Growing up, I spent much of my childhood by my dad’s side, accompanying him as he worked tirelessly for L&L Hawaiian Barbecue. Those early experiences gave me an innate sense that I would one day be involved in the business. Looking back, I think my younger self would be most surprised to know that I would eventually lead the entire company.
I was just a curious kid at the front counter, watching my dad in action – and now, I have the opportunity to continue the work he and my Uncle Johnson started, and to help guide L&L toward new heights. It’s a responsibility I don’t take lightly, and I’m grateful for the foundation they built.
There were certainly challenges in making my mark on the business – particularly in understanding how the founders built L&L into what it was when I joined the company, and how I could honor that legacy while shaping it through my own vision. Yet, in many ways, they prepared me for this journey, whether intentionally or not.
While my dad and I may have our differences when it comes to certain aspects of the business, his support has never wavered. He has given me the space to lead and the trust to introduce new ideas.
At the heart of preserving L&L’s legacy is an unwavering commitment to our franchisees. This philosophy – proven over time – remains central to everything we do, as our success is only possible through their dedication. By keeping franchisee success at our core, I’ve been able to build and modernize our strategy in a way that stays true to our brand.
“We’ve worked hard to make franchise ownership more accessible, especially to underrepresented communities”
Elisia Flores
One of the most valuable pieces of advice I’ve received is that if you don’t ask, you don’t receive. It’s a simple, yet powerful reminder that advocating for yourself and your goals is essential to creating opportunities and fostering growth.
We’ve worked hard to make franchise ownership more accessible and to empower franchisees – especially those from underrepresented communities. We’ve created a lower barrier to entry with low fees compared to other franchise companies.
Coupled with tailored training and a support structure that embodies the Hawaiian concept of ‘ohana (family), L&L provides an abundance of opportunities for our franchisees to succeed. And this is important to us because it inspires others to see that this kind of success is achievable.
I would describe L&L’s impact as a force for opportunity, embodying the quintessential “American Dream.” Because both my father and Uncle Johnson are first-generation immigrants, they’ve provided many opportunities for those with similar backgrounds to own their own L&L restaurant. Many of our franchisees have manifested their ideal life in America through L&L.
The mark I hope people will remember from my time at L&L is that I was able to expand the legacy of our founders, and share Hawaii’s flavors and spirit of aloha in places they never imagined L&L would one day reach.
- Elisia Flores is CEO of L&L Hawaiian Barbecue, a fast-casual brand founded by her father, Eddie Flores Jnr, 40 years ago.
- Since Elisia took over in 2019, the brand has grown from 160 locations in 11 states to over 230 locations across 17 states and Japan.
- As a an Asian-American, LGBTQ+ leader and working mom, Elisia’s people-first approach has led to industry recognition and created countless opportunities for minority communities.
