We recently connected with Ryan Whaley and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Ryan thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What do you think it takes to be successful?

Determination, perseverance & originality.

I think the saying is, “It’s only crazy until it works”. What I’ve found in my success is that people want something different. Just talking to people, I have learned that people recognize and are tired of the same day to day way of doing things. I don’t have a definitive answer on what made me successful but I can say this……

I once had this same concept under a different name with a business partner. LONG story short – said partner virtually destroyed the business causing me to dissolve the company and start basically from scratch. I had to relearn everything they did including continue to expand the business. My first few nights were nothing but very lonely nights baking until 6am and getting home until 8am. I slept in my car a few times. I had many reasons to quit, many reasons given by other people to stop what I was doing, but I pushed through. Two years later, my company has 8 awards including the number one dessert in America.

Above all else, you MUST keep going.

Ryan, 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?

I got in to the industry when I was 14 years old as a server for a military retirement home. I, later, moved to Florida and climbed up the ladder becoming a server for the #1 fine dining theme park restaurant in the world. When the pandemic hit, I moved to Virginia and began cooking for my family. I loved learning to cook new things and eventually started my original business, Table Ghost Kitchen(TGK) with my girlfriend back in Florida. TGK turned into Parlor Kitchen and I was able to make the business the way I wanted to. Parlor was born from the burning of a relationship, so I decided to wrap Parlor around the idea of lost love and comfort.
Parlor tells the story of a man lost in the world he created. Trying to find comfort for himself, he was eventually led to the center of his entwined, personified decisions. The maze built by his emotional walls, various birds carrying lanterns guiding him toward the warm-lit parlor, and the fog whispering sugary lies – he stays in his comfort zone blinded by the thought of finding lost love through colorful creations.

What sets Parlor apart from the others is storyline. We can all relate to lost love and how food comforts us while searching for somewhere to belong.

I had a hard time belonging to any kind of group growing up. I couldn’t find a center where people just loved me for me – so I was very much of an outsider. I want anybody coming to Parlor, and better yet tasting my food, to feel an immediate sense of comfort. Now of course life gets in the way, so Parlor may have some eerie obstacles that make you a feel unsettling. ;)

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Being tastefully controversial and sharing your story. People love a good story! Find a large online group to post ALL of your successes. People WILL be watching whether you know it or not.

My first introduction to the “Orlando Foodie Forum” was with my macaroni and cheese dish called, “Macaroni & WAP”. People got a great laugh but they were so intrigued that they had to try it. It is now my most popular dish at my popups!

That group you consistently post to and interact with just may become your base!

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

Consistency. A big thing for me is consistency. I pride myself on giving a consistent performance every time.
What happens? You have an amazing experience somewhere and bring your friend the next go-around so they can experience what you did. “I promise, it’s great! They just had an off-day.” You try again and again and it turns our that because of the inconsistency, the company lost a customer. If you build that trust with your base, they will soon just buy anything from you and help promote you because they can trust anything you make is going to be amazing!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.parlorkitchen.com
• Instagram: @parlorkitchen
• Facebook: @parlorkitchen

Image Credits

Jeannie Albers
@jeanniealbers