We recently connected with Parker Schulz and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Parker , thanks for joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

At Isla Bistro, our mission is simple. Eat well, live well. So many places in the food and coffee industry promote “healthy” and “clean” food, but behind closed doors it’s often quite processed and can make you feel not your best after eating. I grew up an athlete, prioritizing clean eating. I ended up being vegetarian for many years, and really had to tune into intentional eating. I have always been surrounded by wellness and nutrition. I want to provide the freshest, realest food for people to enjoy and I want to come back for more. We make almost all of our food from scratch and made to order. All of our dressings and sauces are house made, with no hidden ingredients. We are honest about what we put in our food, to create a trusting relationship with our customers. So, if you are looking to live well you must eat well, and we will never compromise our mission.

Parker , 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 name is Parker, I just turned 24 and opened my first cafe only four months ago.. I’ve always wanted to be a business owner, and I knew it would be centered around wellness. I grew up as a competitive swimmer, and tested out being vegetarian for some of those years. I struggled with finding the best food to fuel me for years. I swam division 1 at Towson University and graduated with a Bachelors in Exercise Science. The first year and a half out of college I learned about myself and how to re-learn nutrition and exercise as a retired athlete by becoming a Certified Personal Trainer. While it was fun, I felt like I wasn’t getting enough satisfaction out of what I was doing. I had more passion to put into my career. Eventually, I was given an opportunity of a lifetime to open my own cafe, with only two months to come up with a brand. I worked with my family to come up with a menu, a mission, and a goal. I have always been tired of going to places that sell pretend fresh and healthy foods that only make you feel worse. So, I will do the opposite and only sell the freshest, cleanest ingredients. I have gotten amazing feedback, with my regulars telling me only at my cafe do they not feel terrible after eating here. I will always be transparent about what is in our food to create a trust between our brand and our customers. I have also become self taught in becoming a barista, so I can serve great coffee along with great food. I am big on coffee and serving drinks that are exactly what you asked for. From both sides, I work hard to make every person who walks through my doors happy and want to come visit us again.

Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?

I actually started this business with nothing saved and no plan. I did not have any initial start up funds. I had two months to pull this together, so my credit card became my best friend and I just got started. No loans, no grants, no time to figure it out. I think it makes this more special because I had no time to really put any overthinking into it and I was forced to put all my eggs into one basket. Now, I can only grow and make improvements as I build the business.

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

What helped me built my reputation would mostly be my transparency about how the food and drinks are made. We aren’t creating false promises, we get our food delivered fresh every single week, and if it’s not how we want it, we won’t serve it. I make sure all of our food goes out exactly how it’s asked for, and if our customers have feedback or ask for something we will do our best to accommodate. I believe in creating a trusting, friendly environment. Another thing I prioritize is not only making sure our food is good, but also our service. Many times you go into places to eat and no one blinks an eye at you. At Isla Bistro, we greet every person who walks through our door and we try to connect with them. The best environments are built around friendliness and connection. This makes people want to come back and experience our welcoming vibes again. Good food, good drinks and good people. What more can you ask for?

Contact Info:

• Website: www.islabistro.com
• Instagram: isla.bistro
• Facebook: facebook.com/islabistro
• Yelp: https://yelp.to/LMHvUFzDtY