For Dawon Matthews, entrepreneurship was a clear choice after facing job rejections due to his felony charge at age 19. Now 32, Matthews operates five businesses, including the highly successful Goodies Soul Kitchen food truck in Houston, Texas.
Challenges and Early Business Ventures
Matthews grew up in Philadelphia, where he lacked positive role models. He excelled academically but ran into legal issues in college, which led to jail time. Despite earning an associate’s degree and a B.A. in business, he struggled to find work and applied to more than 200 jobs without success. This prompted him to start his own business.
He launched Wonderful Cleaning in 2017 with a friend, leveraging low startup costs in the cleaning industry. The business flourished, earning about $12,000 monthly by year two. Consequently, they started a second business, R&R Junk Removal, which made over $100,000 in its first year. Matthews also invested in real estate, owning 16 properties that earn roughly $11,000 monthly.
Success with Goodies Soul Kitchen
After relocating to Houston in 2024 for new opportunities, Matthews launched Goodies Soul Kitchen with a $40,000 loan. With no prior restaurant experience, he faced challenges but quickly adapted, learning culinary skills after his chef left shortly after opening.
Inspired by successful chains, Matthews focused on service quality, aiming to fill a gap in Houston’s late-night food options. Goodies offers a variety of dishes and operates four nights a week, serving around 300 customers weekly. The truck has generated about $20,000 weekly this summer and reached over $1 million in gross revenue for 2024.
Future Plans and Community Focus
Following the success of Goodies, Matthews opened a second food truck, Birds and Buns, in March 2025, and plans to focus primarily on his food businesses. He believes he has found his calling in hospitality.
Matthews aims to employ those with similar backgrounds, ensuring they are judged by their abilities rather than their pasts. He is preparing to expand Goodies into a permanent location, adding a sports bar and burger shop as part of his vision for growth.
