When Audrey Peeples-Williams opens her take-out establishment, The Lunch Counter, next week in the D&M Market in Benton Harbor it will be one more step toward a full-service restaurant of her own.
Peeples-Williams established her own line, Souls Ground Foods, three years ago and she envisions The Lunch Counter as a way to increase awareness and build clientele for the brand as she prepares for business a larger location.
An herbalist, she plans to use both local produce and spices and ingredients from her food line whenever possible. She also will have alternatives such as turkey dogs, turkey brats and patrons will be able to substitute small salads for the fries that come with meals.
She uses 100-percent whole-wheat products. And she also will also cook mostly with organic fresh or dry ingredients, rather than frozen.
"I want to offer healthy alternatives," Peeples-Williams says.
The Lunch Counter will feature menu items such as steak or chicken hoagies, perch, catfish, chicken wings, hand-made beef and turkey burgers and more. Most will be cooked to customer’s order as they visit the counter.
In a sideline for The Lunch Counter, Peeples-Williams will also be offering catering from a variety of other specialty menus she has available.
Peeples-Williams got her start in the business at age 9 when she worked at her parent’s ice cream and snack shop, The Purple Cow, in Benton Harbor. She built on that beginning, adding skills and knowledge as she worked in many hands-on positions in the food hospitality industry over the next 30 years.
Most recently, she expanded her experience as a personal chef and caterer in the Chicago area and says she will be implementing the best practices she learned in that business in her new enterprise.
She currently is in the process of hiring staff for the carry-out restaurant and expects to be working with two others.
"Building a relationship with my patrons while providing great customer service will create loyal repeat customers," Peeples-Williams says.
The Lunch Counter is inside the D&M Market located at 130 W. Napier Avenue in Benton Harbor. It will be open 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday and closed on Sundays. Peeples-Williams can be contacted at 269-277-9821.
Writer: Kathy Jennings, Second Wave Media
Source: Audrey Peeples-Williams, Souls Ground Foods
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