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Entrepreneurial goals are solely far-fetched till they arrive true. This proved true for Think Greek, a family-owned Greek restaurant in Port St. Lucie, Florida, that began as a meals truck and has since gained “Greatest Chew” on Meals Community’s Best Bite in Town. Common supervisor Rosanne Leo attributes the restaurant’s success to specializing in offering genuine Greek recipes and a particular Greek fusion menu.
“We’re first-generation Greek Individuals, so we knew once we began the meals truck in 2014 that’s what we wished to do,” she says. “However we did not wish to [just] do common Greek meals. We wished to include a fusion menu, arising with totally different gadgets that folks have not heard of earlier than.”
When South Beach Wine & Food Festival requested Suppose Greek to take part in 2020, the staff instantly knew their unique fusion menu merchandise, Gyropitakia (Greek wontons), can be a success. Their hunch was appropriate, they usually gained the title of “Greatest Chew on the Seashore.” Hearken to the episode under to listen to immediately from Leo.
“It was simply an unimaginable feeling as a result of that is one thing that we got here up with,” Leo says. “It wasn’t anyone else’s recipe. It was [us] brainstorming sooner or later on the meals truck.”
The next 12 months, Suppose Greek returned and gained once more, serving to it solidify its status for tastiness and consistency.
Earlier this 12 months, Suppose Greek participated in one other cooking present, however the stakes have been even increased this time. Meals Community contacted Leo to be on the primary season of Best Bite in Town, a spin-off of Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives with superstar chef Man Fieri.
“This was our dream to be on Meals Community, however extra particularly, we wished to be on Triple D… I used to be so excited,” Leo shared.
Associated: Guy Fieri, Cable’s Highest-Paid Chef, Hopes to Save His Industry With ‘Restaurant Reboot’
The present’s premise concerned Fieri sending three folks to a city to strive two dishes from six totally different native eating places, in the end selecting one “Greatest Chew” in that city. The dishes have been judged based mostly on functionality, presentation and style. Suppose Greek gained “Greatest Chew” of Port St. Lucie after which went on to win “Greatest Chew in City” throughout the present’s finale with its Gyropitakia.
The judges defined that they’d by no means eaten something like Gyropitakia earlier than, resulting in Suppose Greek’s win. The dish’s novelty and creativity set the native restaurant aside, an enormous testomony to the family-owned enterprise’s efforts.
“That actually made us really feel all of the laborious work, vitality, brainstorming and every little thing is working and is paying off,” Leo says. “Generally, as a family-owned enterprise and as a mom-and-pop, you get ignored a bit of bit, and it is disheartening. However to listen to that our efforts will not be being ignored actually does give us that vitality to maintain working.”
Associated: Guy Fieri Is Insanely Busy. Here’s How He Gets It All Done.
With new consideration from the TV present and increased media visibility got here many feedback from clients and viewers. Leo says that scrolling social media to see the most recent suggestions typically turns into overwhelming. She determined to take it daily and maintain house for each optimistic and critical reviews.
“You possibly can’t please all people, and that is okay. Some feedback are lower than good, and that is positive,” Leo says. “All people’s entitled to their opinion. All I do know is that we’re attempting our greatest, and we’re placing out the meals the way in which we put out our meals.”
Leo’s willingness to take dangers and seize massive alternatives, akin to being featured on a TV present, has elevated Suppose Greek’s model. Over time, her persistence helped set up the restaurant’s positive reputation.
Her recommendation for enterprise homeowners looking for this type of success is to remain according to their inventive efforts and values and use social media to have interaction their audiences and uncover suggestions for bettering operations. She additionally encourages enterprise homeowners to imagine in themselves and what they’ll obtain.
”Generally I am similar to, wow, I am unable to imagine it,” she says. “However folks ought to by no means say by no means. Something is feasible. Some days, you wish to surrender, however hold going as a result of that is your child. That is your dream. That is your alternative to indicate what you are made from.”
For over a decade, Suppose Greek has stood by these easy — however essential — instruments for fulfillment:
- Seize alternatives as they arrive. Attending native festivals and competitions can result in gaining extra visibility, which might snowball into bigger alternatives sooner or later. Being open to attempting new issues can springboard your small business into recent and thrilling arenas.
- Embrace innovation to set your self aside. Innovating your services or products can distinguish a enterprise and appeal to clients looking for novel experiences. Creating your own niche will help clients select you over opponents.
- Worth suggestions, however do not let negativity deter you. Receiving criticism may be difficult and requires resilience. Recognizing it is unimaginable to please everybody lets you give attention to giving your finest effort to the issues you already know you are able to do nicely and even enhance.
Subscribe to Behind the Review for extra from new enterprise homeowners and reviewers each Thursday. Out there on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Pandora and Soundcloud.
Editorial contributions by Angela Lee and Kristi Lindahl
This text is a part of our ongoing America’s Favorite Mom & Pop Shops™ collection highlighting family-owned and operated companies.
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