James Wolfe and Lena Laskaris began their entrepreneurial journey in 2017 when they moved to Pittsburgh from Washington, DC, to establish Wise County Biscuits. Drawing on their years of experience cooking in and operating restaurants, James and Lena were motivated to create their own business inspired by the Appalachian cooking of James’s grandmother, Sallie.
Lena connected with Meghan Hillegas, a consultant at the University of Pittsburgh Small Business Development Center, to discuss their vision of producing and selling homemade biscuits at pop-ups and farmers’ markets across Pittsburgh. Their ultimate objective was to pave the way for opening a breakfast and lunch café.
Utilizing the consulting services of the Pitt SBDC, Lena learned how to register the business in Pennsylvania, develop a business plan, and understand the necessary permits for a mobile food business. Meghan and Lena also discussed accessing a commercial kitchen and achieving financial feasibility during their proof-of-concept at local farmers’ markets.
Lena and James regularly stayed in touch with Meghan to discuss their progress, opportunities, and any challenges that came up as they worked to build their business and brand.
In 2022, after seeing tremendous success and consistent growth as a pop-up food vendor, Lena and James decided they were ready to take the next steps to open their brick-and-mortar restaurant.
Meghan assisted Lena and James in reviewing their updated business plan and developing three-year financial projections to be submitted with their U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) loan application. They were successfully approved for a loan in 2022, and they opened the doors to Wise County Café in the fall of 2023.
Wise Country Café has seen great success and immense support from their community, with regular lines of customers out the door and around the block. Lena and James continue to work with their consultant Meghan at the Pitt SBDC. Together, they evaluate business operations, set revenue goals, and strategize for the expansion of their wholesale production. The Pitt SBDC takes pride in its ongoing support of Wise County Biscuits and anticipates continued growth and success!