Today we’d like to introduce you to Candi and Chip Wendt.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Candi and Chip. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
FoodHeads started in a small commercial kitchen off of West 5th street in Austin in 1992. It was actually called the Herb Garden catering in the beginnings. Quickly we transitioned to the name FoodHeads after we received an onslaught of questions about herbs and herb gardening, we didn’t have the answers for. So be careful what you name your business. We were also very green in business; we were in our late 20’s and were not entrepreneurs. I had previously managed a doctor’s office and Chip, my husband and business partner, went to UT and studied architecture, but we had a passion for food, but had no business background.
FoodHeads was a wholesale sandwich manufacturer and caterer at the beginning. The commercial kitchen we rented was a house divided up into three separate kitchens. We shared space with another caterer, and a wholesale flan maker. We made packaged sandwiches that we sold to different small markets on the UT campus, Whole Foods Market and various coffee shops in the Austin area. We additionally sold to Central Market when they first opened. It is hard to believe, but the grab and go market was not what it is today. Grocery stores didn’t make their own grab and go foods like they do today. We continued on this path until 1999. We always had the desire to open a cafe, but didn’t exactly have the knowledge on how to proceed.
In 2000, we found the little bungalow on west 34th, which is the current home of FoodHeads. It was not a commercial kitchen space; in fact, it was a gaming store called Dragon’s lair. The project was quite an undertaking and Chip’s design and construction came into play big time. He designed and actually did most of the finish out with the help of professional plumbers and electricians. Our project took a lot longer than we ever imagined, but finally we were able to move in. We continued our wholesale business for another couple of years while trying to get the cafe off the ground. Those were very very lean years to say the least, and our lack of restaurant experience and business knowledge almost brought an end to FoodHeads, a faithful God, wise counsel from professionals we trusted and with support from loyal friends, family and customers we made it through that time. Thank you everyone!
Catering continued to be a big part of our business. Our past connection with UT and background in catering was a big help in building our business and staying afloat. Our catering business is in fact 50% of our business. Recent times has brought catering to a halt, but we know that is most likely temporary. This time has brought forth more time for product development, marketing outside the box and growing our cafe online business. What we really miss though is spending time with our FH community. Our customers are awesome and have been an amazing support to our business, but we miss seeing them as well as the daily conversations and laughter that fill the cafe. They are coming back, but we look forward to a time soon when the cafe is bustling and the laughter is hearty!
So, let’s switch gears a bit and go into the FoodHeads story. Tell us more about the business.
FoodHeads is a fancy sandwich shop located in a beautiful bungalow in North Central Austin located close to the University of Texas and Seton hospital. We have an intimate indoor space for eating, but our large porch and patio for outdoor area are the main attraction at FH. The patio and porch are where community happens! In addition to sandwiches we serve an awesome breakfast, salads, tacos and daily made soups, but our first love is sandwiches. Sandwiches are great because they are a full meal in between two pieces of bread that is a complete food experience. Holding a messy wonderful sandwich and delightfully devouring it can make lasting food memories.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
We hope to open up at least another shop in the next year or two. We are trying to make the business duplicatable. We are not looking to create a chain, but maybe at least another little cafe where great food and community happen.
Contact Info:
- Address: 616 West 34th Street
Austin Texas 78705 - Website: https://foodheads.com
- Phone: 512-461-8259
- Email: eat@foodheads.com
- Instagram: foodheads
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FoodHeads
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/foodheads-austin-2
- Other: table22.com/foodheads
Image Credit:
Amy. Mikler photos
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