J Squared Barrel House

Another project completed and another great success!

J Squared's Owner, Janel came to me when she quit her job and decided to make the leap into pursing her dream of opening a Barrel House in Longview. The town was desperate for quality beer wine and food and she knew she had the ability and drive to do that! Like most new restaurant and bar owners the passion is there and very much alive but logistics can sometimes be overlooked. That's where I come in! Let me tell you, Janel is very passionate and very smart so for the most part I was there to offer her quick insights and help make industry specific decisions that she may have been in the dark about.

Construction! Small business owners looking to cut costs often underestimate how much construction, permitting and a build out will cost and run the risk of running out of cash quick! Thankfully the owner had access to some handy helpers and was able to get the job done beautifully close to her budget. It's important to be realistic and prepare for setbacks when you are costing out your projects.

We decided to go with a long table as a beautiful centerpiece that really embodied the towns community heart. Wrapped in copper and seating 40 people it is an eye catcher for sure. Designing the main dining room was the fun part. Using Janels unique design dreams combined with the knowledge of creating an efficient space was key in the overall success of the concept. After all, each seat represents revenue so it was very important we maximized space which we accomplished wonderfully!

The kitchen design had to be done keeping the menu in mind. When designing a kitchen you first need to identify your goals. What kinds of product are you hoping to pump out of your kitchen? Logistically how many stations and people would you need to run a successful kitchen and of course most importantly, how to create an efficient and safe environment that also meets your needs. We knew the priority in creating the menu was quality. How could we create a menu that yielded quality product, some local, while maintaining a high level of efficiency and cost effectiveness.

This project was one for the books, many years of success are to come for the owner of J Squared!