Most of my readers know that I am involved in many small businesses either directly or indirectly.  I am a shareholder in a CPA practice and a catering business.  I am also interested in others who start small businesses.  I can sympathize with their struggle to see a dream come true by working for themselves.

On New Year’s Eve, we visited the Weston Grill in Fountain Inn, SC.  Craig and Mandy Campbell started this restaurant in December 2007.  I feel like I have some interest in this business because Craig was a chef at Streetside Catering. Like everyone, he dreamed of owning his own family restaurant where he and his wife and children (and their friends) could work and just hang out. 

We decided to treat ourselves and a few of our faithful employees of Streetside Catering to a dinner out. The food was scrumptious.  I had chopped steak covered with a special sauce, green beans (seasoned like Streetside) and a baked potato.  My wife had chicken fingers with french fries.  To celebrate our New Year’s outing we were treated by the Campbell family to a freshly made lemon meringue pie “on the house”.  It was yummy.  This dessert is made locally and delivered daily to his restaurant.  You can’t get a freebie dessert at a fancy corporate restaurant.  This type of personal touch will always be rewarded with continued patronage.

It was a pleasure to spend time with them and enjoy seeing their dream come true.  They already know that owning a restaurant is more than cooking and serving good food.  There is all that stuff that goes on in the office that will drive you crazy.  I was pleased to offer a few tips to make that a little easier.

I wish the best for Weston Grill in 2008, and I wish everyone a very Happy New Year . 

~Marc