Jarett Berke: From MIlitary Helicopter Pilot to Restauranteur

How, and why, does a military vet flying helicopters in the Middle East transition to owning an iconic diner in rural New England? If your town or neighborhood has a coffee shop, diner, or local hangout that everyone knows then you already know about Lou's. Sometimes a place like Lou's even becomes an institution - local movers and shakers couldn't make a deal without first having breakfast there, Dartmouth College students couldn't imagine spending four years in Hanover, NH and not going there, and local kids coming back to visit make sure they meet up there. But have you ever gone behind the scenes, talked to the person who owns the place, and spent some time to understand why he's chosen to be there? What his story is? Well, we did. Jarett Berke is the 4th owner of Lou's since its founding in 1947, and has a backstory you might not be expecting. Graduate of the Naval Academy and one of the top MBA programs in the world, a helicopter pilot flying ops all over Africa and the Middle East, and a young officer with responsibility for the lives of the men who served under him. On this episode of The Sydcast we talk to Jarett about his journey, and even manage to sample one of those amazing Lou's crullers that would even give Dominique Ansel a run for his money. So, grab a cup of coffee and pull up a chair.