Episode 4: Celebrating Little Matt's: West U's Favorite Neighborhood Restaurant

SPEAKER_04 0:00

You're listening to the 005, the podcast that celebrates the people, places, and stories that make West University Place such a special community. And here's your host, Natalie Crossley.

SPEAKER_02 0:10

Hi, and welcome back to the OO5. Well, if you live in West U, you know Little Matz. It's such a great restaurant. We all love it, but more than that, it has such an incredible mission behind it, and it's just a great gathering place for all of us in the neighborhood. Little Mats opened its doors in 2009. In 2019, it was purchased by Cindy and Bill Lillard. They are the sweetest family, and they have done such a good job carrying on all of the traditions at Little Mats that we know and love. I really enjoyed my conversation with Cindy and Bill. I learned a lot about the history of Little Mats, and we also talked about the mission. And I also got to talk to Tim Myers, who you will all recognize because you know he truly is the face of Little Mats. We see him every time we walk in the door, and he's just a really great general manager. Here at the 005, we're all about celebrating all things West U, and that includes local businesses. And in my opinion, there's no business more local to West U than Little Matt's. So I really hope you enjoy this conversation. And here are Cindy, Bill, and Tim. Okay, so Cindy and Bill Lillard. I'm so excited to have y'all here. Thank you. Thanks for watching.

SPEAKER_04 1:16

Glad to be here.

SPEAKER_02 1:17

Yes. So we've never met in person, but of course I know the names, and I feel like a lot of people in West U might feel that way. So they know of Cindy and Bill Lillard. Um, but tell me how you guys came upon um owning Little Matz.

SPEAKER_04 1:32

Well, well, I guess it was it was up to me. Um I was leasing a space from the gentleman that owned uh Little Mats, and he and I crossed paths one morning and he said he would he was fed up with all of his investments in in Houston and he was selling everything. And and so I said, Well, we'd be interested in buying little mats, and he said, That's the only thing I'm not gonna sell.

SPEAKER_01 1:54

Oh my goodness.

SPEAKER_04 1:55

And so we were, you know, I said, Well, if you ever do want to sell it, let us know. Well, several days later, um, he contacted us and we had a meeting. Cindy's uh immediate response was let's do it. You know, she was so excited about it. We'd been customers for years, and um, we just loved the environment, we loved the mission, and we had our own mission that we wanted to tack tack on to it, so that's how we got into it.

SPEAKER_02 2:23

Wow, and didn't you have some kind of history uh before that, not in the restaurant business, but what were you doing?

SPEAKER_04 2:30

Well, m my family has owned bowling centers here in in Houston uh for years and years, uh, and I've worked in the business since um college, and uh which is quite a long time.

SPEAKER_03 2:41

You were flipping hamburgers at age ten.

SPEAKER_04 2:43

Wow, that's well, yeah, that's true. But um, but Palace Lanes uh in Bel Air uh on Bel Air Boulevard uh was one of our bowling centers, and so we have been in the family oriented business in this area for so many years that when it was time to sell that or move on from that property, um we were sad. We wanted to do something in the area that kind of kept us uh in the community, yeah, you know, serving the community a bit. And when little mats came available, it was like, well, this is even better than you know we could have expected.

SPEAKER_03 3:22

So that's it, because it was a god thing.

SPEAKER_04 3:24

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 3:25

And I had taught at West Hugh Elementary. So I all my teacher friends would be across the street, and I wanted to be able to serve them lunch, and our grandkids were across the street, and we're like, Oh, they can ride their bikes, and anyway, it makes me teary-eyed because it's been a special place. Yes, it sounds like it was perfect timing.

SPEAKER_04 3:45

It's great timing, actually.

SPEAKER_02 3:46

So good timing for y'all to make that move because you were moving on from the bowling, but it also was right before COVID, right? So tell me the time the timeline.

SPEAKER_04 3:56

Well, yeah, when you say perfect timing, it was until it was but um, yeah, in retrospect, uh, we've we've dealt with quite a few things uh, you know, in our short time owning uh the restaurant. You know, COVID was uh four months after we took over, uh, and that was we had to get creative with that. Um the community was amazing in their support um during that time. And um then we had what two hurricanes, two floods, like it's just we had all sorts of things going, you know, and um also we bought a business that was 10 years old, and the 10-year rule is real because air conditioners broke, um ovens, equipment, we were replacing a lot of stuff, so um you know it was uh it was quite a quite a first year. That's all I'm gonna say.

SPEAKER_02 4:50

Quite a first year, but I I hope the community rallied around. Oh wonderful.

SPEAKER_03 4:55

I have told so many people, I mean, having a restaurant for what 16 years in Houston thrive is incredible on its own. But to face all of those hurdles, we had people come forward. It's makes me cry. And we had a lady that walked in and she said, I can't possibly keep you open by eating hamburgers on my own. So I want to buy food for the whole Westview Police and Fire Department.

SPEAKER_02 5:25

So sweet.

SPEAKER_03 5:26

Then her brother found out that she did that, and he lives in Southside. He came in and said, I want to buy. We had people come in and buy gift cards, and they'd buy a thousand dollar gift card and say, We're not gonna spend it, we're not gonna give it to anybody. We just want you to have the cash flow. Oh my goodness. Like it it really uh we give all the credit to our community and our staff. Our staff we we were very um what is the word? Intentional and just they were so nervous they were gonna lose their jobs.

SPEAKER_02 5:57

Oh, I hate that.

SPEAKER_03 5:58

And every time they walked in, their eyes were just and we we just kind of prayed about it and we were like, we're gonna pay them no matter what. And if we lose our house, we lose our house. But we loved our staff, and that was one of the biggest reasons that we bought the place was we said we're only buying it if Tim, our manager, and everybody else stays, and so and they've been so loyal, so loyal. And we're gonna talk to Tim here in a minute.

SPEAKER_02 6:23

Um, and I think everybody will recognize his face. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_04 6:27

Um, he is the he is the face of little Max. Whether he likes it or not, that is that is his job.

SPEAKER_03 6:33

We always we always tease because I always say that I have two husbands because the number of people that will I'll see him out in the community and they're like, Oh, I saw your husband yesterday, you know, at the restaurant. And I'm like, No, my husband's on a golf trip out of town.

SPEAKER_02 6:48

They think Tim is a big deal.

SPEAKER_03 6:49

Is he blonde or is he darling? Yeah, well, this is official.

SPEAKER_04 6:52

Yeah, it is official. And I got I got the good end of my two husbands. I you know, I get to take her home at night.

SPEAKER_03 6:59

So that's uh it's a big it's turned into a funny joke because people truly, if we're there, if Tim and I are there together, they think we're married. Yeah, it's fun. Well, okay, well, y'all are darling.

SPEAKER_04 7:12

Well, some people think that he and I are married. But not that there's anything wrong with that.

SPEAKER_02 7:18

So right, but oh my goodness, that is so funny. Okay, well, we're setting the record straight today with Cindy and Bella Lillard. There you go.

SPEAKER_01 7:25

Correct.

SPEAKER_02 7:26

Okay, so you raised a family here in West Hugh, so that must have had something to do with wanting to stay uh in the community here. So uh tell me a little bit about your family.

SPEAKER_04 7:39

You can go. And I'll fill up.

SPEAKER_03 7:42

One of my favorite things is talk about ease. Um, so I guess just rewind. We grew up in Myreland. We were high school sweethearts at Bel Air High School. So I know started dating when we were 16, did not know what was ahead for us. Um, we went to UT, came back. I was teaching school. He started working with his family in the bowling business, and we had our first daughter in 1983, Allison Parker. And then we had a son in 1986, and at seven months old, he was diagnosed with a really rare illness that um no one in the medical center had ever seen. So really hard, really scary. We're 28 years old, living in Myeland, which was a gift from God because we're so close to the medical center. And um anyway, super sick, needed um lots of dialysis treatment, had three different transplants, which is why we do the restaurant. You know, it's really all about organ donation and giving back to Texas Children's Hospital. Anyway, he lived for seven and a half years and um you know, went to school, played sports, um, went to church, all the things. But then he passed away in '93, and you know, grieve, grieve, grieve for several years and trying to figure out our new normal, I guess. Right. And um and uh went back to teaching. I was teaching, and he was trying to get back to work after all of it. And um, and then we had a third baby in 1998, Jennifer Clare. And um we moved to West U because I had started teaching in West U at West U Elementary, and our Jenny started making all of her friends. So we're driving back and forth from Maryland to West U. So that's when we moved to West U. And uh, so that was in 2006. So I started teaching at Westview Elementary in 01 and actually moved to West U in 06, and it's been awesome. And um we've loved it. We lived on Amherst for I think eight or ten years, and then we moved to Milton Street. And um yeah, so it's it was it's all been awesome.

SPEAKER_04 10:05

It's kind of funny. Um from our home on Milton, um, we could stand in the driveway and look down uh West Point and see our first business, the Palace Lanes. Yeah, wow and if if we went to the front of the house and looked straight down that street, if there weren't if there weren't uh the the things in between, we'd be looking right at little Matt's. Uh we lived about the same distance from both. Uh and so you know that was kind of a neat thing for us.

SPEAKER_03 10:36

We could walk to work, and we used to tell people that we walked to work or we'd ride our bikes and they'd be so jealous. Of course. No, that's amazing.

SPEAKER_04 10:45

Yes, and special. It's been a great commute uh community for us, you know. Of course, that's why we wanted to do something, you know, uh where we could serve the community in a in a fun capacity. You know, the bowling business is everybody comes there to just have a good time. Yes, and uh Little Mats, I think, is the same thing. I think people want to go to Little Mats, the kids love going there. Yep, the parents even, you know, it's the menu's so diverse. It is they can find something, you know, that they enjoy, along with you know, a very broad uh kids menu. Yeah. So the kids love coming there, and then of course the candy and the ICs and the games and the all the things.

SPEAKER_02 11:25

Yes, dog treats and your dog friendly, which I love. Yes. So we talked about you mentioned the mission. Tell me a little bit about how that got started with the original owner, um, Jim Reed.

SPEAKER_03 11:39

This is my favorite. Can I talk to you? Sure. So when we had our first meeting with Jim, you know, Bill and I prayed about it, and I was like, you know, and we before this goes any further, we've just got to talk to him and say, we, you know, his son Kevin had leukemia, and so all the funds for little mats went to the leukemia department. So before we even like it was the very first sentence at the very first meeting, I said, I just have to get this out on the table. But we really, really need to ask your blessing if we go forward with this to um stop giving to the leukemia department is I you know, in fairness, cancer gets a lot, a lot of funding. And um, could we switch it and give money to the renal department and the transplant department? And Jim was great, you know. Of course, of course, that's fine. I totally understand, blah, blah, blah. But um I think it's been incredible because a big piece of our mission is just for people to understand how many people are living on dialysis, whether it's hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis, how many people are living on the transplant list. And um, so anyway, that's our our big push. And um so we always, and our manager Tim is so good about it, just making sure that people know that they're eating for a cause when they come and that a portion goes back to Texas Children's Hospital. So they're helping lots of other people.

SPEAKER_02 13:15

Of course, and when you say lots, I mean, I read a couple of articles. Um, it was and even like before you all owned it, it was over a thousand, maybe two thousand families. So even in the last five years, I can't imagine how many more. And that must feel, you know, really great.

SPEAKER_03 13:30

And we just we feel grateful. And when we were, we you know, have a board up of the different organizations that we help. And it's just it's all it's all through God and all through Jesus, but just knowing that, you know, hopefully, you know, good is coming through the restaurants everywhere, of course.

SPEAKER_02 13:52

The other thing that I learned was I guess I always assumed that Jim Reed's son Kevin, who um was going through the leukemia treatments, um, I thought his name was Matt, and that's why he was called Little Matt. Right. But tell everybody how the name really came about.

SPEAKER_04 14:08

Well, the way I understand it is that uh Jim had bought the building and um when they decided to convert it to the restaurant, uh he wanted to pay tribute to the original um business, original owners of that space. And it was formerly Matthews Motors. Matthews Motors. And uh it was as you when you look at it today, still if you look at it, um the building is structured, it's two rectangular with a little space in the middle, and those were the auto bays.

SPEAKER_02 14:46

Um my goodness, I never knew that.

SPEAKER_04 14:49

Yeah, so if you think the burgers are like greasy or anything, it's it's it's it's uh not our fault. You know, we're dealing with the uh interesting remnants of uh a car business. But no, that's how that place uh and he just decided to name it Little Matt's uh in honor of uh Matthew's motors, yeah, which I think is awesome. Everybody thinks that Bobby's name was Matt uh because of this, you know, so that's a similar similar thing. Similar thing. Some people think my name is Matt, you know. I I don't know.

SPEAKER_02 15:22

I it's uh Well, we're setting a lot of records straight. Yes, you are. Thank you. So that was that was neat history, and I love hearing about the automotive building. I have no idea. So that's really neat that he did that. Um, so when y'all purchased it and you told your kids that you were gonna do this, what was their reaction, especially Jenny, because she was kind of like in the moment running around with her.

SPEAKER_03 15:45

Oh, then they were very excited. So in 19, our oldest would have been 38 or something. I don't even know. Um, something like that. But she was thrilled because all of her mommy friends would go there and they would let the kids play and they could have some adult conversation. Yes, and maybe a margarita would go along with it. So our older daughter Allison was very excited, and then our younger daughter um grew up, you know, riding her bike and walking over to little Matt's, and she was like, Mom, are you kidding? Are you kidding? This is so awesome. But at the same time, they both said, Are you sure y'all can handle this? You know, I thought y'all were gonna retire and sit in your recliner. Nope, nope, nope. We're old dogs learning new.

SPEAKER_04 16:33

As I recall, we printed up some t-shirts uh that had the little matts logo on there, and we gave them all to to everybody. Everybody got one, and they opened it and they looked, and the only way I can describe the looks on their faces, it was kind of like when um Allison's face when we told her that we were having a baby at at age 39 and she was in high school. That's so true. Just so it was like the little look on her face was complete dismay and shock. But um, yeah, that was uh Yeah, so they all have a t-shirt that has the little mats in the that's so cute.

SPEAKER_02 17:11

That's how you announced it to the family. Yeah. Oh my goodness. Um, and so I love the way y'all have just kind of gone through life too. Like, you know, not afraid to make changes, not afraid to do something new, um, you know, not being scared of, you know, we were talking about technology earlier, and you know, even doing a podcast interview is kind of a funny thing, you know. Um, but the staff, it I feel like thinking about things changing, the staff though is what's remained constant, right?

SPEAKER_04 17:41

In a lot of ways. Uh when we first took over, I mean, uh the my first question uh at that meeting with Jim was uh, you know, we want to make sure that Tim is on board with this because Tim to me was the key cog in the wheel. Yep. And so um um as a customer, I had realized that Tim was a quality person. Uh, you know, he knew our names immediately. Um, you know, he kind of took care of anything and everything. You could just tell he was in charge. Yes. And uh I was like, I like this guy. Yes. And so that was important for me. Um, we came from a business that had food service, but it wasn't a restaurant. Uh, we did food service at the bowling centers, and I was uh part of that. As she said, I started out in the kitchen uh washing dishes and and peeling potatoes. That was my job. Uh I didn't flip as many burgers as uh at that time. But uh anyway, um, so we leaned on on the existing staff in a big way, and Tim was was a part of that. He's been in the business pretty much his whole working life, as I understand it. Um and um so it was important when COVID became uh an issue that uh we looked at each other and I talked to Tim and I said, we just can't lose this staff, or I'm not gonna know how to proceed, you know, right uh in a in a good way. And so um we tried to make sure that it was very uh seamless and like Cindy said earlier, they were nervous that they weren't gonna have a job, and we we just had a meeting and said, We're gonna keep y'all here and uh as long as we can.

SPEAKER_02 19:24

And um And God's gonna curiosity.

SPEAKER_04 19:26

Well, and and you know, with with God's grace, um we were able to do that. Uh that and uh you know, we we took advantage of the payroll protection uh plan that they they uh the government put into place that helped us pay the employees for a couple of months, and uh that was huge for us because that would have, you know, it would have been a big hit. But um, we kept every employee, we didn't lose a single employee. Uh we had a couple, a couple that left on their own. They, you know, we had an older lady that it was kind of an interesting story and it probably may or may not be appropriate, but she she just disappeared and we were worried that she had worse, you know, passed away and we didn't she was um and like six months later, she just wandered in the door and went in the kitchen and started to work, and and uh somebody called us and they called it and said, Mr. Tim, Maria's here. What do we do? And so we we had to decide, you know, at the time, you know, what um how that was gonna be because she had kind of left us without any information. But that was a funny side side story, I guess, from that. But uh she was one of the only ones that that didn't stick around. Okay. And since then, you know, we've had some transition, but uh, we have still some of the originals. Of course. Yeah, it's great.

SPEAKER_03 20:46

And the other thing, too, that we didn't talk about was just how our church stepped up during COVID too. Our church was phenomenal. Um, they set up this whole thing to help first responders, so we had a partnership with them.

SPEAKER_02 21:00

Right.

SPEAKER_03 21:00

And we would, you know, Tim and the staff and you and I, we were delivering food to first responders. So it was like this partnership, and the church would help us financially. We were helping first responders. So I mean, it just goes on and on. It's it's was that first Presbyterian? Uh-huh, of course. Yes. We got married there. I know. Oh, especially.

SPEAKER_04 21:21

I remember one evening it was kind of a uh, you know, skeleton crew, you know, but uh that we had going. But we got a phone call, and if I'm not mistaken, it was 300 meals to um, and I can't remember which hospital it was. It was way out on the east side of town. And uh somehow they got uh our information, and uh so I remember we had to load up Tim's truck, Cindy's truck, my truck, uh, and Tim's daughter, um, I believe had I don't remember what vehicle she was in. Uh huh. So we the four of us trekked across uh town with three hundred meals for um Yeah, it was three SUV.

SPEAKER_03 22:00

And then Jillian's cartoon. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 22:02

Wow. And so it was uh it was that was a big night for us. You know, I mean, uh we thought, okay, we may make it now. You know, that that that was a a huge uh turning point in my my mind, you know, that okay, we're gonna be all right.

SPEAKER_02 22:16

Amazing.

SPEAKER_04 22:17

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 22:18

Um, I want to circle back to you mentioned earlier just quickly about margaritas. So tell me about how that works. I think people kind of know the unknown. Yeah, the little bit of a secret there. So but it is.

SPEAKER_03 22:31

Well, it's not a secret, it's just um, I think Jim had started it, and um, I think it kind of goes back to liquor license versus no liquor license. Okay. And um we talked about it and tossed about it and decided we didn't want to do a liquor license either, and that we would just give it away. And um, it's also BYOB, which a lot of people don't know, but um we've uh you know, we've seen different friends and family that you know they've got a fancy wine that they really like, so they'll bring in it and have it, you know, a meal.

SPEAKER_04 23:08

Bring your own corkscrew and and uh you know uh we won't mention any competitors on that.

SPEAKER_02 23:14

Yeah, no, that's that's awesome. And I did not know about that. Um there's so many things, in my opinion, that make Little Matt special, and you've touched on a couple of them, like the arcade games and um obviously being pet friendly and the candy shop. Is there anything else like what the popularity just hasn't I mean, it's just still so popular. And my husband and I, our families lived here for almost 16 years, and I remember the day we moved in. I mean, it was just kind of it's part of the culture, you know. Um, and so how do you what do you attribute to that popularity just staying so strong?

SPEAKER_04 23:53

Well, I I'm I'm gonna just mention uh one one comment that you know, we we see reviews and different things. Uh people leave comments. Um one the other day was it was kind of telling to me. It was just they walked in and they they said they could feel um how special the place was right when they walked in the door. And I kind of felt that way when I walked in the first time. I was like, wow, this is a lot cooler spot than I ever thought it was.

SPEAKER_01 24:20

Right.

SPEAKER_04 24:21

And then the food was good.

SPEAKER_01 24:22

Yes.

SPEAKER_04 24:23

And you know, as Cindy said, we had a little one at the time and and she loved going there because her friends were there. And you know, she it's um it's fun when you go out to dinner and you see friends, you know, in in your community, and for kids, especially, you know, it's like, oh, there's you know, little Mary, she's not in my class, but I love her, you know, playing on the playground with her, and now she's here. Yes, you know, and and so there's a lot of that.

SPEAKER_03 24:48

It's kind of like we always say it's like a kids' cheers bar.

SPEAKER_02 24:52

Sure. And I mean, one thing that comes to my mind, I don't think I've ever walked in the door and not seen some sort of team. Yeah, you know, a little league team, the softball team, you know, it's like it's it's the first thought, especially when my kids were little doing soccer and baseball and whatever, it was, you know, where are you gonna go after the game?

SPEAKER_03 25:08

And it there's no question. And I think the the other piece that that is a love of mine or a gift, I don't know what you want to call it, but I love connecting people and just the whole networking piece is so beautiful. We've had so many people come and it'll be they've just moved into their house and they'll show up and their eyes are wide open, and they're like, and I'm like, oh, you just moved in. And I'm like, tell me more. You know, what street are you on? What route are you on? Oh, let me tell you, you need to talk to this person, or do you have a realtor? Do you and I think that's a really special part of that place and something that I love. I kind of he teases me that I play a game of three minutes. And when someone new walks in, I give myself three minutes to find a way to connect with them. That's it. And um, and it works, it's like it's incredible, and um, so it's a blessing to us and hopefully a blessing to everybody that walks in.

SPEAKER_02 26:06

Yes, and able to connect people that way. And so you mentioned earlier too, the food. I mean, it really is it caters to kids, but it also is there are some higher-end items on the menu that parents love. Um, what are a couple of your family's favorite dishes?

SPEAKER_04 26:24

Well, I know that uh the the burgers go a long way for me. I've I've grown up, you know, in the bowling business. Uh the greasy palace burger was was the thing, right? You know, uh we were voted uh at one time Palace Lanes had been voted by the Houston Post, which is now out of business. So maybe it wasn't that great of an honor. But uh voted uh best hamburger in Houston. And um, so I'm I've always loved hamburgers, so that would that one goes far with me. And and we have so many. There's like 10 different versions, and you can create your own. Um, but um that um the the chick uh the cheese enchiladas, chicken enchiladas are are they on par. I've put them up against any uh in town.

SPEAKER_03 27:08

For the ahi tuna, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 27:10

Um so the family though, uh they my boy, my grandson's, the chips and queso, GP, can we just have chips and queso for dinner? Yeah, yes, you know, so that they love that. But uh yeah, it's just the menu's great. It's all right. You know, it it's it's not a high-tone place, right? It's uh but it's it's uh good enough where the parents don't go, uh we gotta go to that Chuck E. Cheese-ish uh place. Sorry, Chucky. But um, but uh, you know, it's it's still a nice uh delicious option. They have nice options, it is, and they come it is uh for the parents as well as the kids.

SPEAKER_02 27:48

Yes. Um, so everyone's happy. Um and the arcade games, so there have been changes back there.

SPEAKER_04 27:55

I have I you know, we have a gentleman that that uh has operated those apparently as long as they've been going. Um and and he Mr. Charlie. Charlie's awesome. He he makes the games, um the crane games and the things like that as as simple as they can be set so that people want, you know, he wanted that he gives away a lot of things, you know. Um it's he takes good care of that space and and um he'll switch them out so that they you know. But it's a label love for him. He he does it also uh you know, for um like like I say, he tries to make it a fun place for those kids. You'd some arcades you go and you oh my gosh, I just spent, you know, so true $45 and and I got a keychain.

SPEAKER_03 28:39

Right. But he also has a special needs child, so that is near and dear to our heart. You know, anybody that's that's got anyone with some special needs is yeah, you know, we want to support them and help them too.

SPEAKER_02 28:51

That's great, that's special. Um, so the future of little mats, I mean, it's been around a while now. Um, I think people are just so comfortable with it. I don't know, like I feel like if y'all made big changes, it would cause a ruckus because everyone just we all walk in there and it feels like home. It feels more comfortable there, you know. So what's the plan?

SPEAKER_04 29:15

You know, there was a place in Bel Air that that I I frequented a lot with my dad. We would go and have a hamburger there, but it was Bel Air Broiler Burger. And um, for anybody who's ever been there, they never changed one thing. Uh in the I don't know how long they ran their business, but it was just uh as it was day one when they finally closed uh a few years ago. Okay. Um I don't want to say that about little Matt's. It we're not gonna make big changes. I mean, we've made quite a few changes, I think, for the better from the day we purchased it. Um we've really um behind the scenes, yeah that have have really made it a better space. But um at the same time, when we took over, it was important for us to have a transition time that was seamless and no one would even know that it happened. Right. Um, other than the people, you know, who are the weirdos busting tables? You know, the first the first few months it was like we were trying to learn on the you know, we were doing OJT as as much as anybody could. Uh we were trying to learn whatever on the job training job training. I got OJT.

SPEAKER_03 30:29

I follow. We kind of still are, you know, it's uh work in progress.

SPEAKER_04 30:33

But um, you know, that would be they were like, Why are those weird people bussing tables, you know, that that kind of thing. Um that's the only thing that was a different, you know, than Jim. Jim used to wander around and and uh, you know, visit shake hands and hug and you know, do all the things. Um we just like to, I think in the business that take they call it table touch, and and anytime you're there, uh you like to to go and make sure everybody has what they need and that they're having a good time and that that uh you know everything's the way they they want it to be.

SPEAKER_03 31:09

And our staff is so great at that as well. Not just us, but our manager and our front of the counter people, they're they're so good at it too. And that's it, I think people feel that.

SPEAKER_04 31:20

And that kind of goes uh along with what you said earlier, what makes it, you know, a special place. And I think when you walk in and you see the the smiling faces of high school kids that are working behind the counter, you know, Tim's uh a master at high hiring the right types of people uh and training them to be polite and and uh anyway, skills they can take on.

SPEAKER_03 31:48

I ran into a family at our church. This was just happened, like it happens all the time. I mean, wherever we go, which is so special. Wait, how's little Matt's? You know, what's going on? You we haven't been there in a while, you know. People are so lovely, and that's our favorite part. But just two Sundays ago, I was just at church and I was talking to a friend, and then this other family walked up, and anyway, and I locked eyes with this beautiful college girl, and we hugged. And I'm like, How are you? What's going on? Her parents I had never met, but she had worked at Little Matt's under our manager Tim. Her parents were so appreciative and went on and on about that was the best experience. She learned so much. Tim was the best boss, gave her so many life skills. And, you know, so that's the thing. I mean, yes, the mission is about organ donation and Texas children's and you know taking care of your body and all the things, and you know, trying to stay healthy, but it's also just about love and community and and sharing and caring, you know, it's it's just the way it is.

SPEAKER_02 33:05

Oh my goodness, couldn't be more special and I think couldn't be run by a more special family. You guys are just so sweet, and I'm just excited for people to get to see your faces because y'all are so approachable, as is Tim. And so, you know, now if people recognize you, I hope they'll go say hi and thank you. Oh, I hope so.

SPEAKER_03 33:24

We love it, we love it.

SPEAKER_02 33:25

Yeah, well, I think everyone in the neighborhood loves little mats, and we're grateful that we have it here in our community. So thank you guys for telling us more.

SPEAKER_04 33:33

Well, thanks for having us.

SPEAKER_02 33:34

Of course, okay, and we'll definitely have a little chat with Tim and um we'll see you around the restaurant. Awesome. Well, thanks so much. Thank y'all. Okay, so now we have Tim Myers in the hot seat. Yes. Um, the face of Little Mats. Thank you. I mean, you really are, whether you like it or not. That's that's what it is, because you are just behind that counter on a day-to-day basis. Everybody knows who Tim is. Um, and you're just uh you're just so great with everyone who comes in that door. Thank you. I'm gonna embarrass you for a second by complimenting you. Thank you. Um, and you know, before doing all this, I went and checked out some of the reviews online. And I mean, you're often mentioned, Tim, right to embarrass you again. Um, and obviously Cindy and Bills think so highly of you. You were there before they purchased. So tell me about your history there. When did you get started?

SPEAKER_00 34:23

Well, I've been there 10 years.

SPEAKER_02 34:25

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 34:26

And I um I came over, I had a heart procedure, and I was gonna try to maybe look into a different venue, like selling food like Cisco, Benny Keith, uh, get out of the business. But the owner, Jim Reed, said, take this on, help me. And I was like, Okay, well, he left for a week to go to Napa, and I said, I'll watch your store. And I looked out, I watched his store, but I was like looking around going, This is a gold mine. Yeah, I love it. He came back and I said, I'm here to help. And um the rest after that was uh it's been a blessing. It was my calling. I really I really feel it was a restaurant, but it was it's still every day it gets better. I mean, it's like a sanctuary and we just love it.

SPEAKER_02 35:23

Yes, and the people that continue to come in. So and I think that's uh something that makes it different too. Like there's so many restaurants that I've been to one time and never returned. But I feel like I mean, um and the people that live in this community, they're there uh dozens of times a year, so you're getting to see the same families.

SPEAKER_00 35:44

Oh my god. I I watch these kids, I've been there 10 years, and now these little kindergartners I'm hiring.

SPEAKER_02 35:51

Isn't that wild?

SPEAKER_00 35:52

I've got some employees that are that have been coming in since kindergarten. Yes, and I love it. It is I I'm blessed with the Lillards. I mean, they took over three years after I was there, and little Matt's wouldn't be there without the Lillards. I mean, it was they explained the uh the opportunities that we had, the strategies with COVID, and but it was it's just been a blessing. That's great. We are we're a good team, and and Cindy touched on it. We have a great staff. I mean, our um front of the house is these kids are like uh some of them are uh AP, I B, and they're just so smart. But you know, they're they learn the PR skills. Yes, the people skills. That's what's fun. Yes. I'm gifted with some good kids.

SPEAKER_02 36:44

That's amazing. And I do think learning customer service as a teenager serves them well later in life, right? Like learning how to handle customer service.

SPEAKER_00 36:53

Every every business you go into, people skills are very important.

SPEAKER_02 36:58

Yes. So what are you looking for, you know, and I don't know how many teens you're having to go through to pick the right people for a little maths, but what Well I like to get from every school.

SPEAKER_00 37:10

I mean, I don't pick on one school, but we do public, private. We have Lamar, Episcopal, uh, St. John's, Bel Air, and uh uh uh uh quite a bit of other little private schools, but Carnegie. And uh but I mean it's nice because they all when they start working together, then they become really good friends.

SPEAKER_01 37:35

Sure.

SPEAKER_00 37:36

And um but the key is just taking care of the customers, and that's what we uh we enjoy is is the the first timers that come in. Um we enjoy it so much because we can tell they walk in and they look around and um we we capture them right away.

SPEAKER_02 37:55

Right.

SPEAKER_00 37:55

And that's the the beauty, but you know, taking care of our regular customers, like the Lillard said, that that have taken care of us, right? And we appreciate that.

SPEAKER_02 38:06

Of course. The other thing that I noticed when I went to look at reviews was the number of people that are outside of West U. I mean, I you know, I live here in the neighborhood, so to me it's my neighborhood restaurant. So it was a little bit eye-opening to be like, oh my gosh, people drive from Katy and Pearland and Umble and Kingwood. It really, and then of course there was a lot of out of state. So people are either visiting family or friends and people bring them in, and it just it was so heartwarming for me to see that oh good, other people are getting exposed to little mats. Yes, even though I think of it as just like it's our little our little hub.

SPEAKER_00 38:39

It is your hub. But we um in in the summer we get a lot of people that, like you said, come in from League City, Conroe, Umble, that go to like the zoo, the museum, and they Google kid-friendly restaurants.

SPEAKER_02 38:53

There you go.

SPEAKER_00 38:54

Well, we've been number one for a long, long time. Of course, and not only in the city of Houston, but we were voted last year the family friendly, best family friendly restaurant restaurant in the United States.

SPEAKER_02 39:10

Unbelievable.

SPEAKER_00 39:11

And that was from a Yope, but we're gonna run with it. We're gonna let's go. Yeah, we're gonna but we uh we still have opportunities, but we just feel like something's really good going on.

SPEAKER_02 39:21

Yes, absolutely. And so you've been around a while now, and like you said, you're seeing these kids grow up that have been coming in the restaurant for a long time. How have you seen, you know, the neighborhood change around it, or has it all felt kind of the same?

SPEAKER_00 39:36

It you know, it's it there's um some businesses that opened up around us, um, you know, but still the vibe is great. Yeah, it's we're we're uh are dealing with the sports, the the activities in the community. So not many changes. Yeah. So we don't really like Bill said, we don't want to fix anything that's not broken.

SPEAKER_02 40:03

Of course, yes. And there have been places that have come and gone in the area, but little Matt's remains the same, and uh it's kind of our go-to, and we're all thankful for it. Um, and you do a good job running it, so um tell me what that's like on a day-to-day basis.

SPEAKER_00 40:19

Oh, it's it's wonderful because uh Cindy and Bill are just perfect because they they walk in and Cindy says the three minutes, but it's like 30 seconds because yeah, everybody they all over them and their name and this and this community is wonderful. But just everybody that walks in has a as a story. And um I mean, I don't want to go into it too much, but just the kids that come in that are going through some challenging times. But it's not just the kids, but it's the families. Yes, and that's what we whatever we can do to make it feel better for them, and that's what we really go overboard with.

SPEAKER_02 41:06

Yes, absolutely. So is it often that a family comes in and maybe it's their first time and they have a child that's dealing with something and um and they open up to you about it?

SPEAKER_00 41:18

So well, there's signs, and sometimes they have little masks on, but we just we love on them.

SPEAKER_02 41:27

Mm-hmm. I know y'all do. Um, I know that y'all were uh on ABC um with an interview years ago, and there was a young girl, and I asked about her status when you came in. Her name was Willow and Willow.

SPEAKER_00 41:41

She's 17 now.

SPEAKER_02 41:43

That is unreal.

SPEAKER_00 41:44

We met her when she was eight or nine.

SPEAKER_02 41:46

Eight or nine, going through treatments, and she might even work there.

SPEAKER_00 41:50

I would that would be she lives on the outskirts of Houston.

SPEAKER_02 41:53

So well, that would be a wonderful story that she was coming in to Little Matt's.

SPEAKER_00 41:57

Oh, we have so many wonderful success. I mean, Texas Children's Um Bill and Cindy has also included the make a wish, which is awesome. We do a lot with them too. But yes, it's amazing what Texas children not only what we can do, but what they do for us. Yes. Um you know, Larry, the chief surgeon comes in regularly and you know, even if I have to if I have a customer that's kind of going through a hard time, I've texted Larry and he said, I'll be there in 20 minutes.

SPEAKER_02 42:37

Oh my goodness, Tim. Amazing. That is so sweet. I love the that there's such a strong connection there. It's not just writing a check. I mean, this is a really a deep, deep rooted connection, you know, with the hospitals and the families.

SPEAKER_00 42:51

Yes. Yes. And that's why uh it gets every day it gets better.

SPEAKER_02 42:57

Yeah. And so working for a restaurant is one thing, and that could sometimes be um stressful and fast moving, and at the end of the day, it's just kind of you feel like your hair's on fire. I've done it before, but in this case it's different because there's a mission behind it. Yes, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 43:14

But like we've touched, we have a great staff. I mean, my kitchen in the back of the house, we have a little grill and we have a line at the door. It's amazing what they do. I mean it's amazing. That's great. You know, we get through it and you might have to wait an extra three minutes on a Saturday, but the food's coming out great. We go to the store every day. Our our product is fresh. We don't freeze anything but our sweet potato fries and onion rings, uh, maybe some fried pickles. But we uh everything is fresh. And that's what these guys they take on ownership themselves.

SPEAKER_02 43:54

So you've had some teens that have worked there over the years. Do any of them, you know, go off to college and even

SPEAKER_00 44:00

after that and come back and I've got a young lady that's uh graduated from college. Okay. She moved back and um uh she even came in with her mom the other day and said I'm not doing anything and I'm like I'm gonna give her a call.

SPEAKER_02 44:16

Oh great.

SPEAKER_00 44:16

She's gonna be my uh kind of like my night supervisor.

SPEAKER_02 44:20

That's great.

SPEAKER_00 44:21

But um yeah we keep in touch with a lot of kids. We just lost like nine or ten of our uh ball stars uh this past but I have every time I think oh god here we go yeah I have a great team amazing a great replacement yes and they're all stepping up they knew that you know the aces left but the there I have some that are run circles some around those aces.

SPEAKER_02 44:48

That's so great. Yeah it's we can always count on a friendly face behind that counter. Yeah you know and and the kids always look like they're having a good time together. Like you said it's a bonding um type of position to be in working in the restaurant industry. And so going back to I just wanted to share something that when I was reading through some of these reviews there was a story on there that I just and I don't know if you were there that day when it happened but there was a woman who made a note Maggie J from Spring Branch she said she's a special ed teacher who took her life skills class on a field trip to Little Matt's to practice placing orders, making payments practice table manners. She said I truly have nothing but wonderful things to say the owners the manager the employees they were present and patient and kind with my students the food was delicious. Um my co-workers were pleased with their meals we had the best experience were you there during that tell me more these little guys were um special needs and they had some social skills but they ordered and they paid on their own and they they you could tell uh whoever set them up has been doing a great job where they came from wonderful but it was it was special it was special that is occurring almost every day something like that not just that but just something that just touches your heart yes you're really lucky Tim I know yeah because there's a lot of people that you know go day to day you're working seven days a week by the way let's mention that um um and so having you know lots of hours and restaurant business is a tough one to be in but like I said I mean just it seems lucky to be in a um an environment like this with such special people coming in and out and we like dogs too and you like dogs of course we love dogs yes and um my kids are always so happy whenever there's a dog on the patio oh yeah it just makes it that more special um and then a couple of other things you guys are constantly complimented on your cleanliness the efficiency the way it's run um it's a place where people can relax and people just walk in the door and immediately recognize that it's a good atmosphere like you said it's a good vibe.

SPEAKER_00 47:07

Well we have to be consistent yes because we have uh no I mean because every every day we have a a young man that's out in the dining room is Iah yes and uh he takes his job so serious he does and he's great I mean he's a gopher go go go go but yet he also knows these little kids too yeah and these little babies that blow him kisses and uh and then they grow up um so is AIA is a very important part. Yes because um you know he gets to know the people personally as a as well as we do.

SPEAKER_02 47:47

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 47:47

But uh yes he's been around a long time. But every day we have to treat it like you know um we can't get lax with our standards cleanliness and uh good customer skills because we do have a lot of people like yourself that read the reviews well now we got we gotta walk the walk. Exactly yes but we um I think we do a good job.

SPEAKER_02 48:13

You do a great job. Absolutely yeah and the one thing I didn't speak with uh Cindy and Bill about that I want to ask you about because it's been there since before their time is the wish wall.

SPEAKER_00 48:23

Oh yes tell me about that uh that is something that is you know it it's obviously at the hospitals and but it's not just the kids with cancer it's just families that have other challenges. And so we you know we we get their wishes and we put it up and it means a lot to them. Yeah and I mean it is like I said a sanctuary we it's a it's just a blessing every day because there is uh a lot of history around that there's some um with the the going back to the kids that have cancer it's the other kids their brothers and sisters I can't I know of course everyone in the family going through a hard time and so they're able to write a wish on a paper roll it up and put it in the wish wall um and it's full of beautiful wishes.

SPEAKER_02 49:22

Yeah yes it's amazing um well Tim we're all just so glad to have you and everyone's always happy to see your smiling face when we walk through the door and um you've done a great job by picking out some amazing employees.

SPEAKER_00 49:36

And when I get a good one I'll say go get a friend. Go get a friend yeah you're always a hundred percent that's awesome so then they have you know some friends that go with them but we have a good staff.

SPEAKER_02 49:49

Yes it's amazing so impressive I'm trying to um convince my kids to jump on the bandwagon and learn some things from Tim because yeah it I learn every day. You learn every day from the kids. I do yeah well that's great keeps you young Tim I need that well thank you so much for sharing and um we're just we love little masks love what you do here. Well thank you Tim appreciate you thanks for your time thank you