Today we’d like to introduce you to Randi Anderson.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I was raised in the restaurant industry since I was eight years old, running a cash register for my parent’s restaurant. When I arrived into high school, I enrolled in the Culinary Arts program at my high school at Byron Nelson to pressure my passion for running my own restaurant just like my parents. All the way until my senior year of high school, I just worked at my families restaurant.
When I was a senior, I was running the front of the house for a new restaurant that we bought. After that first summer of running a restaurant, I was set in my ways. I wanted to achieve that dream of owning and operating at all possible. Instead of going to Culinary School for college. I pursued a degree in Business Management.
While pursuing that degree, I became pregnant with my daughter Kali. When I had my daughter in December, I was 21. I stopped going to college to become a full-time mother and moved in with my boyfriend to live as a family. Eight months later, I was being contacted by the previous owner of the Taxiway Cafe. He was looking to sell, and this was my chance to get a restaurant of my own. Something to pass on, just as my parents have done for me.
With my small family, I knew that I would be able to get this place running. We have been open since September 1st, and it has been a struggle. It was all worthwhile, getting to go to work while having my daughter there means a lot to me. Being able to run a restaurant with my family there brings me back to what it was like for me as a child. A lot of fun memories and pranks!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Struggles would be money, the typical. Being a new mother and starting a family is something that I was not ready for or could afford easily. No one is ever ready, and for me being 21, I didn’t know what I had ahead of me! Getting work that fits with being a mother to an 8-month-old is difficult, especially when you do not have babysitters or daycare available 24/7.
Beacon Cafe Lancaster – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Our business is a family owned cafe. We serve breakfast and lunch. Our original location is located at Hicks Airfield. Lancaster is where we have started a new branch of the family restaurants. We are known for our amazing pineapple upside down pancakes. Although at Hicks we have an amazing breakfast brunch that is well liked by our customers.
Due to space at Lancaster, that has not been brought over, yet. I am the owner of the cafe though I am also the main server for the weekdays and one of the weekend servers. One thing my family says is I am a stickler for rules. I follow how things are done as close to the letter as I can. Out of everything, I am proud that we are a mom and pop family restaurant. You do not see much of them anymore. Mainly the big corporation or chain restaurants are everywhere now.
While we are a small business, we pride ourselves on our quality of food and stellar service. We shop at farmers markets for our avocados and tomatoes; we serve non-frozen made from scratch kitchen menu. While the menu is mainly set in stone, we do throw a wild card in with our Specials!
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
The proudest moment of my career is seeing my customers enjoy their meals. While it does sound cliche, it makes all of my hard work worth every bit of it. Knowing that it makes my job fun and rewarding.
Pricing:
- Our amazing omelets are $11
- Chef made dessert are seasonal and range from $3-5
Contact Info:
- Address: 730 Ferris Road, Lancaster, TX 75146
- Website: thebeaconcafe.com
- Phone: (972)-227-2233
- Email: beaconcafelancaster@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebeaconcafe/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Beacon-Cafe-Lancaster-238898076813843/
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/BeaconCafe?s=01
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