Meet devin chambers | retired professional athlete, business owner and father.

We had the good fortune of connecting with devin chambers and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi devin, what’s the most important thing you’ve done for your children?
I am a new parent I have a 2 year old daughter who is my entire world. As a high level athlete all my life I was groomed to be an elite athlete after playing basketball for the top middle school in the city where I was born and raised, I then moved and played at the number 1 highschool basketball team in the country called oak hill academy. Afterwards I played division 1 basketball in college and moved on to play professional basketball for 10 years. Towards my 10th season I then had my first child my daughter winter rose, I immediately shifted focus from being involved in a career that centered around myself all my life to creating multiple businesses in order to solidify my daughters future. This is not only the most important thing I have done as a parent that would impact her forever but it is the most important thing I have done in my lifetime and my biggest accomplishment. To be able to pass down multiple businesses in her name and honor is easily my most important and meaningful gesture.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
My name is Devin Chambers. I am a recently retired 10 year professional basketball player. Once I retired I started multiple businesses in the Houston area. I started a food truck company in 2019 called “the food court” I have a fleet of 3 food trucks in the Houston area. I also started and own a food truck park in the west Houston community called “the food court food truck park”. Simultaneously I had my first child a daughter named winter rose, therefore I started a wine company called winter’s wine, I created and dedicated this business in her honor and I made history becoming the youngest black owned male wine company in Texas. Lastly I created most recently a sports apparel company that will display positive messages on mainly training apparel.

I would say what sets me apart from others is I took the hard route, I took my time as these businesses have been planned and in the works for years before I created them. I worked very hard saved a lot of money in order to do so as I have no loans or partners I am literally a one man show. Also my businesses are all based on the love of community to inspire and family not solely for profit.

This was definitely one of the hardest things to do in my life. It would be humorous to elude it to be easy to start one business let alone 4 it was extremely challenging. I am a very complex person and I feel as though entrepreneurship has always been in my DNA. I have always been shown and given the tools to become a business owner and having a masters and bachelors in business helped greatly in understanding business, also my athletic background enabled me to be persistent, consistent and tireless in my pursuit.

I have learned a lot of lessons! One is that no matter how well you feel you have everything under control and figured out always remain composed there will be much adversity, trials and tribulation never give up. Also, self educate sometimes degrees etc, aren’t efficient enough and a complex problem can be remedied with the simplest solution via self education. Also obtain and spend your finances wisely and efficiently, seek two to three or more quotes and opinions on things that make up your business.

I would like the world to know that I am doing good things in the Houston community, my brands are all catered to the community every single person in the area that loves good food at affordable prices, or someone who wants to venture out to a park that is free and has weekly events to bring all people together. I want the world to know I have a wine product that is affordable yet is meaningful that is legacy based on love, love for my daughter. I built all my businesses humbly and respectfully for all of us to enjoy and to be an inspiration that if you can think it and literally make a thought of it you can accomplish it with hard work and persistence. I want the world to know you don’t have to desert your friends, family or change your character in order to be successful you can be whoever you want to be and accomplish whatever you want to!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would definitely take him to Washington ave on a Friday or Saturday evening. Take him to Gloria’s to dine on some of the finest Latin food and then see him be amazed when around 11pm it turns into a full Latin dance night and introduce him to a bit of the diverse Houston culture. I would also show him the galleria mall one of the largest malls in the country. Also cant forget to take him to a Texans game and show him how serous Texas football is here and how big of a influence on the culture it is. Being as so we don’t have a beach in Memphis TN, I would take him to Galveston sit on the beach and thank god for all of our blessings.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would definitely like to give recognition to my mother ruby she is my inspiration my light and energy to navigate in all that I do. I would like to also extend recognition to my grandmother she was my best friend she passed away but there isn’t a day that she does not inspire me. My step father for guiding me and helping to make me the best man I can be. My father the most successful man I have ever met taught me strength and ambition. My sister for being the example of the most complete woman in my life who taught me an abundance of tools educationally and personally that has stuck with me through my journey in life. My brother who taught me everything I know athletically and instilled a since of lack of fear that enabled me to survive in both a athletic and business climate. My grandfather “paw paw” all the lessons he taught me in life, financially and presentation aspects I still use as of now. I would also like to extend recognition to my college basketball coach, Coach Hendrickson not only was he a coach but a best friend a father figure whos honesty and humbleness molded a young man to be a great man after basketball. My mentor in business Sherwan Harbor for always being an inspiration and informational tool for me to accomplish what I have in business. Cast iron winery for taking a chance on me in my wine business and allowing me an opportunity to accomplish a dream of dedicating a business to my daughter in her honor. I would like to extend credit and recognition to all of my friends in my circle who are the receiving end of late night calls or texts for advice in this business journey after basketball. Lastly id like to give recognition to my daughter, without her knowing it her smile her love for me propelled me and motivated me to accomplish a lot just by her being who she is to me my heart, soul and love!

Website: winterswine.com

Instagram: thefoodcourt_2020 winter_rose_winery2020 tfcfoodtruckpark

Facebook: the food court, winters wine, the food court food truck park