Sandra’s Subsequent Era, a soul meals restaurant in New Haven, Connecticut, is #56 on Yelp’s 2023 High 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, enjoying to their very own strengths and supporting each other to maintain the restaurant working in any case these years.

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

“Whenever you communicate concerning the restaurant enterprise, the rationale why it is so difficult and it is perpetually altering is as a result of it has so many shifting components. And all of the components must work collectively as a unit. And I suppose 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 effectively conscious that their prospects anticipate distinctive meals, ambiance, and repair once they go to.

“You’re solely pretty much as good as your final meal as a result of the individuals, they’re gonna keep in mind the final meal. In order a enterprise proprietor, you need to be on the highest of your recreation,” Miguel mentioned.

In keeping with Yelp reviewer and group supervisor Alex T., the Pittmans are hitting the nail on the pinnacle: “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 odor so many scrumptious scents and flavors.”

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

“As a bit of lady, I used to all the time hear my mother’s tales about how arduous 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 hook up with me as a result of I by no means had a possibility 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 the whole lot that she did wasn’t in useless.”

That battle and inspiration from her mom’s historical past interprets into the whole lot Sandra desires to offer 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 got, it does not matter how massive it’s, you need to consider that you could possibly do it. It’s a must to battle. It’s a must to stand up each single day with a mindset. The mindset is the whole lot, it doesn’t matter what, as a result of there’s gonna be many failures in your life. The place we’re at present is due to our failures. You may’t stop. You gotta stand up. You simply gotta carry on going.”

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

• Being genuine whereas additionally mixing it up. Offering a conventional expertise or real recipes doesn’t suggest you possibly can’t get artistic. Discover the developments in your business you could incorporate to wow present prospects and appeal to new ones.
• Turning 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 optimistic affect could be a boon to income and everybody round you.
• Deliberately hiring and supporting your workers. Motivating your workforce and main with honesty and empathy highlights the humanity of your enterprise. Everybody has unhealthy days, but when they work in an understanding setting, they will be extra prone to present up for you and provide you with their greatest.

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

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