe you can’t break sometime twice so that’s why we created this job program. A job that pays above minimum wage and provides support to those let down by a system. We’ve thought about every step needed to really help rehabilitate those who want it and so far, it’s working.
We knew it was time to expand so we headed out to take Mr.Charlie home to San Francisco. He’s restaurant life started here so we felt the pull to make SF our second home.
We had met an investment group who had a space available on Sutter street, Union Square. They loved our concept and offered us the space. We jumped at it and are very proud to confirm we are Officially open in SF. 432 Sutter street is our new addition to the family, it’s much bigger and has seating for customers, something a little different.
Around the same time, we did a deal with a big international restaurant group from Australia who will be bringing Mr.Charlie’s to life in Sydney, Australia this coming April. We’re going to be investing into a local aboriginal community center that’s struggling, something that’s very dear to my heart. Where ever we go, big change will follow. It’s all made possible by those supporting us so thank you to everyone who’s turned up.
We’re just getting warmed up, the best is yet to come
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Life is here to test us, if you can show unconditional love and grace in every hard thing you go through, you will have an easier time with it, promise!
Struggling is good, it builds character, we’ve gone through the growing pains of hiring and running out of food during busy times lol but every challenging thing we’ve faced, we faced it together and became stronger for it.
No problems, only solutions.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a disrupter! Lol
I’m really a storyteller, I’m here on this planet to be light and connect others together. My superpower is my heart, it loves deep. I also have to credit Aaron for being such a creative inspiration, without him, I’m just an idea. Haha
I’ve created many in things in my lifetime but my greatest work will have to be my beautiful little boy, Jude. He’s mine and Amanda’s miracle baby and our biggest inspiration.
What sets me apart from others? Nothing at all. We’re all one. Without other people, life wouldn’t be the same so I stand in a place of pure gratitude that I get to share the world with so many incredible and talented people.
Any big plans?
We’ve been working hard on setting up many new partnerships and new store locations. We can’t give too much away but we will promise fireworks!
Pricing:
- Not a hamburger $6!
- Full mean which is a burger, fries, nuggets and a drink for only $15 + tax and it’s vegan
Contact Info:
- Website: Mrcharlies.co
- Instagram: @mrcharliesla
Image Credits
Credit: Aaron Haxton Main photo Left to right Suzanna Sanchez – LA store manager Mr.Charlie Kim – co-founder Myself – co-founder Aaron Haxton – co-founder
