We were lucky to catch up with Olamiposi Lawal recently and have shared our conversation below.

Olamiposi, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Taking care of customers isn’t just good business – it is often one of the main reasons folks went into business in the first place. So, we’d love to get a conversation going around how to best help clients feel appreciated – maybe you can share something you’ve done or seen someone do that’s been really effective at helping a customer feel valued?

Impacting customer lives through their experience at Posi’s is the most important aspect of our operation.

Showing Appreciation: The Heart of Posi’s Kitchen**

At Posi’s Kitchen, located in the heart of downtown Baltimore, our journey has been a remarkable one, deeply intertwined with our incredible customers. We’ve always believed that our patrons are the true essence of our success, and we strive to show our appreciation in meaningful ways.

One of the most memorable moments for us was during the Thanksgiving holiday season of 2023. We decided to give back to the community by providing 150 meals to the Baltimore Rescue Mission. The experience was profoundly humbling and heartwarming. Seeing the smiles on the faces of those we served reminded us of the impact that small acts of kindness can have. Our team worked tirelessly to prepare and deliver these meals, and the gratitude we received in return was indescribable. This act of giving not only helped those in need but also brought our team closer together, reinforcing our commitment to community and service.

In addition to our holiday volunteering, we host quarterly Customer Appreciation Days. These events are all about celebrating our loyal customers with special menus, discounts, and fun activities. We love seeing familiar faces light up as they enjoy these little tokens of our gratitude. Our goal is to create a festive atmosphere where everyone feels valued and appreciated.

We also believe in the power of spontaneous generosity. Random freebies, whether it’s a complimentary dessert or a surprise drink, have become a beloved tradition at Posi’s Kitchen. The joy and surprise on our customers’ faces when they receive an unexpected treat is priceless. It’s our way of saying “thank you” for their continued support and for choosing us time and again.

We know we’re not perfect, but our dedication to our customers is unwavering. They have been our driving force, and we owe much of our success to their loyalty and love. Through our efforts, both big and small, we aim to make every customer feel special and appreciated. Because at Posi’s Kitchen, every meal is a thank you, and every visit is a celebration of our wonderful community.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Olamiposi Lawal. I migrated to the United States in June of 2014 at the age of nineteen to further my education. I have lived in Baltimore Maryland for nine years and counting. My first job in the States was at Subway where I was initially introduced to the hospitality industry. While working at subway I enrolled into the community college of baltimore county where I majored in business administration/management. I also made my first friend in the States. His name was Victor Castellon who at the time was managing a chipotle restaurant and offered me a job as well as a pathway for growth within the company. At Chipotle i was introduced to a deeper level of hospitality and culinary, where I began to find my passion for the hospitality/culinary industry. I worked at Chipotle for two years, where I developed some managing skills. After leaving Chipotle, I decided to work at a Marriott Hotel to gain some experience working in corporate kitchen. I then started attending Stratford University where I decided to further my education in the hospitality/culinary industry. I majored and got my Associates in Advance hospitality and culinary science. In the year 2020, I graduated from Stratford University. At this point, my entrepreneurial spirit had grown so much that I wanted to work for a brand where I could gain mentorship and learn how to run my own business in the future. I was fortunate to get a sous chef/kitchen manager position at Homemaid Brunch which is a family owned/operated business. Homemaid Brunch gave me all the motivation I needed to prove to myself that I was born to do what I am doing currently. December 2020 I hosted a Christmas dinner with over 100 guests in attendance to showcase my hospitality/culinary skills. The guests who attended the dinner had a great experience and right after this, I started selling platters from my home. I then moved from home to my current brick and mortar space in 2021.

Posi’s Kitchen is a west African based afro fusion restaurant with roots of Nigeria. We serve authentic Nigerian cuisine giving our guests in our community the taste of West Africa in Baltimore Maryland and beyond. We make native cuisine as well as house made beverages and dessert. My companies unique value proposition lies within our ability to create a fusion of Nigerian culture with any other culture by using food. We mix classics like beef suya (thinly sliced marinated beef) and put it on things like pizza. You can’t find that kind of fusion anywhere else. We are introducing the flavors of our culture and putting these flavors on items that are native to the US like pizza. This is something that you don’t see African restaurants in the Baltimore community doing. We see a lot of restaurants staying in their comfort zone and sticking to one or the other when it comes to menu items. This makes us completely original/unique while sticking to that same fresh and authentic standard.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I believe our continuous focus on enhancing customer experiences has formed our great reputation within our market.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

Our sense of individuality within our market and our community remains unmatched. We are young west africans cooking with the principles our mothers instilled within us, but translating these traditions and recipes into experiences that any generation or demographic can comprehend within this day and age. As long as we stick to traditional fusion, we will forever be frontrunners in our industry/within our niche.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.posiskitchenandcatering.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/posiskitchen/