Picoso’s Mexican Kitchen: More than just a restaurant

By: Tyler Poda

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 to not 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 referring to Picoso’s Mexican Kitchen.

The plan is for Picoso’s to offer a number of different classes to its staff to help them in their daily lives. According to Waller, these would include parenting classes, marriage classes, personal finance classes, and many more. The early implementation of a few of these classes is already resonating with some of the staff members.

Justin Lowrey, a server at Picoso’s, said he sat in a goal-setting class that was offered. The person leading the class sat down with him during a one-on-one session to help him establish certain goals. Lowrey said they followed up with him over time to ensure he was doing everything necessary to achieve his set goals. This type of help and persistence pushed Lowrey to strive.

“I’ve never worked anywhere where they had that kind of support just for the employees,” Lowrey said.

For Garrett Friemel, server and a member of the management staff, Picoso’s has helped him get into counseling to promote a healthier lifestyle outside of work. Inspired by the other stories from coworkers, Friemel said he felt comfortable reaching out for help in an effort to deal with his own private struggles.

The plan doesn’t just stop with Picoso’s. Waller said he wants to grow and expand on a number of different concepts, such as a deli restaurant, a street taco concept, and an Asian fusion restaurant, all the while focusing on philanthropic efforts.

According to Waller, the plan is to have ten thousand employees who would have access to the classes and counseling offered by PMK University.

Waller said everyone loses themselves at times, and some do not have access to the guidance to help find themselves again.

With this mission, Waller has taken one simple message and applied it to his restaurant, changing the dynamic of his work environment while making Picoso’s a light that many people didn’t know they needed.

“I keep hearing this message,” Waller said. “Be a father to the fatherless.”