In this episode, we speak to Mike Stasko, President at Sunny Street Cafe, a breakfast and lunch restaurant group headquartered in Columbus, Ohio with 22 locations across the US. Mike offers insight into how the brand scales with intention, blending consistency with adaptability to support both franchisee success and long-term growth.

Mike shares how a clear but flexible brand framework enables franchisees to remain consistent while still adapting to their local markets. He discusses how the business maintains operational simplicity while creating room for innovation, from regional menu options to evolving service models. He also explains how scalable infrastructure, culture and technology play a central role in ensuring sustainable growth across the franchise network.

Key Takeaways:

(04:14) Adapting physical formats and configurations creates efficiencies and allows for better alignment with diverse markets and site constraints.

(06:21) Prioritizing local involvement as part of early planning helps build stronger community relationships and establishes trust from the outset.

(09:20) Exploring off-peak opportunities can reveal adjacent revenue streams aligned with operational strengths.

(10:09) Mastering the delivery of complex offerings at scale requires thoughtful process design and operational discipline across all units.

(12:55) Long-term resilience is often shaped by decisions made in challenging times, particularly the ability to stay committed to promising initiatives.

(14:23) Investing in system-wide technology enables improved performance tracking, streamlined labor processes and enhanced visibility across the brand.

(16:33) A centralized training and development platform supports consistent learning, employee engagement and smoother onboarding across a growing network.

(17:10) Creating a balanced work environment with predictable hours helps improve employee retention and satisfaction.

(18:39) Establishing a culture rooted in bold thinking encourages continuous improvement and reinforces alignment across franchise operators and staff.

Resources Mentioned:

Mike Stasko

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-stasko-6240411/

Sunny Street Cafe | LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/company/sunnystreetcafe/

Sunny Street Cafe | Website

https://sunnystreetcafe.com/

Wisetail | Website

https://wisetail.com/

Toast POS

https://pos.toasttab.com/

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