003: Seattleites You Should Know - Cierra & Chaz of Conscious Eatery

003: Welcome back! Thank you to everyone who responded to the email last week. I had 25 responses to the giveaway (which is like 20% of my readers) and the winners are announced at the bottom. On a whim, I scheduled the first newsletter to send out at 11:11am. I have a special connection and story with that time (maybe I’ll share that later), so I figured it would be a fun time to ping your inbox each week. So from now on, I’m officially sending the newsletter on Fridays at 11:11am, “make a wish!"

I have one more ask, if you’re enjoying reading, please text it to a friend, or two, heck why not three! Send them this link to sign up:

There’s a business in Seattle’s Georgetown neighborhood that is about to donate their 100,000th meal to local nonprofits. That number is huge! And they’ve accomplished that goal in only 4 years. Their business is called Conscious Eatery, and I when I was still in the brainstorming phase of the newsletter, I knew I wanted to feature them. This is the kind of business that doesn’t get enough love for the work they do. It’s incredibly challenging (in so many ways) to run a food business, and the fact that they have a sustainable business, while also donating that much food, is really something special. I hope you enjoy their story!

— Conner Cayson

Chaz and Cierra
^{Founders/Owners, Conscious Eatery}

Meet Cierra and Chaz, the wife and husband duo behind Seattle's Conscious Eatery. They started their mission-focused food business 8 years ago, and in 2020, they set a goal to donate 100,000 meals to those in need in our community. They are about to accomplish that goal. When you order from their catering business, or visit their counter service restaurant in Georgetown, by “Making it a Meal,” you get them one meal closer to that goal.

Donating 100K Meals by “Making it a Meal”

In 2020 (we all know what happened then), the duo set a goal that would live up to the mission they set for themselves. They wanted to donate 100,000 meals to those in need around Seattle. They were inspired by famous Buy One, Give One models like TOMS Shoes, or Rosa’s $1 Pizza slices.

It’s well known that the profit margins in the food and restaurant industry are very low. Finding space to make a living, and also giving back is a challenge. 

“My whole entire life as a server I've been preached the importance of the upsell,” Chaz says, “You'll add on a cup of soup, a half salad, or a side like potato salad or coleslaw. And the profit from those add ons gets diverted into our Making a Meal Program.” 

So Conscious Eatery decided to incentivize the upsell. By Making it a Meal, adding a cup of soup, or a side of coleslaw, they would donate that portion of profits to their non-profit partners. This creates more sustainability within their business model, knowing the bottomline is covered by the main entree and donations are covered by the add-ons. “We still produce a very high quality product, source locally and roast everything in house. But that's how we pay our bills.”

Where are meals donated?

The first organization they gave to was Mary’s Place, an organization that works to help women and families transition out of homelessness. Now, their primary partner is the White Center Food Bank. They have also partnered with other organizations like St. Vincent De Paul in Sodo, and other young adult shleters.

Their goal to support their community comes from a very deep and personal place. “Cierra and I both have had family and personally experienced homelessness, and especially experienced food insecurity… So we felt obligated to give back to basically the services that gave to us… it's a little bit of one extra step. But that's really all it is. So we want to be like a nice template for restaurants to know. I mean, we're on year seven, we're past the viability stage. We are a profitable business!”

How it started

Cierra and Chaz met 17 years ago when Chaz was tasked with training Cierra how to be a server. “It's been kind of like a symbiotic relationship where we ebb and flow inside of each other's life” Chaz says. Later Cierra hired Chaz as a bartender, and they continued to see each other and work together in Seattle restaurants. Then Chaz says, “We were both doing nonprofit work on the side. And we decided, why don't we team up and put our heads together with what we know. And that's food.”

In May 2016, they started Conscious Eatery as a catering business out of the Downtown Cookhouse commissary kitchen in South Seattle. In 2022 they were married. 

Road bumps and good luck

Only three months after they started their business, Amazon (*shakes fist in the air) bought the building that their commissary kitchen was in “So, all of the 20 local chefs had to either find a brick and mortar or just bounce. And at that point, commissary kitchens were rare.” 

As Cierra and Chaz got their 30-day notice to vacate the kitchen, their luck would change with a helpful tip from a friend. Only a few blocks away, a restaurant called “The Sandwich Shop” (which oddly sold teriyaki) was closing down. Chaz and Cierra were given an introduction to the owners of the building and quickly moved forward.

The serendipity of these events is why I enjoy learning these stories so much. If it had been a month later that Amazon bought the commissary kitchen building, kicking them out of their space, then they may not have found their current location in Georgetown.

Within 15 days of signing the lease, Conscious Eatery was open and serving customers. Shout out to the employees of all the nearby businesses and Post Office.

Inside Conscious Eatery:
5620 6th Ave S Building T, Seattle, WA 98108

Conscious Eatery doesn’t resemble the trendy eateries that you’ll see around town. It’s located in the corner of an office park building, next to the Post Office and a tile company. The interior layout of the shop has changed, especially since 2020 when they adopted a more casual mobile ordering system. But when you watch Cierra and Chaz behind the counter, working the line and prepping meals, you can see that this used to be a cafeteria style restaurant. I imagine at one point the line would form out the door, single file from where you order, down to the register.

Now when you walk in, you see a flat screen tv blocking your entrance, with instruction to scan the QR code, place your order and take a seat.

What Should I Order at Conscious Eatery on My First Visit?

I ask this to every business owner I meet . And here’s what Cierra and Chaz recommend. “Order the Half and Half, gives you a chance to try two lunch items. Get the Spicy Turkey Dip and the Harvest Salad”

Spicy Turkey Dip:

Jalapeno Turkey Sandwich with Pepper Jack Cheese, from-scratch roasted garlic aioli, and Chaz’s signature house-made jous.

Harvest Salad:

Spring salad with bleu cheese, housemaid croutons, garbanzo beans, red onions, Mama Lil’s peppers, roma tomatoes and house made balsamic vinegar dressings. And obviously, Make it a Meal 🙂 

Conscious Eatery is open Monday - Friday 10am - 3pm.
Check out their menu. 

Impacts on Seattle Communities

Cierra and Chaz shared personal stories of experiencing homelessness and food insecurity, reinforcing their dedication to giving back to the services that once supported them. The team's resilience and commitment to community welfare shine through their endeavors.

Conscious Eatery's impact extends beyond the dining tables. They partner with organizations such as White Center Food Bank, St. Vincent DePaul, Mary's Place, Young Adults Shelter, and more. The "Making a Meal" program allows customers to contribute by simply adding on to their orders.

In the next month or two, they expect to hit their 100K meal donation goal. And they don’t plan to stop after that. 

Conscious Eatery isn't just a sandwich shop; it's a beacon of community support and social responsibility. Cierra and Chaz's story reminds me that businesses can thrive while giving back, setting a powerful example for all of us.

Giveaway Winners!

Congratulations to these 5 people on winning last week’s Molly Moon’s gift card drawing.
Gabriel E
Sophie Z
Jasmine O
Kristina S
Ashley B