Will Eckles, who attended Shelton from 2002-2013, opened GoGogiri, a restaurant at 17421 Preston Road, in September. Will opened the restaurant with Ian Greenberg and Harrison Nguyen. Culture Map's Teresa Gubbins called it Dallas’ “first Japanese restaurant obsessed with onigiri.” GoGogiri’s signature item, onigiri, is “a portable treat consisting of rice formed into a ball or triangular shape, stuffed with a pickled or salted filling and wrapped in dried seaweed,” Gubbins wrote. Will graduated from Michigan State University in the summer of 2021 with a Bachelor’s degree in Advertising and a Minor in Business Analytics. The restaurant also has locations in Abilene and Lubbock.

What's the concept behind the restaurant GoGogiri?

We wanted to provide a fast-casual product in a niche market with little representation in the American market. The initial idea was during Covid to provide a product through a ghost kitchen with a focus on delivery services and a multi-channel strategy to maximize our profits. We found onigiri through a trip to Japan as a group between high school and college. We thought it was perfect for what we were trying to do. We wanted something that represented us, a comfortable space with video games, some anime and EDM music. 

What’s your role there?

I'm a minority owner as well as the company's financial controller. I do not like calling myself the CFO as I taught myself accounting and finance roles through a CPA I knew, YouTube, Chat GPT and online resources. I also manage filings and our Vice President of Operations with a focus on our satellite locations. 

What's your favorite dish on the menu?

My favorite item is our CEO Riceball. It's our wagyu marinated overnight in soy sauce, pears, and our special seasoning with our pressure-cooked pork. It also comes with our Chili Aioli sauce, which is a mayo base, honey, garlic and lime sauce.

What are your memories of Shelton?

My favorite memories from Shelton were our yearly retreats to Sky Ranch and Mo-Ranch and Mrs. Hatch's Middle-School English class.

How did Shelton prepare you for what you are doing now?

I have ADHD and had a hard time organizing the important information the school was teaching us. The organizing methods taught at Shelton are skills I still use today.

What's your advice to Shelton students?

Nietzsche once said, "I know of no better life purpose than to perish in attempting the great and the impossible." The more daunting the challenge, the more you should do it. Greatness dies in satisfaction and mediocrity. The only times in my life when I struggled and thought things were impossible was when I limited myself.  You should always be pushing your comfort zone, and once you do that, there is nothing to worry about because the biggest challenges will become small speed bumps in your life.