SMB Customer Spotlight: A Legacy of Flavor and Community

New Orleans is poised to make history this February by hosting Super Bowl LIX, solidifying its status as the city with the most Super Bowl appearances. With the NFL season in full swing, we wanted to capture the vibrant spirit of New Orleans leading up to this monumental event.

Louisiana businesses are gearing up for Super Bowl LIX by adopting innovative marketing strategies and optimizing their operations. According to Verizon Business’ Fifth Annual State of Small Business Survey - Louisiana Results, a significant number of Louisiana small and midsize businesses (SMBs) report leveraging digital tools to enhance coordination and prepare their operations (64%). Additionally, many are hiring seasonal staff (59%) and increasing their advertising efforts (59%)--all in anticipation of the big game.

In partnership with three NFL star cornerbacks, Verizon Business is spotlighting local corner stores in New Orleans, New York, and Los Angeles. In the inaugural episode of the Verizon Business Corner Store series, New Orleans Saints player Kool-Aid McKinstry visited Dooky Chase’s Restaurant, one of the city’s most iconic establishments.

Founded in 1941, Dooky Chase’s Restaurant started as a neighborhood lunch spot and has since evolved into a beloved family dining destination. The restaurant played a pivotal role in the civil rights movement, hosting strategy sessions for leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Thurgood Marshall. Famous for its Creole cuisine and its cultural significance, the restaurant has been a cornerstone of the community for generations.

We had the pleasure of speaking with Tracie Haydel Griffin about her family’s legacy and how Verizon Business technology plays a vital role in helping to keep their operations running smoothly and ensuring timely food service.

Q: Can you tell us a bit about Dooky Chase’s Restaurant?

Tracie: Dooky Chase has been a cherished part of the Treme neighborhood in New Orleans since 1941, and we've been blessed to serve our community for generations. I'm proud to be part of the fourth generation carrying on this legacy.

In our main dining room, we have the joy of welcoming guests from across the country and around the world. My grandmother, Mrs. Chase, always believed she helped change the course of America, one bowl of gumbo at a time, right here in that very room.

Q: What does your day look like?

Tracie: In my day-to-day role, I oversee operations, manage the front of the house, and ensure an exceptional guest experience while coordinating the overall team. A crucial part of our success is our communication system. If something’s not working, the first thing I do is check our signal strength to ensure everything is running smoothly. My favorite part of the day is preparing the team to greet our guests and provide a fresh, clean service. We strive to deliver the experience that my great-grandparents worked so hard to create.

Q: How many people do you serve daily?

Tracie: We serve anywhere from 400 to 600 guests a day, not including takeout orders. Handling 600 people on a weekend requires a strong, well-coordinated team. Just like the New Orleans Saints, we have a playbook, but success depends on the strength of our team. Verizon Business helps ensure our communication runs efficiently and seamlessly, which is essential to our operations. The guest experience begins the moment they walk in and extends all the way to the kitchen. A single misstep in communication can disrupt that experience, so we make sure our team is strong and set up for success every day.

Q: To help serve customers, you have upgraded some of your tech. How does that help support your operations?

Tracie: We recently upgraded the technology in our business to help serve our customers better. Communication is key, and Verizon 5G Business Internet powers our restaurant’s backend operations systems, ensuring everything flows seamlessly from order placement to kitchen execution. This upgrade has significantly improved our order accuracy and speed, reducing wait times for our customers and allows us to focus more on delivering exceptional service and less on technical hiccups.

Q: How does Verizon Business and technology help your restaurant?

Tracie: We’ve been embracing technology for quite some time, continually innovating to stay current. Each year brings advancements. My grandfather was passionate about technology; he was self-taught with computers and recognized how vital technology is in enhancing customer experiences and improving efficiency.

That’s why our strong partnership with Verizon Business is so crucial. It helps ensure we deliver effective and efficient customer service. Any lag in service can compromise the customer experience—if I'm delayed in placing an order, those guests have to wait longer for their food. We all know how frustrating it can be when something is forgotten or overlooked. Verizon Business helps us avoid these issues with smooth connectivity, which powers smooth communication and timely service. It’s a core part of our operations, empowering Dooky Chase’s restaurant to serve the community effectively and efficiently.

Q: Working at a well-known, historic spot in New Orleans, what does that mean to you?

Tracie: It’s been a challenging yet rewarding experience as a fourth-generation member of the Dooky Chase family team. Working alongside family is a true blessing, filled with love and pride. I have the unique opportunity to contribute to a business founded by my great-grandparents. Witnessing my family pour their heart and soul into this establishment has been incredibly inspiring. We share a common mission, which makes everything feel more manageable. Our commitment to remaining flexible and open to new ideas ensures that the business continues to evolve and thrive.

For more information on the Verizon Business Corner Store segments: verizon.com/cornerstore