Interview with Jeff Kaplan, March 23, 2017

Partial Transcript: Hello, our names are Katherine Anstern Segal and Joseph Kingsbury. We are students in WRD 112, spring 2017, Writing Jewish Kentucky.

Segment Synopsis: Jeffrey Kaplan was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1959 and grew up in Miami, Florida. In 1992, Kaplan began his career as a businessman and moved to Lexington, Kentucky.

Keywords: Interviews; Jewish Heritage Fund for Excellence; Jewish Kentucky; Jewish Kentucky Oral History Project; Oral history

Partial Transcript: So tell us a little bit about your family background.

Segment Synopsis: Jeffrey Kaplan was born to Edward and Judith Kaplan in 1959 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After the family moved to Miami, Florida, Kaplan helped his father run a small business despite his young age. He describes this aspect of his childhood as his first exposure to entrepreneurship, which would later define his adult career.

Keywords: Childhood; Entrepreneurial spirit; Family background; Jewish traditions; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Subjects: Childhood; Entrepreneurship; Families.; Jewish businesspeople; Jewish children; Jewish families.; Miami (Fla.); Philadelphia (Pa.); Small business--Kentucky; Small business--Ownership

Partial Transcript: Um, we understand that you have a wife named Carol?

Segment Synopsis: While attending the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida, Kaplan met his now-wife Carol, who is also Jewish. Carol originally worked as a speech pathologist, but later became a stay-at-home mother to their daughters Robin and Samantha. Robin, 28, works as a field consultant and Samantha, 22, recently graduated from the University of Eastern Kentucky.

Keywords: Chi Omega sorority; Children; Eastern Kentucky University; Education; Family; Kappa Sigma fraternity; Miami (Fla.); Miami, Florida; Sign language interpretation; Speech language pathologists; Subway Corporate; University of Kentucky

Subjects: Education; Families.; Jewish children; Jewish families.; University of South Tampa

Partial Transcript: Where did you grow up? Could you describe your childhood, growing up, a little bit?

Segment Synopsis: Kaplan lived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania until age ten. During this period, he spent much of his time with other Jewish children in his neighborhood. One particular memory involves his childhood friend Debby, whom he "married" in a traditional ceremony. This involvement in the Jewish community continued after he moved to Miami, Florida, where he joined United Synagogue Youth.

Keywords: Carnival; Childhood friends; Miami (Fla.); Miami, Florida; Philadelphia (Pa.); Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Transitions; United Synagogue Youth

Subjects: Childhood; Jewish children; Jewish families.; Jews--Identity.; Judaism.; Religion

Partial Transcript: It sounds like you all, even at a young age, knew your Jewish traditions were --did you grow up, uh, in a very Jewish and religious household?

Segment Synopsis: While Kaplan has made efforts as an adult to follow major Jewish traditions, his family did not practice during his childhood. However, he did receive a Hebrew school education. One of his teachers was a Holocaust survivor, and the retelling of those experiences helped to solidify Kaplan's pride in being a Jew. While his Jewish identity was not challenged, his wife and children had minor incidents involving anti-Semitism. (There is a significant digression about camping in this segment.)

Keywords: Hebrew schools; High Holidays; Holocaust; Holocaust survivors; Kosher homes; Traditions

Subjects: Anti-Semitism; Antisemitism; Childhood; Discrimination.; Education; Jewish children; Jewish families.; Jews--Identity.; Judaism.; Religion; Worship (Judaism)

Partial Transcript: Alrighty. Well, I think I'll take over the next session, um, session of the interview.

Segment Synopsis: Kaplan got his college degree in education and intended to teach business classes to junior and secondary students. However, during his internship, he was too overwhelmed and decided to pursue other work. He went through multiple sales jobs with companies such as Publix, MasterCard, and Audio Visual Innovations. Eventually, though, he became possessed by an "entrepreneurial spirit" and, with the support of his wife, became a franchisee for Subway.

Keywords: Distributive Education Clubs of America; Entrepreneurial spirit; Food brokers; Franchisees; Grocery industry; Internships; Marketing and distributive education; Scott Paper Company; Subway restaurants; University of South Florida

Subjects: Education; Entrepreneurship; Jewish businesspeople; Lexington (Ky.); Small business--Kentucky; Small business--Ownership

Partial Transcript: Alrighty. Well, uh -so you talked about Subway as one of your franchise businesses. Um, and I've heard that you may have had like one or two more, that you've actually opened. Um, could you tell us about those companies?

Segment Synopsis: Prior to owning The Parkette, Kaplan worked with a friend to open other businesses, such as the A Cut Ahead salon and Sweet n' Treats ice cream parlor. Both businesses, unfortunately, failed. Kaplan explains that he learned from his failures and that, to be successful, one must take risks. Following these business, he and his brother Randy began selling Vienna beef hot dogs, inspired by Mel's Hot Dogs stand in Miami, Florida. This led them to the purchase of The Parkette.

Keywords: Caretakers; Catering; Entrepreneurial spirit; General contractors; Hair businesses; Hot dog stands; Ice cream shops; Mel's Hot Dogs; Salons; Subway restaurants; The Parkette; Vienna beef; Winchester (Ky.)

Subjects: Entrepreneurship; Jewish businesspeople; Restaurants; Small business--Kentucky; Small business--Ownership

Partial Transcript: Could you tell us a little bit more about the importance of the Parkette for--to Lexington, uh, such as like the business--to the other businesses in Lexington and like when it was open for the first time and when you took it over?

Segment Synopsis: Kaplan and his brother are the fifth set of owners of The Parkette in Lexington, Kentucky, which was originally operated by Joe Smiley. Smiley was not initially expected to succeed, but his first day of business saw unprecedented financial gains. Smiley's Parkette used the Kentucky Fried Chicken recipe, but was not allowed to use the name following a lawsuit by John Y. Brown in which he received a $45,000 settlement. Although The Parkette now uses a different fried chicken recipe, Kaplan and his brother saw just as much success on their opening day.

Keywords: City fathers; Colonel Harland Sanders; Colonel Sanders; Joe Smiley; Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC); Lexington Herald Leader; New Circle Road; Opening day; Re-opening; Teletrace; The Belt Line; The Parkette

Subjects: Entrepreneurship; Jewish businesspeople; Restaurants; Small business--Kentucky; Small business--Ownership

Partial Transcript: If you had one piece of advice to give to a young business student like myself or a young business owner, what would it be?

Segment Synopsis: While visiting his brother at Washington University, Kaplan sat in on a business class wherein a professor said that "surrounding yourself with good quality people" guarantees success in business. Recalling his own experiences and those of past employees, Kaplan tells listeners that having a strong work ethic and respectful attitude ensures success.

Keywords: Business advice; Business partners; Entrepreneurial spirit; Hiring process; Secret to success; Success in business; Washington University in St. Louis; Work ethic

Subjects: Entrepreneurship; Jewish businesspeople; Restaurants; Small business--Kentucky; Small business--Ownership

Partial Transcript: One of the things that I found interesting was, um, you, uh, kinda had a dispute over whether you should keep lard in the recipe for your fried chicken.

Segment Synopsis: The Parkette's fried chicken recipe notoriously uses lard, which has been repeatedly challenged. Kaplan himself attempted to change the recipe and make it kosher, but all other cooking oils "failed" in customer taste tests. However, Kaplan believes the high quality taste of the chicken is worth not keeping it kosher.

Keywords: Cooking oil; Fried chicken; Kosher; Quality; Recipes; Restaurant services; Sysco

Subjects: Entrepreneurship; Jewish businesspeople; Religion; Restaurants; Small business--Kentucky; Small business--Ownership; Worship (Judaism)

Partial Transcript: Um, so kind of going forward with like your Jewish identity, um, with your family and in the Parkette business...

Segment Synopsis: Through The Parkette, Kaplan has connected with the Lexington community. The restaurant has provided funds and other donations to various events, which is an echo of his belief that one should treat others as one would like to be treated. Regarding his Jewish identity, Kaplan and his family attend the Ohavay Zion Synagogue, which is more conservative than the Reform temple, although his children did attend schooling there during their youth.

Keywords: Jewish community; Jewish holidays; Jewish services; Jewish traditions; Jewish values; Ohavay Zion Synagogue; Synagogue services

Subjects: Entrepreneurship; Jewish businesspeople; Jewish children; Jewish families.; Jews--Identity.; Jews--Kentucky--Lexington.; Judaism.; Lexington (Ky.); Religion; Restaurants; Small business--Kentucky; Small business--Ownership; Worship (Judaism)

Partial Transcript: Um, there's one connection I wanted to make with the Parkette.

Segment Synopsis: Although The Parkette is not entirely kosher, some foods, such as the fish and onion rings, are suitable for Jewish customers. The restaurant also hosts events for the Jewish community, such as B'nai B'rith board meetings and certain fundraisers.

Keywords: B'nai B'rith; Jewish community; Jewish diet; Jewish practices; Kosher; Outreach; The Parkette

Subjects: Entrepreneurship; Jewish businesspeople; Jews--Identity.; Jews--Kentucky--Lexington.; Judaism.; Lexington (Ky.); Religion; Restaurants; Small business--Kentucky; Small business--Ownership; Worship (Judaism)

Partial Transcript: Um, are there any events, in general, that you, um, have at the Parkette, for the entire community of Lexington, that you would want to talk about?

Segment Synopsis: The Parkette hosts events for the entire Lexington community, the most popular being "cruisings," or what resembles a car show in the restaurant's parking lot. It also served the Fayette County police department and other emergency services for free following a string of city conflicts.

Keywords: Car shows; Community events; Cruisings; Drive-ins; Jewish community; Lexington events

Subjects: Entrepreneurship; Jewish businesspeople; Lexington (Ky.); Restaurants; Small business--Kentucky; Small business--Ownership

Partial Transcript: Um, he's covered almost everything. Um, how would you say, uh, the Jewish communities in the different places you've lived, such as like Miami, Philly, and Lexington, have differed?

Segment Synopsis: Kaplan remembers very little about his Jewish practices in Philadelphia, but recalls attending the Beth David Synagogue in Miami and being involved in United Synagogue Youth. When he moved to Lexington, Rabbi Sharon Cohen had recently taken over the services and the Lexington Jewish community was frequently described as "close-knit," on which Kaplan agrees. He closes out the interview by saying that anyone is capable of being successful and not to consider him to be special or unique in his achievements.

Keywords: Business advice; Community in Lexington; Jewish childhood; Jewish community; Jewish services; Jewish traditions; Judaism; Lexington, Kentucky; Social life; United Synagogue Youth

Subjects: Entrepreneurship; Jewish businesspeople; Jewish children; Jewish families.; Jews--Identity.; Jews--Kentucky--Lexington.; Judaism.; Lexington (Ky.); Religion; Small business--Kentucky; Small business--Ownership; Worship (Judaism)