037 – Hunter Berry of Taco Billy on Finding Purpose in Breakfast Tacos
Ever wondered how West Asheville’s beloved Taco Billy got its start? In this episode, we uncover the story of this local eatery’s founder and learn more about his experience with building Earthships.
January 7, 2020
“The times I’ve been happiest in life have been when I felt like I had a vision or a purpose — something to chase and I went for it. And when you’re going for it, there’s not really a better feeling. Taco Billy has definitely been one of those times.”
—Hunter Berry, Founder of Taco Billy
Hunter Berry identifies as a “feeler.” When he left Texas in 2014 to build a new life in Asheville, he ended up taking his own advice. “I always told friends who were leaving Texas to open up a taco shop and spread the good news of breakfast tacos.”
So that’s what he did, feeling his way through the process. The rest, they say, is history —and an interesting one at that. If you want to learn the story behind Asheville’s iconic taco shop, then this episode is for you.
Here’s What You’ll Learn
The story behind how Taco Billy got its start
How Hunter developed the Taco Billy name and branding
Marketing strategy: How word of mouth and branded stickers have played an important role in promoting Taco Billy (and why it’s not for everyone)
Future projects for Taco Billy
Earthships: what hunter was building before he was building tacos
Show Notes
Taco Billy is a West Asheville eatery renowned for its breakfast tacos, cozy vibes, and fresh ingredients. Connect with them on their Website, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Hornaday Design – an Asheville-based design agency that created the Taco Billy’s logo
Everything is Unfolding Perfectly Sticker – Hunter mentions how he loves this sticker of a man sitting backward on a horse with the phrase “Everything is unfolding perfectly.” The sticker is displayed in the kitchen at Taco Billy. We did a little research and found out that it’s sold at Horse & Hero if you’re interested in getting your own!
In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan (Disclosure: This is an affiliate link.) – We mention this book when talking about what good, real food is.
Earthship – “is a ship that will keep you afloat on the seas of tomorrow.” It’s a type of “passive solar house that is made of both natural and upcycled materials such as earth-packed tires, pioneered by architect Michael Reynolds.” Before moving to Asheville, Hunter spent about a decade in solar energy and a year building Earthships.
Pickleball – a sport similar to tennis that we talk about during the episode.
Making It in Asheville is a podcast where we go behind the scenes with artists, creatives, and entrepreneurs in Asheville. We learn about what they’re making and how they’re making it in Asheville.
Making It in Asheville is powered by Making It Creative, our boutique marketing and business consulting agency. We help passionate small business owners build and improve their sales and communication strategies. Learn more here.
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