DISCLAIMER: This is the personal blog of Alexa L. Barnett and does not reflect any position of her employer.
ADAPTATION is the name of the game right now and restaurant tenant Porta Via, (fine Italian dining), is a great case study.
As social distancing and working from home became the new normal in 2020, the owners noticed two things: 1) an increase in to-go orders at lunchtime, and 2) stuffed subs and gelato sales had skyrocketed at lunch.
So they temporarily closed the dining room for lunch (but remained open for dinner), and began utilizing a takeout window in the front of their space for their new concept Rocket Stuffed Subs. They used the best selling subs from the original Porta Via menu, so there was minimal disruption for their suppliers and cooks.
When they began testing this concept in the Summer of 2020, they started by selling RSS 2 days per week. Fast-forward to Spring 2021, the concept is performing so well it's open 4 days a week, and the owners are considering opening a stand alone sub shop nearby.
The owners noticed a gap in the market and a change in demand, so they adapted. Willingness to adapt will be the tipping point for many restaurant and retail tenants as we continue to adjust to the new normal, and I love to see grit and perseverance win!
Show this local business some love!
Rocket stuffed Subs takeout window is open 11-2pm Tuesday-Friday
Porta Via dining room is open 7 days a week for dinner, and weekend brunch.
Location: Greenway of Belle Meade Shopping Center
21 White Bridge Rd., Nashville, TN
BONUS ADAPTATION STORY:
"Necessity is the mother of invention"
A Chinese restaurant at one of BSMP's owned properties in Alabama elected to temporarily transition to a takeout only business model at the beginning of COVID-19, and they found a creative way to eliminate contact during the pickup process.
Alexa L. Barnett is the Assistant Property Manager at Baker Storey McDonald Properties, Inc.