American Soul Food & Jamaican Cuisine

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Ebony Williams, founder of Flavors of the Isle, located in Cincinnati, OH, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Flavors of the Isle is a Jamaican and American Soul Food fused restaurant and bar located at 1807 Elm St. right across the street from Findlay Market. Our customers are anyone who likes good homemade food! Everything we make is homemade, even our Jerk BBQ Rub and Sauces. We are known for our Jerk Chicken and Rib Tips. We started as an at-home catering company in 2014. Later in 2017, we listened to our customers and took our services to the streets as a mobile food company, primarily selling our signature Jerk Chicken.

As we grew in popularity, the pandemic hit, and we had to shut down. However, last year we took the leap of faith. We started back our mobile food company, along with offering a limited-to-no-contact food delivery service, using Door Dash and Grub Hub at Findlay Market. We added Jerk Rib Tips, Mac & Cheese, Vegan Stir-fry Cabbage, and Peach Cobbler to the menu. Now, we are in the process of opening our first brick and mortar, located at 1807 Elm St. Cincinnati, OH 45202! We are aiming to open in April or May. Our menu will include all the original menu items and more! We added some Jamaican classics like Curry Coat and Ox Tails to our new menu.

Along with some Island favorites like Coconut Shrimp and Plantains and we have a full BAR!! We will highlight drink specials and have happy hour. Our customers will enjoy great food, drinks, and music right in the heart of Cincinnati. We are so excited to be part of such a historical place like Findlay Market and bring to Over-the-Rhine's an exciting food and drink island oasis destination! We can't wait to open and host our guests!

Tell us about yourself

I first got started cooking at the age of nine years old. I have always been fascinated with food and have wanted to be a chef and on my own restaurant since I was a young girl. My first memory of cooking was a disaster. At age nine, my mom gave me the privilege of cooking Sunday dinner. And if you don't know, Sunday Dinner is the most important food gathering in the black family other than a holiday.

I made pot roast and roasted vegetables and totally screwed it up! I was born to a West-African father and Afro-American mother. I was later raised by my Jamaican stepfather. Growing up, I spend a lot of time in the kitchen with him, and this is where I've got some of my cooking experiences, along with my maternal grandmother and great-grandmother. Later, I became a teen mother and had to focus on being a mother, student, and career woman. In the year 2000, I moved from Detroit, my hometown, to Cincinnati after getting married to a Cincinnatian. While living here in Cincinnati, I was abended by my husband and became homeless with two children.

Only by the Grace of God was I able to get on my feet, buy a home and have a career as an Information Technology Business Analyst for over 20 years. Now by God's Grace, I went from being homeless to feeding the homeless and opening my first restaurant and bar! I was first motivated by my family and children. Although my family support is much needed and appreciated, I needed more to continue to move forward. Ultimately, my highest source of inspiration/motivation comes from God. I decided to believe Him. I believe that I can do all things through Him, that I'm to be a light in this dark world, and that I'm to love others.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment as a business owner is having the ability to reach back and help others and to encourage other business owners to not give up on what they were called to do.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

The hardest thing that comes with being a business owner is not giving up when things aren't going according to plan. I have learned that nothing goes according to plan, and this is where you have to reinvent the plan according to the circumstances. As an entrepreneur, you are constantly creating.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

Be true to yourself and the product. If you are selling apples, don't tell people you own a farmers' market. Be the best at selling apples and make sure you have the best product, then move to the next product.
Less is more. Start small and build your business, brick by brick. I believe your business will last longer and have a more solid foundation.
It's ok to fail. Failing just turns into winning if you don't give up! But be practical and not just a dreamer. If your business isn't making money, then you don't have a business. You have a hobby. It's ok; just re-strategize and try again!

I just want to thank you and your team for allowing me to tell my story and encourage other business owners!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.flavorsoftheisle.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flavorsoftheisle
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flavorsoftheisle/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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