While mixing work with family inherently has its challenges, the familial dynamic is one of the core strengths of Bistro Byronz.
As Business Report’s latest Entrepreneur feature details, it was in early 2005 that the extended Kantrow family, along with investors, came together to develop a new restaurant concept building on their experience with a previous venture, Byronz sandwich shop. With the community calling for its return, the next generation combined its diverse professional backgrounds to develop a brand new concept.
Born out of a need and a desire, the goal was to build a business, not just a restaurant. The motivation was different for each family member involved—fathers, uncles, brothers and sisters—some looking for a different career path, others longing to be close to home and still others yearning to spend more time with their own children.
The thread common throughout it all was—and still is—family. Of six siblings, Emelie Kantrow Alton and Brock Kantrow Jr. have taken up managing the daily operations.
“It is organized chaos,” Kantrow says with a laugh. “You are looking at the directors of everything right here.”
Alton says her title from the first sandwich shop was inspired by a mix-and-match menu item she enjoyed as a kid and still fits her role today. With a business card that reads CEO and “Her Mix n’ Matchness,” Alton’s responsibilities vary, although she oversees the majority of their grassroots marketing and technology.
Combined with Kantrow’s background as a college basketball coach, his strength as COO lies in developing and managing employees and building relationships. Alton’s daily philosophy is life balance combined with advice from their father and a founder of the bistro, Mike Kantrow, who manages the finances and process.
“My dad always told us, ‘There shouldn’t be anything in the building you can’t do.’”
Read the full Entrepreneur feature. Send your comments to editors@businessreport.com.
