My successes. 

Within three months of opening, Elwood had won a "Best of Philly" award, received several stellar reviews, and was selected as one of 2019's top 25 restaurants in Philadelphia.

What do you do? 

Elwood Restaurant is a BYOB Restaurant in Philadelphia’s Fishtown neighborhood that explores Pennsylvania's culinary foodways through its history, cultures, and farmland. 

What inspired you to start your business? 

I had been cooking for over 22 years and planning to open a restaurant of my own for the last 15 years.

What's special about your business? 

My lifelong passion for culinary history and technical expertise are being used to showcase a menu of rich Mid-Atlantic foodways.  Relationships with many local farmers and purveyors assure the quality and variety of local ingredients.  I utilize whole animal butchery - everything is used.

What influenced you to seek help from SCORE? 

I needed to learn more about zoning and coming up with a basic business plan. I needed to create a business plan with financials that gave my family and investors the confidence that I knew what I was doing and that I could turn a profit.

How SCORE helped. 

My SCORE mentor, Carol Heiberger, asked me hard questions, provided feedback based on her business knowledge and experience, and offered moral support. She helped by being a sounding board - allowing me to think and ask questions without having to face judgment or scrutiny.

What advice would you give to someone thinking of starting a small business? 

Know your numbers.

Elwood Restaurant