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Sandra’s Subsequent Era, a soul meals restaurant in New Haven, Connecticut, is #56 on Yelp’s 2023 Prime 100 Locations to Eat within the U.S. It has been a neighborhood staple for 34 years, with proprietor Sandra Pittman cooking in the identical kitchen since 1989.

Sandra and her husband Miguel have perfected their working dynamic, taking part in to their very own strengths and supporting each other to maintain the restaurant working in spite of everything these years.

“The rationale why we’re the place we’re in the present day is as a result of we actually divide and conquer. He has his function. I’ve my function. And we respect one another’s function,” Sandra stated.

“Whenever you converse in regards to the restaurant enterprise, the explanation why it is so difficult and it is perpetually altering is as a result of it has so many transferring components. And all of the components must work collectively as a unit. And I assume that is a part of our success of being in enterprise for 34 years,” Miguel added.

Whereas solidarity appears to be the key sauce at Sandra’s, the homeowners are nicely conscious that their prospects count on distinctive meals, ambiance, and repair after they go to.

“You’re solely pretty much as good as your final meal as a result of the individuals, they’re gonna bear in mind the final meal. In order a enterprise proprietor, you must be on the highest of your sport,” Miguel stated.

In keeping with Yelp reviewer and group supervisor Alex T., the Pittmans are hitting the nail on the top: “It is fairly superb. The second you stroll in, you possibly can simply really feel the vibe and the vitality of Sandra’s Subsequent Era. You’re gonna scent so many scrumptious scents and flavors.”

These welcoming aromas are all due to Sandra’s 84-year-old mom, who handed down her recipes. Nonetheless, like many household recipes, there was a historical past and which means behind them that Sandra needed to uncover earlier than she might absolutely respect the legacy she was preserving.

“As just a little lady, I used to all the time hear my mother’s tales about how laborious she labored on a farm rising up, working from sunup to sunset, and the way she would increase her personal candy potatoes. She talked about all these tales, however they did not actually connect with me as a result of I by no means had a chance to actually see it till I truly went to the South once I was 16 years previous and noticed the cotton fields and noticed how they grew their greens. It related with me then—simply to have the ability to share her recipes and hold her inspiration going and simply hold her battle going. Let her know that every part that she did wasn’t in useless.”

That battle and inspiration from her mom’s historical past interprets into every part Sandra desires to supply for her prospects.

“When individuals come, I need them to really feel the vibes. I need them to be impressed. I need them to know that any goals that you’ve, it does not matter how large it’s, you must imagine that you possibly can do it. It’s important to battle. It’s important to stand up each single day with a mindset. The mindset is every part, it doesn’t matter what, as a result of there’s gonna be many failures in your life. The place we’re in the present day is due to our failures. You possibly can’t stop. You gotta stand up. You simply gotta carry on going.”

Eating places and companies in any business can be taught extra from Sandra’s story, together with:

• Being genuine whereas additionally mixing it up. Offering a standard expertise or real recipes doesn’t suggest you possibly can’t get artistic. Discover the traits in your business that you may incorporate to wow present prospects and entice new ones.
• Changing into a drive for good in your group. “Be the change you wish to see” can apply to a nation or a neighborhood. Your native enterprise serves a group, so uplifting that group and being a constructive affect could be a boon to income and everybody round you.
• Deliberately hiring and supporting your workers. Motivating your crew and main with honesty and empathy highlights the humanity of your enterprise. Everybody has dangerous days, but when they work in an understanding surroundings, they will be extra more likely to present up for you and offer you their finest.

Hearken to the episode under to listen to immediately from Sandra, Miguel, and Alex, and subscribe to Behind the Evaluate for extra from new enterprise homeowners and reviewers each Thursday.

Obtainable on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, and Soundcloud.