Many know this man, he’s been recognized for his philanthropic nature toward the City of Portage and for the delicious food that is served at his restaurant, Texas Roadhouse. Doug Giltrap, managing partner of Texas Roadhouse of Portage and native of the city, is this week’s Life in the Spotlight.
Growing up in Fort Wayne, IN, Giltrap attended Carroll High School. He loved sports and spent as much time as he could with his friends and enjoyed the outdoors as much as possible. He got his first job at the age of 16 as a busser within the restaurant chain, Chi-Chi’s. It didn’t take him long to realize that he loved the restaurant industry.
“I loved what I did and wanted to see what ways in which I could grow with it,” Giltrap said. “As I got older I was more and more successful with it.”
Giltrap came to Texas Roadhouse when the Chi-Chi’s chain began to take a downturn. A Texas Roadhouse location was built right down the road from where he was working, and Giltrap walked through its doors one day to inquire about a position. He took a risk, and after a few months of working there, he found that he’d made the right move.
He started working in the kitchen, then as time went by he moved up the ranks. He held managerial positions, helped open a few new stores, and eventually come to be the owner of the Texas Roadhouse in Portage.
“Texas Roadhouse is an amazing company,” Giltrap said. “I want people to think that my store is a ‘Disney away from Disney’.”
Giltrap is a die-hard Disney fan. He knows that “The Happiest Place on Earth” is successful for a reason, and he takes bits and pieces of its business model and incorporates it into his store. You can see it in the way the staff treats the guests from the moment they enter the doors, the quality and care that is put into the meals, and the fun and friendly atmosphere that the restaurant exudes.
Giltrap was raised by a woman who taught him that if you have the ability to do something, then you should do it. He has a very generous side, and that shows in the ways that he gives back to the Portage community. About 10 months out of the year, Giltrap is attached to charity work through his restaurant. He makes sure that a fundraiser is held for a different local nonprofit each month, making sure that the money raised stays in the local economy. He’s a big supporter of the Boys and Girls Club, the Portage Food Pantry, and the Portage Parks Department.
“Anything that is good in the world that needs to be done, I try my best to do it,” Giltrap said. “I support causes that are important to me and to the community like the local youth. Kids hang out at the Boys and Girls Clubs and at our parks so I want to help make those places and organizations flourish. My kids are part of this community and I think supporting our up-and-coming generation will benefit not only them, but generations who come after them.”
Since Texas Roadhouse of Portage opened in 2012, Giltrap and his staff have been able to raise over $100,000 that went back local charities.
Giltrap is a member of the Portage Chamber of Commerce as well as a board member for the Portage Food Pantry. He recently was honored with the Humanitarian of the Year Award from the Portage Chamber for all of his philanthropic work in the community.
When he’s not working, Giltrap is a father of two teenage girls. Both attend Portage High School, and he tries to spend as much time with them as he can. He loves sports, and gets down to Disney World as much as he can so he can stay young at heart.