We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Chandon Sanders a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Chandon, thanks for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re very focused on here – improving our ability to make decisions. Everyday, we’re faced with decisions that can impact the future of our careers, businesses, relationships and more and so one of the most impactful areas for personal development, in our view, is decision-making. Can you talk to us about how you developed or improved your decision-making skills?
Early in my career I chased perfection so hard that I kept projects on my desk long after they were ready. Deadlines slipped, opportunities vanished, and I finally realized that holding out for 100 percent often delivers zero impact. A make-or-break product launch forced me to change: I had to ship at what I estimated was 95 percent. The result? The release performed well, users were happy, and no one noticed the tiny flaws I’d agonized over. That experience rewired my approach. Now I aim for “high enough to matter,” get the work into the real world, study the feedback, and iterate fast. Speed surfaces truth, data replaces guesswork, and each quick pivot builds confidence. My process today is clear. Set the objective, gather the best information available, decide, act, and refine. Momentum, I’ve learned, is a choice, and disciplined decisiveness keeps it on my side.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’m a serial entrepreneur whose passion has settled squarely in the hospitality world. My journey took a huge leap in February 2022 when my business partner, Brian Torres, and I acquired The Local, a neighborhood bar in Fort Worth that we’ve been steadily reshaping into a welcoming watering hole known for strong community ties and everlasting good vibes.
In November 2023, I teamed up with my CPA, Andy Fitzhugh, to purchase Ninja Sushi Fort Worth. We changed the concept to an all-you-can-eat model people love, but layered in elevated cocktails, tighter operations, and a refreshed brand voice. Seeing a new demographic embrace the restaurant showed me how much untapped potential still exists in well-loved concepts.
That momentum led Brian and me to tackle our most ambitious project yet, which was my first ground-up build. After months of design and countless meetings, River’s Cocktail & Wine Bar opened in May 2025. It’s named after Brian’s son and combines craft cocktails, a curated wine list, and an approachable happy hour with $3.50 wells and domestics. Building from dirt gave us the freedom to architect a guest experience from scratch, and that has been the most rewarding part of my hospitality career so far.
What excites me most is the balance between creativity and community. I love taking a raw idea, whether it’s an inventive roll at Ninja Sushi or a seasonal cocktail at River’s, and seeing it become someone’s favorite order. Each venue has its own vibe, but the common thread is genuine hospitality, transparent leadership, and spaces where guests feel like regulars from day one.
Looking ahead, my focus stays on creating places that feel personal yet scalable. I want to build brands that can grow without losing the soul that made them special in the first place.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
For me, everything boils down to two essentials, not 3. Will and knowledge is what it takes. Will is the engine, and you either have that inner push or you don’t. No course, podcast, or pep talk can install it. If the will isn’t there, nothing else matters because you’ll quit once the friction starts. And that’s if you ever started at all. But if you do have that drive and what’s missing is know how, the fix is straightforward. Go get it! Read the solutions, hop Google and YouTube, shadow someone better, break things and learn why they broke. Most important, track down a genuine mentor who’s proven they can do what you’re trying to do and who actually cares about your progress. Skip the social-media “gurus” charging for shortcuts. Nine times out of ten, the shortcut is just a detour to nowhere. With real will, the right knowledge, and a mentor who keeps you honest with yourself and on track, you’ve got everything you need to move forward.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
The most impactful thing my parents did was live unapologetically as themselves. Both are lifelong over achievers who never let a negative environment define them. They grew up during segregation yet pushed forward, breaking barriers until they were respected by some of the most influential people in the country. My dad, Bob Ray Sanders, built relationships with multiple presidents, earned a spot in the journalism hall of fame while still alive, won an Emmy, and was even nominated for a Pulitzer. My mom became the first Black woman crowned Miss Fort Worth, was among the first Black physical therapists, and has served on more boards than I can count. Watching them refuse to settle, pursuing education, excellence, and service at every turn hard-wired that same mindset into me. Perseverance wasn’t a lesson they preached, it was who they were every day. Because of their example, I honestly don’t know any other way to be, and for that I’m deeply grateful.
Contact Info:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CKSandersFW/
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