How many people can say they work in peace and harmony with their spouse day in and day out? In the restaurant business, where stress and "Type A" personalities reign supreme, husband and wife teams are rare. But Camille's Sidewalk Café, a coastal-influenced fast casual that serves healthy and nutritious fare, has beaten the odds.
Camille's was founded by Camille and David Rutkauskas.
"This is the sweetest, coolest couple you'll have the honor to meet," said Steve Green, Camille's chief operating officer.
Camille was once an employee at a sandwich shop David owned. The two fell in love and went on to open sportswear stores at a Tulsa, Okla., mall. Disgusted by the food court's greasy food, the two decided to open a little sandwich kiosk under the escalators.
The couple envisioned a space away from the noisy food court. They would serve fresh salads and sandwiches and provide a little oasis for tired shoppers. And so, Camille's Sidewalk Café was born in 1996 under the escalators at Woodland Hills Mall. Serving fresh panini and salads, the 250-square-foot space generated $400,000 in sales the first year. That's when the courageous couple realized they were doing something right.
"Camille knows what women want," Green said. The company specifically targets the soccer mom crowd. The female audience appreciates the entrée presentation, the soft lighting and music, the décor and of course, fresh flowers on every table.
"We've taken the fine-dining concept and infused it into the fast-casual concept," Green said. At Camille's, groups sit around tables for hours, sipping smoothies, enjoying salads and talking.
"It reminds me of a Sex in the City episode," Green said. "People like to linger at Camille's, that's how nice it is."
And the best thing about it is customers get that comfortable fine-dining feel without a server looming over them.
Not just a bag
Camille's offers to-go orders. "And don't think you're just getting a brown paper bag with your sandwich stuffed inside of it," Green said.
At Camille's, presentation is a huge aspect of the to-go concept. The food handlers make sure everything looks like a beautiful gift. With a five-minute or under ticket time, customers get served very quickly and are delighted by the presentation. The food is fresh and assembled right before the customer. Camille's adorns its dishes with Californian and Southwestern flair, and all the current health novelties are addressed from low-carb to low-fat to whole foods.
From the family to the world
The Apple-Walnut Tuna Salad is David's mother's recipe. And the signature Creamy Tuscan Tomato Soup is fresh tasting and wholesome.
Camille's franchise system is on the fast track. Ranked 4th under the sandwich category in Entrepreneur Magazine's 27th Annual Franchise 500 List, Camille's goal is to have 200 operating cafes by the end of next year. They currently operate 86 stores coast to coast.
"What makes us so attractive to franchisees is our streamlined operating model. Since we don't employ or need cooks because we don't use grills or fryers, our labor costs are much lower than many other fast casuals," says Green. Instead of grills, they use commercial panini grills that are easily operated by staff at the counter. Franchise owners don't feel like they're killing themselves to make a buck because running a Camille's Sidewalk Café is pretty simple and straightforward.
"Our concept is special because even if you're retired, you can run one of these places," Green said.
In 2003, Camille's moved outside the malls and began taking on larger spaces. Taking on fast casual leaders like Panera Bread and La Madeleine, David Rutkauskas, who is Camille's president and CEO, has a strategy to segment Camille's outside of the crowded fast-casual landscape. "We're going for a lean and mean model," he said.
