Ray Washburne—entrepreneur, real estate mogul, restauranteur, and former head of OPIC—joins the show for a wide-ranging conversation on the future of Dallas, the economics of restaurants, and how he bought Highland Park Village in the middle of a financial crisis. From starting a newspaper as a kid to expanding global fuel distribution, Ray shares hard-won insights on spotting trends, trusting instincts, and staying ethical in business. Also: why Texas Roadhouse is crushing it, what Cracker Barrel got wrong, and how Dallas can shape the next 15 years.

In This Episode

[02:00] Ray’s entrepreneurial spark

[00:07:15] Real Estate Foundations & Austin Industries

[00:09:30] The Origin of Mi Cocina & M Crowd

[00:13:40] Red Lobster, Shrimp Deals & Restaurant Economics

[00:17:50] The Shrinking Middle Class & AI Displacement

[00:20:10] When Charlie Munger Dropped By

[00:21:50] Buying Highland Park Village: The Backstory

[00:26:30] The Evolution of Highland Park Village

[00:32:00] Building a Retail Ecosystem

[00:36:20] Sunoco, Strategy & Global Distribution

[00:41:00] The Future of Oil, Gas, and EVs

[00:46:30] Public Service & OPIC Experience

[00:51:00] Ethics, Risk, and Saying “No”

[00:55:30] Why Dallas Has the Edge

[01:00:10] The Next 15 Years for the City[

01:05:00] Final Reflections: Success, Timing & Integrity

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Editing and Support by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Good Podcast Co.⁠