Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Lindsay Mescher, founder and co-owner of Greenhouse Cafe, LLC., located in Lebanon, OH, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We are a fast-casual farm-to-table cafe and bar focusing on locally sourced food and drink. We serve a small community about 30 miles north of Cincinnati. Our mission is to provide foods that are beneficial to our health and sustainable for our planet while also supporting local farms and businesses. Our menu is almost entirely locally-sourced and organic, & any of our menu items can be made vegan and/or gluten-free.
Tell us about yourself
When I decided to go plant-based in 2008, there were no options in my town for healthy, vegetarian take-out and dining. This encouraged me to start creating my own recipes. My love of cooking and passion for nutrition & whole foods inspired my dream of one day opening a café with a focus on health and sustainability.
In 2010, I moved to Nashville, TN, to work as a music publisher (my dream since childhood!) and enjoy the city's up-and-coming foodie offerings. Feeling completely inspired, I began hosting supper clubs at my home where I could try out my latest creations with friends. For over a decade, I have been creating recipes and taking notes.
After the sudden loss of my brother, I "retired" from my career in the music industry and moved home to be with my family. This is when we decided to start Greenhouse Cafe in the community that I know and love so well, the place I call home.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Serving plant-based food in a town where no one thought it was possible! We, of course, have our meat options, but even the carnivores are trying our vegan dishes and loving it. My favorite compliment is one I often hear, "I didn't like kale until I ate it here!" That feels like success to me! I also feel that surviving a pandemic as a new restaurant while being take-out only for 16 + months is a huge accomplishment in itself!
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
The constant attention and work that running a restaurant require. There are no real days off, and you can lose one of your team members at any given moment, and it throws the whole operation off. Especially when you're such a small team. You are only as good as your people, and good help is hard to find and even harder to keep. You want to see you people move on and grow into bigger roles, but at the same time, it's hard to let good ones go!
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Start small and grow from there. Keep it as simple as possible! Do not overthink it or overdo it. Just grow with it and learn all the important lessons along the way. And no credit. Do not start your business off by owning thousands of dollars to your distributors, or you're setting yourself up for failure. Only buy what you can pay for, and once it sells and you grow, add from there. If you use a credit card, treat it like a debit card and do not run a balance. You will sink quickly if you run up debt. Do not get involved in politics in any way. When you're a business owner, you are somewhat in the public eye. If you are outspoken in your politics in business, you will always alienate half of your customers. Keep your business separate from your personal beliefs/life.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
You have to be passionate about what you are doing. Owning and running your own business often sounds more glamorous than it actually is. It's exhausting and stressful work. If you're not passionate about it, you won't sustain it, especially in the restaurant industry. A lot of times, people are mote into the idea of owning a restaurant and find themselves burnt out quickly. If you have the passion, you can focus on that, and it helps fuel your drive!
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.greenhousecafeohio.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/greenhousecafeohio
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greenhousecafeohio/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsay-mescher-5a120422/
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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