Testimonials

Our Clients Know

"Harris visited a local family restaurant on behalf of The Merchants Fund as a consultant. He knew the restaurant well over its many productive years. He helped the family create a succession plan so that the parents could retire and the son could step up to the plate. Part family therapist and part restaurant consultant he understood the delicate balance when dealing with family and business. Retaining and restoring a restaurant on one of the commercial corridors in Philadelphia is always a priority for TMF and Harris understood our commitment."

~ Patricia Blakely
The Merchants Fund
1616 Walnut Street, Ste 802
Philadelphia, PA 19103
http://www.merchantsfund.org/

"Despite glowing reviews, a full house, and an experienced staff, we were failing. If we had not hired Harris Eckstut when we did I am sure we would have had to close our doors permanently. Harris took us by the hand and taught us al the things about the restaurant business that we didn't even know we didn't know! Because of him, we are still in business and now thriving instead of floundering. He will be a trusted advisor for years to come."

~ Connie Correia Fisher
The Pop Shop
729 Haddon Avenue
Collingswood, NJ 08108
856-869-0111
www.thepopshopusa.com
"Your neighborhood soda fountain and more!"

"Just a note to thank you for the workshop on Restaurant Management.  The
information you gave us was very useful, and now we have a more realistic
perspective about the business.  Your handouts were very helpful, too.  It
was a pleasure to meet you, and we hope that we'll be in touch in the near
future. Thanks again for everything. "

~Christopher and Francisco
Former students

"Building a successful 100+ seat Restaurant from the ground up in a City like Providence is a daunting task. The amount of establishments opening (and closing) here is staggering. With a hospitality/culinary giant like Johnson and Wales, an Ivy League College (Brown), one of the foremost art schools in the nation(RISD) and two state colleges in our small city no wonder Providence is a testing ground for so many things and so many new Venues."

"Harris took the time to get to know Providence and he came to understand me and my history then helped me to clarify my concept, choose my marketing strategies and build a concise business plan. He aided me in acquiring financing (in an extremely difficult money market). As a consultant he was my liaison with the developers (SBER), gave me sound advice about lending and introduced me to specialists he had dealt with in the past. He shared all his knowledge and experience to make my plan as palatable to financial institutions as my victuals are to my customers. He was a great sounding board for my ideas and always gave constructive criticism where needed".

"The Restaurant business is different from most because of the hours we keep and the nature of the work we do but the satisfaction of building a place where people feel welcome and comfortable enough to want to keep coming back a bringing their friend is what it is all about. Harris helped me to achieve these things and kept me sane. The added bonus is I found a Mentor and a friend I don’t know if I could have done it without him but he certainly made it easier and alot more fun. I will be forever in his debt. "

~ L.J Reynolds
Proprietor EVERYMAN RI