We recently connected with Erika Durham and have shared our conversation below.

Erika, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

In a practical manner, the mission of Cleveland Bagel is to make something really great to eat. That all starts with a hand made, scratch product, developed by our company’s founder, Dan Herbst, in his home kitchen more than ten years ago. In the time since, along with co-founder Geoff Hardman, we have grown into a thriving business that employs almost fifty people and have recently opened a new shop in Lakewood. The Lakewood location is a slight diversion from the original, designed as a cafe, which allows for us to broaden our menu, include sandwich specials, pastries, an espresso bar, as well as seating.

The true, behind the scenes mission of Cleveland Bagel however, is something bigger and more important than a bagel sandwich. Our goal is to bring our people up with us as we grow, building our gang and strengthening each other. We not only encourage and foster lifetime bonds and friendships, we create opportunities for our people to have real careers in an industry that is often more associated with employee turnover. We view the culture of our work environments as of equal importance to the creation and sale of the product. We encourage mutual respect, openness and humor alongside a lot of hard work. Treating our people well and fairly is a tenant of the company.

Erika, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My personal background is in music. I have a degree in Classical Saxophone Performance. I have always joked with people that I work in the service industry because I got a BFA! Actually, as much as that isn’t a joke, I will say that the skills I learned while studying music have allowed me to be successful in many other areas of life. Studying as a professional musician requires serious dedication, individual work ethic, determination, and the ability to learn from failure. It also teaches one how to work in team environments (ensembles) and the importance of doing your part.

My actual career has been mostly in small business management. I was one of a small group of people who founded Rising Star Coffee, I owned an art gallery with artist studios and a consignment shop called Canopy, I helped open an artisan bakery in Tremont called Leavened, and was instrumental in the growth and management of Cleveland Bagel for many years. I have also played a role in other local businesses, such as Cleveland Tea Revivial, The Roaming Biscuit, and Canopy Press.

I believe that managing groups of people is a real skill set and a craft that takes years of diligent work to achieve. Those who do it well have the ability to create a work environment that people not only enjoy, but can grow and thrive in. The environment I happen to have the opportunity to do this in is one in which I confidently stand behind our product and believe strongly in what we’re offering to the public. Simple, delicious, honest food and coffee, made by people who are supported in their work in all the ways that count.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

Managing a team is all about creating an environment that is centered around mutual respect. This includes open and honest communication, both on the job, in the moment, as well as the clear communication of expectations. I believe strongly that all ideas are worth hearing and an outside perspective can sometimes be just the solution a problem requires. A new employee, in their first week, may be able to see something with fresh eyes and help create a new and better system.

When employees feel seen, heard, and respected by the people higher up in the power structure, and they are provided with the correct tools to do their jobs, they are generally much more content in their work environments. The goal is to create and work as a team, owners, managers and hourly employees right alongside each other. I always tell my staff–I want your day at work to be neutral at worst, and fun, silly and invigorating at best. We all have opportunities to learn from each other if we are open to it.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I have had the desire to own and operate a business for many years. Most of my career has been spent operating businesses for other people, including my initial time working for Cleveland Bagel. I kept seeking out opportunities to make something happen for myself, but nothing ever felt quite right. Over the course of the past eight years since the original Cleveland Bagel opened, I came and went multiple times, trying my hand at other businesses in which I could have ownership. I kept coming back because Cleveland Bagel was really the place that felt most like home to me. I was one of the original employees, I played a major role in developing the systems and workflow, and created structure in the work environment for the staff. When the opportunity arose for me to open a new location and be in an ownership position, there was no question about it–this is where I belong.

That being said, over the years, I really didn’t know exactly how everything would play out but I knew I had to continue the pursuit. I have helped open many successful businesses, paid deeply in sweat equity, and left when I knew they were no longer serving my ultimate goals. I opened the gallery and had to close it within three years because it wasn’t financially sustainable, even though I was working an additional full time job in order to keep it afloat. All I knew was that I couldn’t let the failures stop me. I kept my head down and kept trying.

Lastly, I owe a lot to the people who have trusted me with their businesses, including Dan and Geoff of Cleveland Bagel Co. Without being given the opportunities I have been given by many people in my community, I would not have had the means to learn, grow, and go down the weird and windy path I have chosen to live on.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.clebagelcafe.com
• Instagram: @clebagelcafe
• Facebook: @clebagellakewood
• Twitter: @clebagelco

Image Credits

Ange Lupica
Erika Durham