Everything about Maple Street Biscuit Company’s business model goes against standard restaurant practices.
The fast-casual breakfast/brunch concept was created by entrepreneurs with no restaurant experience, is not open on Sundays, sells dishes at a flat dollar price (no cents involved) and does not call out orders by name or number.
As the 31-unit Jacksonville, Fla. company grows, leaders don’t look for the right real estate first. They, instead, make it a priority to find and nurture the right person to run each restaurant. And, don’t call them general managers, says co-founder Scott Moore. These men and women are “community leaders” who are passionate about serving guests savory fried chicken biscuit sandwiches and fresh roasted coffee in a “Cheers-like” setting.
“We hire good people, teach them what right looks like and get out their way,” Moore said.
That philosophy, combined with a profitable track record that has led to growth beyond its core Florida market, is why Maple Street is one of five emerging brands honored by Nation’s Restaurant News this year. The brand will be honored as a 2019 Hot Concept winner at NRN’s annual MUFSO conference in October. The awards are sponsored by V&V Supremo.
Other winners include &pizza, The Crack Shack, Garden Bar and Mulberry & Vine.
Moore, a former Winn-Dixie executive, and partner Gus Evans opened the first Maple Street Biscuit Company in Jacksonville in late 2012 after they both lost their jobs. Their goal was to build a business that was sustainable in both profits and lifestyle.
They decided on a biscuit-centric concept that would be open only six days a week. No dinner hours. The menu features fried chicken biscuit sandwiches made with unconventional premium ingredients such as shiitake mushroom gravy, fried goat cheese, pecan wood smoked bacon and collard greens.
“I wanted approachable food, but in a way [diners] never had it before,” Moore said.
That formula has led to growth in six states. The company’s 32nd restaurant opens Aug. 20 in Mobile, Ala.
Click on our gallery to get a closer look at this growing brand.
Contact Nancy Luna at [email protected]
Follow her on Twitter: @fastfoodmaven
MUFSO sponsors:
Kitchen Hero Cookoff Sponsor: Texas Pete
Presenting Sponsors: Shift4 Payables, Shift Pixy, QU and Valyant AI
Norman Award Sponsor: PepsiCo
Sponsor Partners: 505 Southwestern, Appetize Technologies Inc., CardFree, Cameron Mitchell Restaurants, Compaction Technologies, Daiya, Exponential Interactive, Greenberg Traurig, J.R. Simplot Company, New Mexico Department of Agriculture, OpenTable, PACO Collective, Tundra Restaurant Supply, Upshow, Royal Cup Coffee, V&V Supremo and Ventura Foods
Presented by Nation’s Restaurant News, the 60th Annual MUFSO Conference brings together the restaurant industry’s top leaders to share business insights that are laser focused on moving the restaurant industry forward. MUFSO is scheduled for October 14-16, 2019 at the Sheraton Denver Downtown. For more info visit www.mufso.com. For sponsorship/exhibit information contact [email protected]
