In Oakland, California, a culinary revolution unfolds The room of the housea restaurant that turned a simple commodity into a comfort food haven. At the heart of this transformation is Erin Wadewhose journey from lawyer to pioneering chef and entrepreneur captures the spirit of innovation and resilience.

Wade's story is rich with lessons in creativity, grit and the art of cheese. her book, Mac & Cheese Millionairechronicles this adventure, offering insights that resonate with anyone looking to turn a personal passion into a business.

“I was working very unhappy as a lawyer and I came home one night craving mac and cheese and realized there was no restaurant I could go to,” says Wade. “I thought, There are so many restaurants dedicated to pizza and burgers, but there's no place I can go just for mac and cheese..”

The country was in the midst of a housing crash, and Wade recognized an opportunity to provide people with comfort food during tough economic times. Thus, The room of the house was born, aiming to provide relief through simple, satisfying dishes in times of uncertainty.

Wade began her entrepreneurial journey by marketing through pop-up events, which helped her gauge customer interest and refine her menu. “I've priced my mac and cheese bowls at $2, which is just embarrassing,” she says. “I mean, that makes no sense at all. I wanted nobody to think twice about getting it. I wanted to be stuffed. I wanted to sell.”

Beyond the price, Wade invested deeply in the customer engagementand her methods helped cultivate a strong community around Homeroom, turning first-time visitors into regulars and advocates for her brand.

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Behind the scenes, Wade also focused on cultivating ea supportive team cultureincluding a unique hiring process that focused more on candidates' skills and values ​​than traditional skills and experience metrics.

“Hiring is as scary as dating because what you're measuring is the how good conversationalistSomeone is,” she says. Her hiring process includes hands-on trial shifts, allowing candidates to demonstrate their skills in a real-world environment.

“Something we did that is particularly unique in the restaurant industry is we started hiring, training and promoting based on our values,” she says. This strategy fostered a cohesive team that not only shared Wade's vision for Homeroom, but also contributed to a culture of mutual respect and innovation.

With a common language and mutual respect, the staff felt free to inject their own personality into their work, making each guest's experience uniquely memorable.

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Beyond internal operations, impact on the community was critical to the Homeroom ethos. Wade implemented a system to significantly reduce workplace harassment, setting a new standard in an industry often plagued by such issues.

“We came up with this yellow, orange and red color-coded system, and there's an automatic action a manager has to take when a color is reported,” she says.

The simple but effective protocol empowered her staff to feel more confident and supported. This proactive attitude in social issues garnered local and broader community support, transforming Homeroom into more than just a dining venue, but a beacon of positive change within Oakland.

As Homeroom flourished under her leadership, Wade began working on her book to provide tangible strategies for entrepreneurs looking to transform personal passion into professional success. Her narrative offers broader business lessons on resilience, innovation and ethical leadership and describes how she learned to be more transparent with employees.

“I realized that I was the one holding a lot of information about the business, and there's no way you can lead a great team if they don't know how they're doing, what the measures of success are, or how to influence them.” she says. “I realized that this was my goal as a coach or leader.”

“So we started teaching people about the business,” she continues. “We started to have them participate in it. (In) most companies, restaurants or not, it's very rare that people share any significant funding, expect you to look at certain things, engage in collaboration to understand how to improve them. But it made a big difference for us.”

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The homeroom relies on these principles of success:

• Prioritize accessibility and value. Strategically price products to remove barriers for customers, encouraging trial and building loyalty.
• Foster a culture of mutual respect and innovation. Develop hiring and training practices that emphasize cultural fit over traditional metrics, ensuring that every team member contributes in a collaborative environment.
• Use feedback for continuous evolution. Regularly incorporate customer and employee feedback to improve the business model and offerings, ensuring the business remains relevant and responsive to community needs.
• Champion community and employee well-being. Implement workplace practices that promote safety and support, demonstrating that a commitment to social responsibility enhances business success.

Listen to the episode below to hear directly from Wade, and subscribe to After the Review for more from new business owners and reviewers every Thursday. Available at Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pandora AND Soundcloud.

Editorial contributions by Charlotte Che and Kristi Lindahl