CABO'S TACOS

Cabo's is Ferrara's third successful business - and serves as proof that ambition can arrive late. Ferrara, 44, is a lifetime surfing addict, who left Jacksonville for California shortly after high school graduation. For 14 years, he ambled from wave to job to wave. He tended bar in Colorado, served in the Merchant Marines, worked for charter sailboats and diving shops in the Caribbean and repaired surfboards in Hawaii and California. He spent two national tours setting up drums for the Lynyrd Skynyrd band. "I basically surfed, and did whatever odd jobs I could," he said... Such trust was never a gamble to Ferrara, the eternal flower child. He is fond of saying, "We don't make a killing, we make a living." He believes in channeling profits to employee raises, and boasts "No one in the kitchen makes less than $6 an hour." He enforces his "no ties after 5" edict with a smile - noting he owns no ties, sport coats, dress slacks or loafers. He tops off patrons beers, shrugging off the..

Primary location: Tallahassee United States