Vegan East Podcast

Vegan East
  • 5.0 (4)
  • FOOD

The ins, outs, ups and downs of owning a food business. 

Episodes

  1. 01/02/2025

    Why we closed our Lyndale Avenue location

    In this episode of the Vegan East podcast, Reid Nelson discusses the complex decision to close the Lyndale Avenue South location after six years. He reflects on the various factors that contributed to this decision, including operational challenges, revenue issues, and the need to focus on the core strengths of the business. Reid emphasizes the importance of learning from past mistakes and outlines the future direction of Vegan East, highlighting a commitment to excellence in their offerings.

    42 min

  2. 01/02/2025

    Vegan East Founder, Sheila Nelson - Part 2

    In this conversation, Sheila Nelson discusses the complexities of running a business with her spouse, the importance of communication, and the challenges faced in the restaurant industry. She shares insights on team development, the significance of feedback, and the role of ego in the culinary world. Sheila emphasizes the need for personal fulfillment and balance in life, highlighting the influence of supportive team members on her journey. In this conversation, the speakers discuss the importance of building strong customer relationships, the challenges of maintaining work-life balance in a small business, and the evolving expectations of employees in the modern workforce. Sheila and Reid reflect on their experiences as small business owners, the impact of the pandemic on customer behavior, and the lessons learned from their journey in the vegan bakery industry.

    46 min

  3. 01/02/2025

    Vegan East Founder, Sheila Nelson - Part 1

    In this episode of the Vegan East Podcast, Sheila Nelson shares her journey of founding Vegan East, discussing the evolution from a fun baking hobby to a full-fledged business. She reflects on the challenges of running a bakery, the importance of community representation, and the balance between personal life and entrepreneurship. Sheila also touches on her future plans and the lessons learned throughout her journey.

    32 min

  4. 01/02/2025

    Opening Guide Part 2: Sourcing

    In this episode, Reid Nelson discusses the critical steps in preparing to open a vegan restaurant, focusing on the importance of menu planning and sourcing ingredients. He emphasizes the need for thorough research and supplier relationships to ensure a successful launch and sustainable operations.

    18 min

  5. 01/02/2025

    Our Biggest Mistakes, Veg Fest 2018

    In this conversation, Reid Nelson reflects on his experiences at VegFest, particularly focusing on the 2018 event, which turned out to be a significant learning experience for Vegan East. He discusses the preparation leading up to the event, the mistakes made, and the lessons learned from a disappointing sales outcome. The conversation highlights the challenges of participating in food events and the importance of adaptability in business.

    12 min

  6. 01/02/2025

    Origin Stories (Late 2017-Early 2018)

    In this conversation, Reid Nelson shares the journey of opening a bakery, detailing the challenges and experiences from finding the right location to the opening day. He reflects on the decisions made, the unexpected hurdles faced, and the lessons learned throughout the process.

    25 min

  7. 01/02/2025

    Opening Guide Part 1: Your North Star

    In this episode, Reid Nelson introduces a series focused on opening restaurants, emphasizing the importance of understanding revenue projections. He discusses the necessity of finding mentors and gathering data to estimate first-year revenue, which he refers to as the 'North Star.' The conversation highlights budgeting for survival in the first year and the challenges faced by new restaurant owners.

    13 min

  8. 01/02/2025

    Origin Stories (2016-2017)

    In this episode, Reid Nelson shares the origin stories of Vegan East, detailing the journey from vegetarianism to veganism, the rise of vegan baking, and the challenges faced in establishing a brick-and-mortar bakery. He reflects on the community's response to their products, the process of seeking a physical location, and the lessons learned along the way, including missed opportunities in real estate.

    19 min

  9. 01/02/2025

    Our Biggest Mistakes, part 1

    In this episode, Reid Nelson discusses the various mistakes made while running a vegan bakery, particularly focusing on the challenges of starting a brick-and-mortar location. He reflects on the advice he received about entering the restaurant business, the lessons learned from their journey, and the impact of ego on decision-making. The conversation highlights the difficulties of operating a vegan bakery in a market that was not initially receptive to the concept and the mistakes made in terms of expansion and operational hours.

    17 min

  10. 01/02/2025

    INTRODUCTION: Vegan East Podcast

    In this introductory episode of the Vegan East podcast, Reid Nelson shares the journey of opening a vegan business in White Bear Lake, reflecting on the challenges faced in the early days, including financial struggles and the dynamics of working with his partner Sheila, who founded Vegan East. Reid expresses his passion for storytelling and aims to share the ups and downs of running a vegan restaurant, inviting listeners to join him on this journey

    8 min
  • 10 Episodes

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

The ins, outs, ups and downs of owning a food business. 

Information

  • Creator
    Vegan East
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    10
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Vegan East Podcast
  • Show Website
    Vegan East Podcast