My husband, Brent, and I moved back to Little Rock after being gone for several years, working together opening new concepts regionally. We knew we wanted to grow roots in Arkansas and jumped on the exceptional opportunity to partner with the Keet Family and Louis Petit. We opened Petit & Keet together in 2017, Watercolor in the Park at the Arkansas Arts Center in 2018,and now Cypress Social in North Little Rock last August. I could not be more thrilled to be a part of this team.
I have a performing arts background and got hooked on restaurants quickly because the challenges are so similar. We're in the entertainment business -- organized chaos behind the scenes and 'duck on water' when the curtain opens. Every night's a show!
Quiet, alone time. I spend so much time talking to people, checking on guests and organizing the troops. Usually surrounded by big energy, restaurant background noise, a busy floor and good music, calm time to reflect is my necessary recharge.
Managing the burnout and never letting them see you sweat. This industry is fast-paced and demanding, so it's important to stay mindful of self-care and to carve out time for relationships and a personal life.
How challenging it is to do well. Organize passionate people into a well-oiled machine and motivate them to execute with excellence under extreme pressure, with intense precision and razor thin margins. Maintain standards, exceed expectations, and do it again tomorrow.
I love the challenge. I'm super thankful that each work day is a little different. The most incredible part of the whole experience is the amazing bond our work family has and how much we genuinely enjoy each other.
The first award season after opening PK really solidified for me that we were in the right place in our journey, knew what we were doing and had actually done it. Every year since, the best just keeps getting better.
I have learned more about construction, large equipment, electrical and plumbing than I would have ever imagined. I've picked up a few tricks along the way to get by in a pinch.
In the end, you'll only regret the things you didn't do. Take the chance, risk the hard road. Be willing to fail.
It helps to talk out roadblocks and frustrations. Issues sound different once they're out of my head, and I can hear myself define and work through them. Having a good listener in my husband has been an invaluable asset.
I was in customer service at a bridal store in high school. It certainly taught me patience and tolerance, but also reinforced how important clear communication is and what a reward it can be to make someone feel truly special.
