Today we’d like to introduce you to Karen Firsel.
Karen, can you briefly walk us through your story –how you started and how you got to where you are today.
The Jar Bar concept originated in my kitchen on my 40th birthday. I hosted a party for my friends and I made dinner for everyone. As a lifestyle expert and food enthusiast, I have always experimented with trends and making nutritious foods fun and delicious. For my party, I decided I would make various salads in mason jars. My friends loved what they ate and quickly asked if I could make more for them. I saw an opening in the healthy fast-casual space – especially in the suburbs. I realized that I could fill it with a concept that draws in families, women, kids, anyone who is looking for clean and delicious food with an urban vibe.
I spent 2 years researching my idea and working on the overall brand and concept. The development of the brand started with a tour across the country to observe the birth of food trends on both the East and West coasts. The research confirmed my initial philosophies; eating habits are changing and customers are looking for food choices that taste amazing and will help them look and feel their best.
After my research phase, my partner and I (my husband, Adam) engaged restaurant experts and design firms to bring our concept to life. We opened our flagship store in May 2017 and have received both local and national media coverage and accolades, Our Jar Bar loyal customers have embraced our food and our signature style and continue to drive who we are and how we thrive.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The road to restaurant ownership is rocky and to be honest… it’s a constant push of highs and lows. The stress is never-ending. We constantly struggle with driving more and more people to visit us daily. We don’t want to be a once-in-awhile concept. We need locals to want to eat with us multiple times a week.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Jar Bar story. Tell us more about the business.
Jar Bar offers the community delicious and healthy meal options for breakfast and lunch–with 3 of our signature items in BPA-free, recyclable jars–our overnight oats, our salads, and our now famous cakes.
Guests are greeted with an energetic, industrial chic design and are encouraged to eat in-house, meet friends, and utilize our space to socialize and share their eating experiences. We are a concept that offers beautiful menu choices and we know our food is rich with content for social media; we are a brand that loves the sharing of pictures and good Jar Bar vibes.
For breakfast, diners can grab overnight oats and a cold brew coffee on-tap. Or, they can enjoy an acai bowl or a savory egg bowl. For lunch, patrons may choose from several innovative salad options in a jar to-go, heartier options from the sandwich bar and healthy fun bento boxes for the kids.
The Jar Bar menu features something for everybody. With several vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free options, guests have the opportunity to change the way they think about healthy meal choices. Moreover, our Jar Bar patrons have the ability to order forward-thinking food options in the suburbs (and not have to drive to the city to find it.)
A sampling of our menu is verification of how different and we are. For breakfast, patrons may choose a refreshing option from “The Acai Bar” including the Jar Bar Classic with acai, bananas, strawberry and blueberry compote ($10) or the Kids Were Up At 6 with acai, nitro coffee, bananas, toasted coconut and Jar Bar gluten-free granola ($10). “The Oatmeal Bar” features creative combinations like the Cake for Breakfast with oatmeal, almond ricotta, coconut sugar crunch and Jar Bar gluten-free granola ($6). Guests on-the-go may grab an option from “The Overnight Oats” menu such as the Blueberries for Sal with overnight oats, blueberry compote, toasted almonds, coconut and almond milk ($7).
For those craving, something savory, “The Egg Bar” offers delicious options such as the New Egg Salad with poached egg, tomato pesto, avocado and potato mash ($7) or the Wake-Up Call with poached egg, tomatillo sauce, corn salsa and potato mash ($7). Jar Bar’s lunch menu includes delicious salad and sandwich combinations, poke bowls, Rice Bowls, loaded baked potatoes, and options for the kids. All salads from “The Salad Bar” are gluten and dairy-free and served in the restaurant’s signature 24-ounce jar. Salad selections include The Un-Caesar with romaine, kale mix, grape tomatoes, sunflower seeds and cashew-based “un-Caesar” dressing ($10) and the Lights Out with black rice, purple cabbage, cranberries, maple sweet potatoes, edamame and coconut-amino vinaigrette ($10).
Roasted chicken, turkey or steak may be added to any salad for just $5, or seared ahi tuna for $7. Options from “The Sandwich Bar” are served on Jar Bar’s signature ciabatta and include Thanksgiving Dinner with roasted turkey, cranberry aioli and field greens ($10). Providing families with healthy meal options is part of the Jar Bar mission. “The Lil’ Jars” are all served in a bento box and include Hummus is Yummus with whole wheat crisps, roasted chicken, sweet potato, hummus and crackers ($5) and the
Breakfast Served All Day with Jar Bar granola, fresh fruits and vanilla maple yogurt ($5). Nitro and cold brew coffees and matcha green iced tea are available on tap, along with hot coffee from Chicago’s Limitless Coffee.
Jar Bar also is proud of our signature Cake Jars–and we are known for our Rainbow Cake Jar with vanilla frosting and Chocolate Obsession Cake Jar with dark chocolate cake and chocolate ganache–among other seasonal flavors.
Our Cake Jars have been featured in USA Today and on the Food Network. Jar Bar expanded their Cake Jar line and now offers Cake Jars at various grocery store chains, restaurants, and even hotel chains. Our Cake Jar program also serves local events–weddings, corporate events, mitzvahs–with our customization options. Cake Jar lids can include brand logos, art, clever and witty messages, even personal pictures. Cake Jars are trending as a “value-add” product– customers often share their cake jar moment with friend and family and over social media. In early 2018, we will launch Cake Jar Nation– an e-commerce site for national shipping options for our signature Cake Jars.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
We are fortunate and lucky for our customers and some of the elements that have fallen into place for us—our amazing and talented kitchen and front of house team, our location in Northbrook—to name a couple. But we pride ourselves on non-stop hard work… and I know positive things happen from good ole’ hard work and a focused vision of success.
Pricing:
- Signature Salads are $10 / $14 with protein
- Our Egg Bowls are $6
- Cake Jars are $5.50
- Acai Bowls are $8
- Oatmeal is $5
Contact Info:
- Address: 1350 Shermer Road
Northbrook IL 60062 - Website: www.jarbar.com
- Phone: 847.715.9367
- Email: Karen@JarBar.com
Image Credit:
Jason Little, George Burns
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
