Page 6 - Senior Link Magazine Winter 2019- Online Magazine

HONORING SENIORS
Picoso’s Mexican Kitchen:
More than Just a Restaurant
In a land of equal opportunity, not
all opportunity is created equal.
Some are fortunate enough to have
everything they could want; others
struggle to find help they may not
even know they need.
Located at 7611 Milwaukee Ave.,
Picoso’s Mexican Kitchen is serving
up more than just food. People may
come for the flavor and flare, but
behind the scenes, Picoso’s serves a
larger purpose.
On April 28, 2018, Jeremy Waller
and his wife, Heather Waller,
opened their doors and made the
decision not to take any of the
profits from Picoso’s. Instead, they
decided to use the money to pour
into their staff and help them better
their lives outside of the workplace.
“A large portion of it is going back
into creating what we’re calling
PMK University,” Waller said.
PMK refers to Picoso’s Mexican
6 Lubbock Senior Link
by Tyler Poda
Kitchen. Serving more than just counseling to promote a healthier
food, Picoso’s is offering up help for lifestyle outside of work. Inspired
their employees through their PMK by the other stories from coworkers,
University program. Friemel said he felt comfortable
reaching out for help in an effort to
The plan is for Picoso’s to offer a deal with his own private struggles.
number of different
classes to its staff to The plan doesn’t
help them in their just stop with
daily lives. According Picoso’s. Waller said
to Waller, these he wants to grow
include parenting and expand on a
classes, marriage number of different
classes, personal concepts, such as
finance classes, and a deli restaurant, a
many more. The early street taco concept,
implementation of a and an Asian fusion
few of these classes restaurant, all the
is already resonating while focusing on
with some of the staff philanthropic efforts.
members. According to Waller,
the plan is to have
Picoso’s bartender, Travis Barker, 10,000 employees who have access
provides entertainment with his to the classes and counseling offered
floating shaker magic trick. by PMK University. Waller said
Justin Lowrey, a server at Picoso’s, everyone loses themselves at times,
said he sat in a goal-setting class and some do not have access to the
that was offered. The person leading guidance to help find themselves
the class sat down with him during again.
a one-on-one session to help him
establish certain goals. Lowrey said With this mission, Waller has taken
they followed up with him over time one simple message and applied
to ensure he was doing everything it to his restaurant, changing the
necessary to achieve his set goals. dynamic of his work environment,
This type of help and persistence while making Picoso’s a light that
pushed Lowrey to strive. “I’ve many people didn’t know they
never worked anywhere where needed.
they had that kind of support just
for the employees,” Lowrey said. “I keep hearing this message,”
For Garrett Friemel, server and a Waller said. “Be a father to the
member of the management staff, fatherless.”
Picoso’s has helped him get into
Tyler Poda will graduate from Texas Tech with a degree
in Journalism in Fall 2020. The young man from Bedford,
Texas is also a server at Picoso’s. This article appeared in
The Hub@TTU, an internet outlet, showcasing Texas Tech
news and highlights. Tyler hopes to become a sportswriter.