Canlis successfully launched a drive-through, a bagel shed, and a dinner delivery service to adapt to the current situation.
The Canlis team's willingness to take risks and embrace new ideas demonstrates their dedication to their values and the importance of inspiring and supporting others during challenging times.
Deep dives
Transitioning to Adapting
The podcast episode discusses how the restaurant Canlis has adapted to the COVID-19 crisis by pausing their normal fine dining operations and launching three new concepts: a drive-through, a bagel shed, and a dinner delivery service. The decision to change their business model was made early on as the team recognized the need to take action in the face of the rapidly changing circumstances. The focus was on keeping their staff employed and finding innovative ways to serve the community. The Canlis team's willingness to take risks and embrace new ideas demonstrates their dedication to their values and the importance of inspiring and supporting others during challenging times.
Exploring New Concepts
Canlis successfully launched a drive-through, a bagel shed, and a dinner delivery service to adapt to the current situation. The drive-through concept takes advantage of the restaurant's location and provides a contactless dining experience. The bagel shed offers high-quality bagel sandwiches, leveraging the skills of their staff and the available equipment. For dinner, they provide a family meal that can be ordered online and delivered to customers. By embracing simplicity and focusing on what they can offer, Canlis is able to pivot their operations and generate revenue while keeping their employees engaged and employed.
Innovation and Adaptability
Canlis is known for their innovative approach and willingness to try new things. This is not the first time they have ventured outside the realm of traditional fine dining, as they have previously hosted events and pop-ups that defy expectations. Their ability to adapt and think outside the box allows them to evolve and stay relevant in the industry. By constantly seeking ways to improve and challenge themselves, Canlis fosters a culture of creativity and resilience that ultimately contributes to their success, even in the face of unforeseen challenges.
Inspiring Resilience and Unity
Canlis' response to the COVID-19 crisis serves as an inspiration to both the restaurant industry and the broader community. By taking decisive action and involving their entire team in the decision-making process, they were able to rally their staff and create a sense of purpose during uncertain times. Their focus on gratitude, optimism, and unity reminds us of the strength and resilience that can be found in coming together as a community. Canlis' willingness to adapt and make a difference underscores the importance of collective efforts in overcoming challenges and finding new possibilities.
The world has changed. Acquired is changing too: we’re taking a pause from our normal episodes. The world doesn’t need stories of M&A and IPOs right now. But it does still need stories of great companies and great leaders. So we’re taking everything that we’ve put into Acquired - our format, our infrastructure, and the way we can reach all of you - and launching Adapting. Adapting is a series all about doing just that -- changing to fit what the world needs right now, not what it needed last week.
Our first episode starts on the front lines of change: the local restaurant industry. Mark Canlis joins us to discuss how the world-renowned Canlis restaurant in Seattle is adapting by simultaneously closing their 70 year old dining room service, and launching three brand new, no-contact concept restaurants in just one week to keep their staff employed and the city fed:
"Pretty quickly we realized that it would be just as risky to do nothing as it would to do something really radical. And if we were gonna live into our values, every once and awhile that’s really going to cost you something."
This conversation is an incredible inspiration to us all, and a reminder of the vast power of the human spirit during challenging times.