Vaulted Oak Brewing took up shop in what was once a BB&T bank and kept a lot of the elements, including the pneumatic tubes formerly used by drive-up customers.
Owner of the successful Charlotte, N.C. restaurant group, Stomp, Chomp & Roll, Will Bigham grew up in the franchise biz. His dad started off as a furniture salesman, but in an effort to move back to the south, he looked into franchising a Burger King. He started with a location in Albemarle, NC (our neck of the woods) and has expanded to 20+ locations since. Will’s childhood was in these Burger Kings, helping clean the drive-through as a kid and eventually working the window. “It’s a lot of getting your hands dirty – people don’t see a lot of the hard work that goes into it.” There was just something about the restaurant business that resonated with Bigham. He enrolled at Johnson & Wales and began his own journey in the industry. Working in popular Charlotte, N.C., and New Jersey restaurants, showing up early to learn how to bake the dishes he served. Bigham learned the ropes of business ownership by opening a dessert business with a pastry chef partner. “I’m an everyday learner so I’m just learning all the time.” But two big lessons of the biz: Patience & Hustling. And learning how to be solution-focused without blame. While operating the dessert business he opened Mama Fu’s fast-casual Asian restaurant, which he eventually flipped to what is now the Improper Pig barbecue joint. Then launched the popular breakfast spot, Flying Biscuit, and the Pizza Peel. Fun fact: his crust recipe was inspired by a delicious slice he had at Shakori Hills Music Festival and advice from “American Pie” author, Peter Reinhart. “I’m into the process of food,” says Bigham about finding joy in creating something people truly savor. With so many franchises, he’s learned a thing or two about locations. “I think you can build a business anywhere but the location is huge. But you can build a successful rest anywhere by taking care of people.” Bigham’s lunchtime orders at his Stomp, Chomp & Roll’s Restaurants: Pizza Peel – Godfather Pizza, Kitchen Sink Burrito Improper Pig – No Pig Sandwich, and his random mix of putting slaw on the black-eyed pea salsa Flying Biscuit – Black Bean Cakes & Creamy Dream Grits His tip for young entrepreneurs? Before you launch a business, work for one that’s similar to see if you like it. And be open to everything that’s coming your way.
“It’s a lot of getting your hands dirty – people don’t see a lot of the hard work that goes into it.”
Vaulted Oak Brewing took up shop in what was once a BB&T bank and kept a lot of the elements, including the pneumatic tubes formerly used by drive-up customers.
Head Brewer, Kiel Arrington, takes Nick on a mini-tour of the brewery and what goes into making your favorite beers.
Owning a business was always in the back of Arrington’s mind and Vaulted Oak wasn’t his first attempt at starting a brewery business. In 2015, he pitched a brewery to investors and they didn’t bite. But Arrington wasn’t deterred and counts it as a good learning experience.
“It took years, up to a decade, in the food and bev industry to grow into where I am today,” says Arrington.
Years passed and Arrington started a family but didn’t give up on the brewery idea. He started looking at the possibility of opening a bottle shop near Lake Lure when his realtor turned him onto a former BB&T bank location that was just bought.
Arrington brought on business partner, Johnie Jones, and signed the lease in September 2019. Next step – he had to bring on investors. In the 11th hour, Arrington got it done. (the space almost became a Pop-eye’s!)
After breaking ground in July 2020 amidst a pandemic and dealing with delays and supply shortages, Vaulted Oak Brewing finally opened its doors on June 8, 2021.
And the brewery was immediately embraced.
“Overwhelming and humbling were phrases I used a lot of times. We didn’t expect that level of support, especially in a pandemic,” reflects Arrington on the community support.
“Community was always a pillar of our business model. we wanted to be more than just a place to get a beer.”
Arrington’s advice for business owners:
Never burn bridges because never know when you’re going to need someone’s relationship.
Fail and fail often.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
“It took years, up to a decade, in the food and bev industry to grow into where I am today.”
After finding creative ways to keep the Crunkleton afloat during the pandemic, Chef Greg Balch and Ryan Hart launched a side-hustle, pop-up cheesesteak business. It quickly took off and they’re opening a brick and mortar soon.
Meet two of the minds that make both the Crunkleton Charlotte and Cheat’s Cheesesteaks on the must-list of Charlotte, N.C.’s culinary scene: Executive Chef Greg Balch and Bar Manager Ryan Hart.
After finding creative ways to keep the Crunkleton afloat during the pandemic, Balch and Hart launched a side-hustle, pop-up cheesesteak business. It quickly took off and they’re opening a brick and mortar soon.
When it comes to what is the next for the food scene, both Balch and Hart agree that everyone has become accustomed to paying for delivery and pickup. Inspired by this new dining trend, Cheat’s Cheesesteaks will be a 500 square foot, no seat restaurant, only focused on pickup orders.
The secret to Cheat’s success? It could be their popular slo-mo cheese-pour videos on Instagram. Or it could be Balch & Hart’s dedication to finding the perfect meat, the ideal cheese, and the ultimate flavor convo to please the masses.
“What if we’re just super honest and call it ‘cheat day?'”
– Chef Greg Balch on the Origin of Cheat’s Cheesesteak Parlor
Meet two of the minds that make both the Crunkleton Charlotte and Cheat’s Cheesesteaks on the must-list of Charlotte, N.C.’s culinary scene: Executive Chef Greg Balch and Bar Manager Ryan Hart.
Meet two of the minds that make both the Crunkleton Charlotte and Cheat’s Cheesesteaks on the must-list of Charlotte, N.C.’s culinary scene: Executive Chef Greg Balch and Bar Manager Ryan Hart.
The Crunkleton bar originated in Chapel Hill by owner, Gary Crunkleton, who is brought the craft cocktail scene to N.C. and who coded a majority of the amaros the were before unavailable to the state.
They fired up the Charlotte Crunkleton’s 9 foot, wood-fired hearth and hit the ground running… all the way to pop-up cheesesteak stand with droves of obsessive fans.
Ryan and Greg share their journies through the restaurant industry and how they combine their experience to create an atmosphere at the Crunkleton that is respectful of their staff, customer-driven, and at top of the culinary game in Charlotte.
And if you need a cheat day in your diet, stay tuned for Part 2: Cheats Cheesesteaks – next!
“Do What’s Expected…and Do A Bunch of Other Sh!t Too”
We may be a paper company, but this crew is makin’ that paper! We get a fascinating view inside the workings of CT Commercial Paper in Oakboro, NC with Kat Palm & Mollie Guffy.
Not only do they make the best paper products (Single Roll Tissue, Jumbo Roll Tissue, Hard Wound Roll Towels, Kitchen Roll Towels, Folded Towels, Napkins, Toilet Seat Covers, and more) but their products do not require the destruction and depletion of the world’s precious natural resources. They utilize sustainable virgin pulp and also one hundred percent post-consumer waste substrates.
“I never thought I would say I’m excited about toilet paper, but I am,” says Kat Palm, president of CTCP who explains there is so much science behind each roll of toilet paper, from the trees to the substrates, to the absorbency and brightness, that she looks at all products with new eyes now.
CTCP is proud of the quality product they have created and the positive feedback they get from their consumers.
As of 2021, they have six warehouses located throughout the Central and Western United States, with further expansion planned in the Southern and Eastern portions of the U.S. Y’all know when your office is skimpin on the good paper products — have your boss hit up CT Commercial Paper for that good good.
“I never thought I would say I’m excited about toilet paper, but I am,
You’re gonna be hungry by the end of this episode. We talk with Rob Clement and Hannah Woociker about the amazing collab that became Meshugganah, Modern Jewish Cuisine.
Rob and Hannah share the stories behind how some of their Jewish food & pastries are made and cured. Nick pretty much left a puddle of drool as Hannah described her Babka, a loaf of sweet braided bread with chocolate and cinnamon. Our main takeaway? It’s important to do what you love. After working other jobs, Rob returned to his roots in cooking and rediscovered his passion. And he’s been making magic ever since.
Upscale church potluck is the vibe Jamie Brown & Jeff Tonidandel are going for with their newest Charlotte, NC restaurant, Supperland, in the Plaza Midwood neighborhood.
Supperland is Jamie Brown and Jeff Tonidandel’s first step outside their NoDa neighborhood where their Tonidandel-Brown restaurant properties, Growlers Pour House, Haberdish, Crepe Cellar & Reigning Doughnuts, take over almost a full block of dining. Supperland is a picturesque marvel repurposing 2 historic church buildings into a boho-chic bar and main dining room with an open kitchen at the back.
“It’s been a big part of what we see as our responsibility to continue to grow to create opportunities for these amazing people who are on our team.”
The inspiring duo behind Charlotte’s favorite Chicken & Seafood spot, Lulu’s Maryland Style Chicken & Seafood, joins us on an all new #PaperTrailsPodcast!
Meet Jay & Miketa Davis – they tell us about teamwork making the dream work, their new Plaza Midwood location, Jay’s military & bounty hunting history, why they came to Charlotte, and how their family inspired them.
“Everybody can drop a jewel even if they don’t realize they’re doing it.”
– Jay Davis, Lulu’s Maryland Style Chicken & Seafood
Now, Healthy Brand Oil is recognized as an industry leader in premium oils offering innovative ways for chefs an restaurant owners for chefs to sustain and grow their business.
“We were ready to scale last January… then all of a sudden, this thing called COVID hit…”
Y’all know we southerners like our BBQ…but we also like jumpin’ on that Meatless Monday trend. We’re joined by the owners plant-based BBQ phenom, Barvecue, Lee Cooper & Zack Werner.
Y’all know we southerners like our BBQ…but we also like jumpin’ on that Meatless Monday trend. Lee Cooper and Zack Werner’s Barvecue is slaying the vegan barbecue game with their plant-based BBQ phenom, “BVQ.” Their company is taking off and they had expansion plans… “We were ready to scale last January… then all of a sudden, this thing called COVID hit…” With the pandemic putting a pause in their production plans, they tell us how they’ve adapted their plans to scale.
“We were ready to scale last January… then all of a sudden, this thing called COVID hit…”