Today we’d like to introduce you to Dean Rice.
Hi Dean, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
After college at Penn State, I spent a decade working in corporate America as a manager for Aramark, Citi Bike and Amazon. My parents own a small strip mall in Ocean Township. In 2019, one of the tenants decided to leave, so my mom, Myong, an immigrant from Korea, decided to open a food hall. She asked if I would leave Amazon to work with her on this business. I agreed, not without some angst, and we began to build International Bites. During the early stages, the Covid19 pandemic broke out. Despite this challenge, we forged ahead and opened in 2021. International Bites brings together multiple independently owned restaurants under one roof, each an expert in their cuisine. Each restaurant operates at a separate station in the kitchen; guests can order dishes from one, a few, or all of the restaurants on a single ticket.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has been anything but a smooth road. As mentioned, the first challenge was Covid. We weren’t sure how long the pandemic was going to last and how the business environment was going to look afterwards. We had to build-out hoods and hvac systems, gas and electrical lines, plumbing, and remodel the entire space. We learned how to GC and project manage a construction site as we went. Zoning and licensing were also a challenge. I spent months, while still working at Amazon, looking for a POS system that could accommodate our concept. The largest challenge was finding quality restaurant partners who were willing to jump into our novel concept.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
International Bites is a new type of food hall. We bring together multiple independently owned restaurants under one roof, each an expert in their cuisine. Each chef operates at a separate station within the kitchen; guests can order dishes from one, a few, or all of the restaurants on a single ticket. While a food hall concept is not new, we are the first that we are aware of, in which there is a single POS for all of the restaurants. People order from us on-line, over the phone, and in person. Food can be to go, or for dine-in. Currently, our restaurants are Dimsum World, 92 Chicken (Korean), Crazy Taco, Sweet Time, House of Poke, A Taste of the Islands (Caribbean), Tandoor Indian, Halal Place, Vegan16, and Samz Smash Burger.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
That’s hard to quantify. In life and business, any choice is half chance. We’ve had challenges and obstacles blindside us that we could not have possibly foreseen. Things that went wrong that weren’t even on our radar. I’m sure we’ve had our share of good luck too, but it’s harder to notice when that happens.
Pricing:
- According to Google, our prices are mid range for fast casual dining.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://internationalbitesocean.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/internationalbites_ocean/
- Other: https://internationalbites.hrpos.heartland.us/menu
