We recently connected with Phillip Ingram and have shared our conversation below.

Phillip, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Are you happier as a business owner? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job?

LOVE being a business owner! I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t more work because it is. It forces you to overcome many challenges, be quick on your feet, and expect the unexpected. However, the relationships you build, the experiences you create, and the knowledge that you are helping to provide your employees a way of living is unmatched. I had a “regular” job for many years and while I enjoyed many aspects of it, the feeling of reward is inferior. It would be difficult to go back to “regular”.

Phillip, 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?

My name is Phillip Ingram. I’ve been in the hospitality industry since before graduating high school (2004). I’ve always enjoyed working with food but by far my favorite part of working in restaurants is providing great experiences and creating memories for guests. It truly is incredible the power of emotions food can bring out for an individual, group, or family. I hold very high expectations for our food quality and delivery of service because I want every single person to enter and leave our doors with the same great experience. I think to be successful in this industry (especially with the challenges through covid and inflation) it is important to remember to be grateful and thankful to your team members and customers. Customers always have a choice of where they can dine and spend their money. I am always thankful when they choose us and I never forget who pays my bills and puts the food on my own table. I believe our combination of consistent quality, homemade product, and superior service brings people back in time and time again. Must knows about Lonni’s ; (1) Our bread is our own secret recipe. It is baked fresh daily and hand sliced to order (2) We make the best Honey French dressing your mouth will ever taste , and (3) we have served the downtown St. Pete community with pride for over 35 years!

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

Treating people right, great execution, and networking! The best kind of marketing is when your ‘raving fans’ do it for you and tell all their friends, neighbors, coworkers, and family to come visit your business! Our belief is if we can execute on our food correctly, quickly, and at a fair value we will continue to build business. We have built out our social media presence and try to be as responsive as we can on there and in online reviews. We network through different organizations locally and have been active with our local city Chamber of Commerce, that has been a fantastic partner for us. We have the mentality that pleasing one guest will help us to reach another 5 who we connect with and convert into our future customers.

Let’s move on to buying businesses – can you talk to us about your experience with business acquisitions?

So, Lonni’s has actually been around for 35 years! I am able to say my first restaurant purchase is literally almost month for month as old as I am. It was a little scary, but I purchased the business in the heart of the pandemic with the faith that we could sustain and come out stronger (and we did!). The process to get here was not easy. It actually began before anyone even knew what Covid-19 was. Countless visits of restaurants, commercial spaces, and failed meetings or businesses that wern’t the correct fit. The best bit of advice I can give is to never feel pressed to make a deal for making a deal’s sake. Be patient and diligent in your search and it will benefit you greatly in the long run.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://lonnisdowntownstpete.com/
• Instagram: @Lonnissandwiches
• Facebook: @Lonnissandwichesdowntownstpete

Image Credits
Painting by Brian Viers