Today we’d like to introduce you to Adrienne Donnel. They and their team shared their story with us below:
We opened Arroy – Thai & Filipino Restaurant on July 1st, 2022. Annie was a current employee of Sawatdee, the restaurant that was previously in the 800 building, and Adrienne previously worked there before her time managing the Red Carpet Nightclub. When we saw the building was for sale, we instantly knew we wanted to purchase the building to keep not only a delicious cultural restaurant alive but to also showcase a wider variety of Asian cuisine.
Together, we we’re at a point in our lives where we wondered, what’s next? Adrienne was at her previous job for nearly 10 years and gained a wide variety of experience as a manager – managing a large staff in one of the largest bars in the midwest, creating and developing community monthly events, and achieving many craft cocktail competition awards where she discovered her love for flavor. For the two of us, the next step was to open something of our own and we were lucky enough to have the opportunity right in front of us.
To say that our journey with opening Arroy was easy would be an absolute lie, but have we enjoyed every moment? Most definitely! We are consistently growing, evolving, and learning as we work side by side with some of the most amazing and talented chefs and servers. No day is a dull day, and we’re truly so appreciative of the amount of support we’ve gotten through our community.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I can’t imagine opening any small business would be a smooth road. We thought we were prepared, but nothing can prepare you for a full space remodel, let alone a grand opening. Having surrounding businesses reach out to help with any type of advice was something we didn’t know we needed, but helped so much with the rollercoaster ups and downs of starting a business.
When we originally took over, the workplace culture wasn’t quite what we expected, so breaking old habits from staff that was there for 20+ years was very difficult but necessary.
Our goal overall was to create a space where we could openly share ideas and be proud of what we serve, always be improving and topping previous dishes and cocktails, and being a women queer-owned business it was very important for us to have a safe space where our staff and customers can truly be themselves no matter race, gender, sexuality, etc., and even though there’s always more work to do, we feel as though we’ve achieved that.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Arroy?
We are the only Thai and Filipino restaurant in Central MN, and we’re honored to be able to share hand-crafted, made-to-order, family recipes. Thai and Filipino dishes can be made in a variety of ways and we’re lucky to have a kitchen staff that has been trained overseas or through their family’s heritage.
Many of the Filipino dishes specifically come from co-owner Adrienne’s family. “To not only learn from exceptional chefs that I work and cook next to but to also teach them a different style of Asian cooking has kept all of us on our toes which is very refreshing. Asian cooking isn’t just about putting ingredients in a wok and stirring it, it’s measuring by taste, smell, and color. There’s so much love and effort that goes into every plate.”
Both being in the service industry for 10+ years, our greatest accomplishment isn’t just having something that we can call our own, but being able to share it with a staff that works so hard right by our sides. We know what it’s like to have to live paycheck to paycheck and to be able to give the opportunity to others, pay a livable wage, and treat them with just as much respect as anyone should be treated in the industry is Honestly the most we wanted out of opening Arroy.
What’s most exciting is being able to serve our culture on a plate. In Filipino culture you show love through food, so being able to witness a little Filipina being able to try her first Halo-Halo or seeing a newly immigrated family from the Philippines or Thailand and watch them feel comfortable knowing they’re in a safe space of no judgment, it’s memories and feelings you can’t create anywhere else.
Coming to Arroy isn’t just a night out, it’s an experience taking your taste buds on a journey!
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Determination and staying humble. Nothing leaves more of a sour taste than a large ego. It doesn’t matter how successful you are or how high you get on the ladder, all of it can be snatched away from you in a second. Always remember the people who have helped get you to where you are and put in so much energy to help you reach your goal. Without support, there is no success.
Stay determined and never settle. I always say that the second I get comfortable there’s a possibility the next new thing can snatch your top rank. Be creative, consistently think out of the box, and stay relevant. People like change and new things, and you have to be able to keep up to last.
Contact Info:
- Website: arroymn.com
- Instagram: @arroy.mn
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/arroy.mn
Image Credits
Adrienne Donnel & Annie Meyer
