Located in Cincinnati, Good Plates Eatery is a great spot to grab a bite to eat. Its story of growth embodies resilience and community spirit. Founded with a passion for food and a commitment to healthier dining options, this eatery opened just before the pandemic. By understanding how to support local businesses, we are excited to support Good Plates Eatery, from its beginnings to its plans for the future. Supporting local businesses like Good Plates Eatery not only strengthens community ties but also enriches the local economy.
Good Plates Eatery’s story begins with a deep-seated love for the restaurant industry. The founder had always been passionate about this space and seized the opportunity when it came up. Just four days before the pandemic lockdown, he purchased the location. Despite the challenges, a strong growth was to come throughout the next month and a half. The concept was developed with the local community in mind, focusing on healthier options like quinoa bowls, inspired by his brother’s input. Learning how to support local businesses like Good Plates Eatery has been crucial in fostering its connection with the community.
The doors finally opened on August 12, 2020. The pandemic undoubtedly influenced the growth trajectory of Good Plates Eatery. Despite the timing, the founder’s vision and resilience kept the business afloat and progressing. Don’t you just love a restaurant owner who truly enjoys their work? Understanding how to support local businesses has played a vital role in ensuring the success of this beloved eatery.
Meet the brains behind the operation! Pictured here is one of the owners of Good Plates Eatery, Andrew Schlanser who runs the eatery with his wife, Jamie Schlanser.
The name “Good Plates Eatery” came from a desire to include “eatery” and was creatively coined by the founder’s wife. Furthermore, The initials G and P also represent their twins, Gibson and Posie. The mission behind Good Plates Eatery is to provide delicious, healthier food options to the community.
As of now, Good Plates Eatery operates a single location in Clifton and plans to expand by partnering with a bar called The Park. This location will also offer a food window service in the summer. The Clifton location’s success fluctuates with the academic calendar, seeing the college crowd during the school year, and adjusting to other seasonal changes.
Opening a restaurant comes with plenty of challenges. Good Plates Eatery initially had a plan to run late-night food alongside their main operations; But alas, the founders, with a background in the industry, received significant support from family and industry acquaintances leading to more success than imagined.
Working alongside his wife, the founder’s background in the restaurant industry and his family’s collaborative efforts shine through in their operations. Recipes are a joint effort between him and his brother, using locally sourced ingredients. Despite the founder’s Cincinnati roots, the family plans to involve their children in the business as they grow older. The entire restaurant opening was a family effort, adding a more personal feel to both the environment and the meals you’re receiving. The Schlanser family gets a gold star for really building on the family restaurant name. As we’ve seen, their family name really adds a warm touch and sweet backstory to this eatery.
Good Plates beautiful interior designed by Andrew and Jamie themselves, adding a feel of artistic modernism that’s personable, located at 235 W McMillan St, Cincinnati, OH 45219
Good Plates Eatery relies on several tech tools to ensure smooth operations. They use tablets for online orders and a Square POSM tablet for handling requests through their website. The Square POSM system used has allowed them to integrate multiple data streams into one. Additionally, they utilize a Red Card referral system to manage per diem transactions for UC athletes, enhancing their service capabilities for their student facing customer base.
Related to inventory management and employee scheduling, Good Plates Eatery uses a mix of manual processes and apps. The Homebase app’s free version is used for scheduling their team of talented cooks and staff. They handle inventory management manually. Furthermore, utilizing tools provided by US Foods and MEEZ has allowed for future expansions and back room insights, particularly for recipe cost analysis and more sophisticated inventory tracking.
The restaurant leverages QuickBooks for payroll and accounting, with daily sales imported directly from the Square system. This integration simplifies financial management and ensures accurate record-keeping.
Good Plates Eatery’s marketing strategy is organically driven, with a strong focus on social media. The founder’s wife, who has a keen interest in photography, manages their social media presence. Their Instagram account plays a crucial role in driving traffic and engaging with the community. Despite lacking formal SEO strategies, their visually appealing posts and community-focused initiatives, such as free meal distributions during holidays, have helped build a loyal customer base. The Good Plates website, designed on Squarespace, is primarily used for updating menus and providing contact information.
The founder advises other restaurant owners to embrace technology to enhance efficiency and customer satisfaction. He also suggests preparing for growth. Good Plates Eatery’s journey underscores the importance of resilience, innovation, and community connection in building a successful restaurant.
DevDefy is a leading software development company based in Cincinnati, offering cutting-edge solutions in mobile app development, web development, IoT, and more.
