Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Corisa Lewis. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Corisa, appreciate you joining us today. Coming up with the idea is so exciting, but then comes the hard part – executing. Too often the media ignores the execution part and goes from idea to success, skipping over the nitty, gritty details of executing in the early days. We think that’s a disservice both to the entrepreneurs who built something amazing as well as the public who isn’t getting a realistic picture of what it takes to succeed. So, we’d really appreciate if you could open up about your execution story – how did you go from idea to execution?

I’ve had a love for cooking and eating good food every since i was a young girl helping my mom prepare holiday meals for our family and friends. I’ve been hosting parties, cookouts, events, etc. since my early twenties. The idea of starting my own business actually came from a conversation I had with my best friend. I told her i wanted to start my own business and she reassured me that i could do it because i basically already had my clientele and to just step out on faith. At the time I was doing a soul food buffet on Fridays and Sundays at a local nightclub and I was also selling plates from home when I wasn’t working. I had also previously had a popup restaurant in a friend’s business but that didn’t last long so in February 2019 I figured ok it’s my time to take my best friend’s advice and go get my business license. I changed the name that I previously had and decided on Pineapple’s Foodservice and Events. I started with a very small budget and i continue to bootstrap every component of my business. I’ve had a few setbacks but I persevered and kept my faith. Today my business is growing and getting more recognition.

Corisa, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

So I’m Pineapple or just Pine as most people call me, my business is Pineapple’s Foodservice and Events, I’ve been catering for over 20 years. I host dinner parties and pop-up marketplaces, I host a Women’s Empowerment Dinner every December, a Women’s Wellness Event in May, a backpack drive before school starts and many other themed events and dinners. I provide my clients an experience from start to finish, from the decor and gift bags to the food. The consultation process helps to make sure I am able to provide my clients a spectacular service that matches their budget and lifestyle. I’ve done 2 events…one in August for move in and one for homecoming, with more to come, for TSU for 200 students each each event. I am happy I was chosen to cater those events for an HBCU but I am most proud of myself for persevering and surviving through many tough times in my personal life as well as growing through COVID-19.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Before COVID-19 I was mainly focusing on my business on the weekends and special occasions because I was a cook at Belmont University full-time and I really wasn’t financially able to stop working. Once COVID-19 came I had to pivot and come up with a source of income so I first started selling hot plates from home, then hosting pop-up marketplaces outside on Jefferson Street and then I started getting calls to cater events and small weddings and my business has been on the way since then.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

There have been many instances in my life that I felt like giving up on the business. 6 years ago i loss the person who was my main source of financial support and I loss my house and transportation. Had it not been for my faith in God as well as the love of my daughters and grandchildren I’m not sure if I would made it through but I never gave up on my dreams and no one outside of my family knew what I was going through. If I had a catering order I would prepare the food over a family member’s house or get a hotel with a kitchen and borrow someone’s car to deliver and provide a great service. I just kept pushing and never gave up!!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @pineapplesfoodserviceandevents
• Facebook: Pineapple’s Foodservice and Events
• Other: Google search: Pineapple’s Foodservice and Events