"Over the last year we've been in the process of trying to take what we do and elevating it a notch, making sure everything was cleaner, more polished. We don't need to pump our logo and the name repeatedly on top of our guests," says Sauter. Though it does include one featured Rusty Bucket logo, it doesn't try to force the brand into the design, says Sauter. While the earliest Rusty Bucket stores had beer signs, tin signs and other straight-up casual touches, the new store design features a much cleaner appearance. During the colder months, Rusty Bucket places vinyl panels on the patio and adds heaters to make the space usable. Many Rusty Bucket locations also offer outdoor seating on a covered patio. The chain's color palette now includes natural materials, such as black leather upholstered seats, exposed brick and plenty of dark woods. And the staff now wear high-quality branded polo shirts. The plastic tablecloths, for instance, have been replaced by hardwood tabletops. Originally, the place had a straight-up casual design, including plastic tablecloths and waiters in T-shirts.Ī few years ago, however, the chain began updating its appearance to match the polished-casual quality of the food. While maintaining food quality, the appearance of Rusty Bucket's front of the house has changed in recent years. The menu focuses on classic comfort food, including burgers, sandwiches, fish and chips and pizza. The chain operates a kitchen that is 90 percent scratch, according to Sauter. Good food and drink remain at the heart of the Rusty Bucket experience. The environment is for when you want to come in and have a couple of nice craft beers or a handmade cocktail."įamilies appreciate the distractions for kids, including temporary tattoos and coloring sheets, as well a kids' menu featuring a made-to-order mac-and-cheese dish and craft root beer. We don't do pitchers of beer, and the types of spirits used to promote shot drinking aren't really something that we market to our guests. "Alcohol sales are very important to what we do, but we are very smart about how to use it. Rusty Bucket takes precautions with alcohol sales, such as not selling pitchers of beer, to ensure the environment remains inviting for everyone.At the same time, the chain takes steps to keep drinking under control so that all parties feel comfortable in the same restaurant, Sauter says. Guests entering the operation, in fact, encounter a view that is half dining room and half bar. "We opened up with the idea of creating a neighborhood place where people could get a drink and good food in a neighborhood setting," he says.įrom a strategy standpoint, Rusty Bucket tries to walk the line between food and drink, bar and restaurant. The chain seeks these suburban locations first and foremost, according to Sauter. Rusty Bucket was founded in 2002, with the first location opening in Dublin, Ohio, a northwest suburb of Columbus. The effort has resulted in refinements to the front of the house, changes to the menu, and adjustments to the kitchen prep and production processes to make the operation more smooth and efficient. "We look at this period like it's a time to refocus on what got us here and take it to the next level so when we are back in growth mode in 2018, we really have our feet underneath us." The company has used the time since then to hone its design and its operations, says director of operations Jim Sauter. Rusty Bucket also completed remodels on three existing locations. In seven months, it opened five restaurants, including locations in new markets in Sarasota, Fla., and Charlotte, N.C. This 24-unit polished-casual chain out of Ohio underwent its largest growth period in late 2015 and early 2016. What's true for people is also true for restaurants - in this case, Rusty Bucket Restaurant and Tavern. When a lot has changed in life, it's always good to stop, take a breath and take stock of where you stand and where you want to be. Following a period of growth, this polished-casual chain put a short pause on expansion to refine its look and improve kitchen operations.
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