# Famous Dave's: Dave Anderson (2020)

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2022-12-05
- Length: 1h 15m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-12-05-famous-daves-dave-anderson-2020

## Summary

Dave Anderson, founder of Famous Dave's, recounts his journey from a working-class Chicago upbringing and early business failures to launching a barbecue chain in rural Wisconsin. He details the obsessive product design and sensory branding that drove initial word-of-mouth success, followed by the strategic missteps of going public too early and expanding too quickly. Anderson explains how losing control to corporate executives led to a loss of brand identity, his eventual departure, and his emotional return to help restore the company's core values.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-12-05-famous-daves-dave-anderson-2020#t=0) Introduction: Dave Anderson and Famous Dave's
- [4:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-12-05-famous-daves-dave-anderson-2020#t=269) Early Life, ADHD, and First Business Failures
- [16:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-12-05-famous-daves-dave-anderson-2020#t=975) Terrarium Business and the Bank Loan Breakthrough
- [25:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-12-05-famous-daves-dave-anderson-2020#t=1531) Consulting for Tribes and the Grand Casinos Pivot
- [35:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-12-05-famous-daves-dave-anderson-2020#t=2128) Developing the Barbecue Recipe and Brand Identity
- [39:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-12-05-famous-daves-dave-anderson-2020#t=2388) Opening in Hayward and Explosive Word-of-Mouth Growth
- [50:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-12-05-famous-daves-dave-anderson-2020#t=3046) Going Public, Losing Control, and Franchise Expansion
- [57:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-12-05-famous-daves-dave-anderson-2020#t=3447) Departure, Brand Dilution, and Emotional Return
- [1:06:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-12-05-famous-daves-dave-anderson-2020#t=4015) Recovery, Legacy, and Reflections on Success

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Founder wellbeing](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/founder-wellbeing)

## Most relevant to

founders before launch, early-stage companies, companies scaling up, large enterprises

## Mentioned

- Famous Dave's (company)
- Grand Casinos (company)
- Zig Ziglar (other)
- U.S. Bank (company)
- Eddie Bauer (company)
- Harvard University (other)
- Bureau of Indian Affairs (company)
- McDonald's (company)
- Target (company)
- Costco (company)
- Sam's Club (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [#95 GT Dave - Founder & CEO of GT’s Living Foods: 25+ years of building the kombucha industry one batch at a time](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2023-06-20-95-gt-dave-founder-ceo-of-gts-living-foods-25-years-of-building-the-kombucha-ind) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Founder Feature: Cassie and Chelsey Maschhoff, Lottie’s Meats](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2024-08-02-founder-feature-cassie-and-chelsey-maschhoff-lotties-meats) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Founder Feature: Sam Davis-Allonce of  Hot N Saucy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2024-07-26-founder-feature-sam-davis-allonce-of-hot-n-saucy) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Founder + Funder: Fundraising, Founder-Investor Fit, and Building the Next Big Breakfast Brand with Emily Groden of Evergreen and Brian Bernstein of Rich Products Ventures](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-06-20-founder-funder-fundraising-founder-investor-fit-and-building-the-next-big-breakf) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Founder Feature: Brenna Turner and Joey Labes of Sake High!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-05-30-founder-feature-brenna-turner-and-joey-labes-of-sake-high) (The Startup CPG Podcast)

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