Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Phillips Luther and Mike Luther.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Mike and I have both been a part of the restaurant business for decades. For Mike, that meant long nights and sacrificing family time to be in the restaurants with his team during peak hours. For me, it was the drain of corporate America. Meetings, meetings and more meetings and little time to flex my creative muscle or use my imagination.
After having Jack-Jack, our youngest of four boys, we looked at each other and thought- we can do life differently. We had always dreamed of opening a restaurant together. After taking Zoes Kitchen public in 2014 as their CMO, I finally felt we had enough knowledge and we embraced the challenge. We imagined creating a concept that inspired people to feel their best. A place people could afford to visit frequently. A business that allowed our team to focus on their families, by allowing them to be home in the evening. A happy place that was a reflection of our family’s core values.
Ultimately, the vision for UP was born over many glasses of wine and late night brainstorms, often with close friends. Breakfast is a growing category and we believe there are few places you can go and get clean, honestly sourced meals that taste great (with an awesome cup of coffee) and even fewer that offer fast casual (order at the counter) service. So we created just that! Lunch at UP is just as awesome… offering a variety of items that are Whole 30, Paleo and Keto friendly- but also offering a Cheat Day category with Short Rib Grilled cheese and the BEST burger in town!
Whether you’re in the mood for a great cup of coffee, espresso beverage, kombucha, or a complete meal, UP is a place you can come to fuel UP with great food & good vibes. We’re family friendly too… our patio playhouse is a favorite for the little (as is “Rae Rae’s secret chest”) & bigs like to play ball or goof around on the turf right out front.
People often tell us it has a Cali feel, and while we’re not from Cali, we did raise our family in Denver for quite some time. We love offering 5-star food in a laid-back environment. And we really love the way the Frisco community has embraced us!
We opened in Spring of 2017 and recently launched our catering program & events program. Without question, it has been one of the most challenging adventures of our married life, but one of the most rewarding as well! Our core values at UP Inspired Kitchen are Heart, Health, and Happiness… and we hope that’s what you’ll find with every visit.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Gracious… it’s been far from smooth, but I suppose most entrepreneurs would say the same thing! Our largest obstacles have been related to real estate and construction.
The proliferation of fast casual options in North Texas has been both a blessing and curse. It’s more difficult than ever to find the ideal location. To really hit a home run with a restaurant space you need a growing community, great accessibility, awesome signage and occupancy that doesn’t break the bank. Many larger landlords are unwilling to take a chance on a new concept, so we were thankful to find Shops at Starwood, which has a more local, community-centric, small business vibe.
Construction was a pain point as well! You initially estimate operating capital based on estimated time in construction. Our construction schedule ran 3-4 months beyond initial projections, which meant a lot of operating capital absorbed before we even opened.
I recall the day we got our CO (Certificate of Occupancy)… Mike, Debi (our Managing Partner) and I all hugged and shed tears… it really felt at times that day would never come!
Thankfully, we’re past those early obstacles and now our challenges are smaller but no less significant. We aim to build an awesome culture by hiring people that share our core values and by ensuring our teams are rewarded for their hard work.
Mike: “We have an incredibly high standard for food quality, ticket times and just the overall experience you have when you’re here, so every shift is a challenge to make that a reality. I’m blessed with an awesome team- and they make it look easy.”
So, as you know, we’re impressed with UP Inspired Kitchen – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Great Food and Good Vibes.
UP is known for creating breakfast, brunch and lunch favorites in a healthier way- we call it “Better for You”. You’ll find an abundance of veggies, whole foods and lean proteins in our bowls and on our plates, but that doesn’t mean we sacrifice flavor!
Additionally, you’ll find no preservatives, additives or processed foods at UP. That really sets us apart from many breakfast and lunch competitors. Our eggs are free-range, our bacon is nitrate free and we source the highest quality acai berries possible. Not only can you taste and SEE the difference (egg yolks should be a deep golden yellow!), your body can feel the difference too.
We worked with our concept chef, Todd Duplechain, out of Austin to build a menu that has a low glycemic impact. While it sounds technical, all that means is that we used ingredients that impact blood sugar in a healthier way, eliminating a sugar “surge” as food is metabolized. Leaving you feeling great and feeling “fueled” longer.
Our beverage program includes a full espresso bar, kombucha on tap, beer, wine, and mimosas! Our Mimosa Sampler is my personal fave… we pop a full bottle of Cristalino tableside and let you blend your own mimosas. SO much fun.
Our vibe is the other real difference maker. And it starts with our team. They live our values of Heart, Health, and Happiness and really go the extra mile to leave a bit sunshine in our guests’ day. Our BOH and FOH team works together as a family- and you feel that in the laughter that spills into the restaurant from the kitchen.
UP is our little slice of sunshine… and we hear from guests often that it does inspire them to feel their best, so they can be their best.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
We’re currently contemplating where to open our next location! We’ll be raising funds this Summer (so if you know someone ready to invest – let us know!) and would love to open 2 or 3 additional locations by 2020.
We’ve looked at Allen/McKinney, Park Cities, Rockwall & Richardson. Once we find the best next location, we’ll begin working on drawings!
At our current location, we’re planning our Spring Menu and focusing on growing our catering & events business. We already have a number of bridal showers, baby showers, and even weddings booked this Spring and Summer.
Because we’re closed after 3 PM daily, we can offer an incredible private event venue without a high dollar price tag. We love watching people make forever memories and “live it UP” in our space.
Pricing:
- Entrees range from 6 to 15 dollars
- Catering Delivery is free with minimum order of $125
Contact Info:
- Address: 5285 Dallas Parkway Suite 400 Frisco, TX 75034
- Website: www.upinspiredkitchen.com
- Phone: 469-579-4197
- Email: upinspiredkitchen@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/upinspiredkitchen/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UPkitchen/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/up-inspired-kitchen-frisco
Image Credit:
Manny Rodriguez, Foodstylists.com, Rhonda Jenkins, Terry Glanger; The Food Photo Agency
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
