Conversations with the Inspiring Kirsten Steele

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kirsten Steele.

Kirsten, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My sister asked me one day, if I wanted to open a restaurant and I eagerly said yes. Neither of us had any restaurant experience. We opened our doors in December 2013. It’s been a fun and very educational experience. I love the restaurant industry it is so fulfilling in so many different ways; from the relationships with customers and also team members, to feeding the community and even teaching my children what hard work is all about. It has been an incredible journey!

Has it been a smooth road?
This path has been very difficult with lots of ups and downs. Days of wanting to give up and stress through the roof, but the dust settles and the sun peeks out you lift yourself up from the daily grind and you look at what you have created and what you have worked so hard for and it really is wonderfully worthwhile.

In the restaurant business specifically the final critic is your community. You could put out exactly what you think is what they want and you could be 100% wrong, which is where I felt we were right after opening 5 years ago… I suggest to anyone starting out in the restaurant business to keep an open mind and an open heart. Listen to your community and your customers. Allow them to guide you and build, grow and develops your business. It’s hard to hear the negatives when you’ve poured your heart and soul into something, but sometimes those negatives are what make you stronger. You take those critiques and make modifications and changes and you make you and your brand better!

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into Chestnut Fine Foods and Provisions story. Tell us more about the business.
We are a trendy breakfast and lunch spot in the heart of Arcadia in Phoenix. We are known for a combination of healthy, indulgent and innovative dishes and we’re really well known for our pastry case specifically our chocolate chip cookies! I am most proud of our growth and development over the years. We are constantly evolving and changing and serving our community what they crave.

What do you feel are the biggest barriers today to female leadership, in your industry or generally?
The restaurant industry is a male-driven industry. There are few female restauranteurs and there are definitely stereotypes of women who may not be as aggressive in the industry being swallowed whole. I find the statement “the meek will inherit the earth” very powerful. Kindness goes a long way, both with your community and customers as well as your team. I find that my biggest strength as a restauranteur stems from my empathetic kinder nature. It allows me to make interpersonal connections with people, grow personal and business relationship on a deeper level and also allows me to communicate effectively with my team of people and create a fun enjoyable work environment for them which in turn creates a stable business environment.

Contact Info:

• Address: 435o E Camelback Rd
  Bldg I
  Phoenix, AZ 85018
• Website: Www.chestnutaz.com
• Phone: 602-708-7679
• Email: eat@chestnutaz.com
• Instagram: @chestnutaz
• Facebook: Www.facebook.com/chestnutaz
• Twitter: Www.twitter.com/chestnutaz

Image Credit:
@debbiewolvos

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