Phillypreneurs

This past Saturday, I treated my taste buds to a fantastic dinner at JAMES restaurant in the Bella Vista neighborhood (I highly recommend the sweet herb agnolotti dish and the beer ice cream). A few days later, I found many more reasons to love this Philadelphia dining establishment after sitting down and chatting with the owners, Chef Jim Burke and Kristina Burke, General Manager. Both Jim and Kristina are true entrepreneurs and have a long history with Philadelphia, as they both have spent much of their culinary life working here. In fact, history is what they both love about Philadelphia, as they believe it is “comparable to a European city, in the sense that history is preserved and it is not afraid of being new.” Their history with the city’s restaurant industry is a big reason why they chose Philadelphia for JAMES’ location, as they’ve made strong connections with farmers, purveyors, future customers, and business contacts over the years. Jim noted that, “those are the people who you need to support your business, as it is a daunting task to start from scratch in another city where you have no history.” The underlining message to entrepreneurs is, start in a place where you have already built a solid reputation and let your previous successes support your new adventure.

The process of idea to conception for the restaurant only took Jim and Kristina a year and a half, and after creating the business plan JAMES was open in less than 5 months. During that time, the biggest challenge that Kristina and Jim faced was only having two sets of hands to get everything done.  Most restaurants have an opening team and entourage that take care of the logistics, construction, etc., however, Jim and Kristina managed to successfully get JAMES up and running by themselves. They stressed the importance of sticking to deadlines and maintaining a steady pace, as “it’s a domino effect. If you don’t get the gas turned on then you can’t get the liquor license, etc.” That being said, they believe that the bureaucracy of Philadelphia deters entrepreneurs and small businesses from opening, as the process is complicated. A simplified process would benefit both the entrepreneurs and the city because, “what makes cities unique are small business owners that bring their own flavor. A boutique style attracts tourists and new residents, as it creates a desirable identity and atmosphere,” noted Kristina.

Eleven days after their opening, the editor of Food & Wine magazine made a visit to JAMES which was followed by a glowing review. Positive press continued as JAMES was awarded for a best dish and earned a spot as a top ten restaurant in less than a year. Six months later, Jim was named as one of the top ten best new chefs in Food & Wine magazine.

JAMES is truly putting Philadelphia on the culinary map with the commitment to buying local produce, not just in the summer months but year round in both the kitchen and at the bar. Jim noted that, “we’re advocates for farmers and we believe there needs to be change.” A dining experience is not just about glamour, but “the importance of knowing where you get your products from.”  The challenge that comes with supporting a local agricultural scene is consistently finding local produce year round for the seasonal menus. Kristina is committed to researching vineyards and seeking out new farms since their small sizes do not allow them to produce on a large scale. It’s not just about taste, but also having “entrepreneurs support one another and creating a sustainable local economy.” Lucky for them, Philadelphia has a strong network of organizations that connect farmers with restaurants.

Jim and Kristina are a truly wonderful husband and wife team. Their entrepreneurial success is a result of their trust and shared vision. Their advice to entrepreneurs is to “know exactly what you want to be and stick with it. You can’t be everything to everybody, even though most restaurants have mixed identities.” Their overall message: Know your strengths and your weaknesses. Have confidence in your vision. Be true to yourself, even if it sometimes feels like a risk. That big risk can lead to an even bigger reward, especially when you are as passionate as Jim and Kristina.

Alexis Siemons is a freelance writer and creative business consultant living in Philadelphia. She has a passion for language and explores it in her blog, The Lexicon . When not using both hands to feverishly type, she balances a teacup in one while working on her tea blog.