The owner, Fang Chen, began operating the business in 2017. During the pandemic, Mr. Chen said that the seafood restaurant and market did face challenges, but everything is back to business as usual these days. Business seems to be going very well for Tidewater Seafood Shack post-pandemic.

Tidewater Seafood Shack is best known for its fresh seafood including crab, shrimp, lobster, fish, and more! Mr. Chen’s personal favorite is the local crab, but customers seem to enjoy all the fresh seafood the local store has to offer. Tidewater Seafood Shack sells not only cold seafood grocery items, but also hot prepared meals.

Becoming a SNAP Retailer

Mr. Chen realized there was a need for SNAP retailers in his community and said, “our community has a lot of families that rely on EBT, and I wanted to be able to help.” Since he started accepting EBT more than four years ago, he has noticed more customers coming into his store.

When asked how accepting EBT has impacted his business, Mr. Chen said “accepting EBT has increased traffic flow and added a new revenue stream for my business. There truly is a lot of return business that can come from accepting EBT.”

Tidewater Seafood Shack has trusted goEBT for reliable EBT processing for SNAP benefits since October 2018! Mr. Chen said that “goEBT has helped a lot with business, this location has a lot of EBT customers and getting started with goEBT helped me grow the business.” One of his favorite things about using goEBT for EBT processing is the excellent live customer service and fast support!

Since Tidewater Seafood Shack sells hot/prepared meals as well, Mr. Chen is hoping to get started with the Restaurant Meals Program as soon as it becomes available in Virginia so that he can sell his fresh, prepared meals to all his customers, including his SNAP customers.

Tidewater Seafood Shack is not on any social media platforms yet, but you can check out their website at https://tidewaterseafoodshack.com/ or go visit them in person at 7483 Tidewater Drive Norfolk, VA 23505.

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goEBT EBT processing merchant Hawkins House of Burgers, home to “The Best Burger in Los Angeles,” has been a staple in the Watts neighborhood of southeast Los Angeles for more than 80 years. Cynthia Hawkins, the youngest of 14 children, is the third generation of her family to manage this business, which has adapted over the years to fit the needs of the community.

The Hawkins family moved from Arkansas to the Watts neighborhood in Los Angeles, California in the mid-1930s. Originally a malt shop built by Cynthia’s grandfather in 1939, the family business was eventually converted to a small grocery store before finally opening its doors as Hawkins House of Burgers.

The Hawkins family has lived in the Watts community for a long time – long enough to experience the effects of the Watts Uprising of 1965 and the Los Angeles Riots of 1992.

During both events, many businesses in the Watts community were burned down. The Hawkins storefront, however, was left standing. Cynthia believes that their family business survived partly because of the Hawkins family’s commitment to their community.

This commitment to the Watts neighborhood and emphasis on high-quality food has helped Hawkins House of Burgers make a name for itself in the City of Angels. It is no surprise that the restaurant has also attracted its fair share of celebrities, including professional athletes, late rapper and Los Angeles native Nipsey Hussle, and former First Lady and Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

Giving Back to the Watts Community

Hawkins House of Burgers is not only committed to making a great burger but also to helping their community in any way they can. In addition to employing community members, the restaurant also donates any leftover fresh food to homeless people in the community.

“Our bottom line is and shall always be the community. Our number one priority has always been assisting our community in times of need, whether they have the funds or not,” said Cynthia Hawkins.

Hawkins House of Burgers also plays an important role in how community members receive access to nutritious foods. In the Watts neighborhood, not many quick-serve restaurants serve food with fresh ingredients, and there are no big grocery stores. Hawkins House of Burgers enables the surrounding community to purchase hot, fresh meals at affordable prices, which helps improve access to nutritious foods in the area.

Processing EBT Payments with goEBT

Using their goEBT COUNTERTOP smart payment terminal, Hawkins House of Burgers accepts EBT payments through the California Restaurant Meals Program. This program allows eligible homeless, disabled and/or elderly EBT recipients to use their CalFresh SNAP benefits to purchase hot, prepared food from participating restaurants.

At least 20% of the restaurant’s sales are generated from EBT customers, which has helped sustain Hawkins House of Burgers during the COVID-19 pandemic: “Our business is located in a poverty-stricken community that relies heavily on EBT and the California Restaurant Meals Program. EBT has been an essential part of our business, and we are so honored to provide fresh, nutritious meals to the members of our community via goEBT’s reliable EBT processing.”

Since 2014, goEBT has provided EBT processing for Hawkins House of Burgers, which has allowed the quick-serve restaurant to reliably provide a needed service for their community: “When it comes to EBT processing, goEBT is second to NONE! The support team members at goEBT always respond quickly and effectively, which allows us to focus our attention on our customers’ needs,” praised Cynthia Hawkins.

“EBT has been an essential part of our business, and we are so honored to provide fresh, nutritious meal to the members of our community that depend on EBT.”

goEBT EBT processing merchant Sr. Cliff’s Texas Style Burritos, home of the original Soul Man burrito, has been providing Afro-Mexican fusion food to the Compton community since 1992. However, the story of this community staple actually began in 1969, when founder and co-owner Cliff Williams arrived in California.

Originally from Texas, Cliff started his 50-year tenure in the food industry with Weber’s Bread Company and Oroweat Bread Company in Los Angeles. In 1972, Cliff decided to open a record shop in Compton called Soul ‘N Deed Records.

In 1975, Cliff opened The Little Store, a mom-and-pop convenience store. Cliff brought his family members from Houston to help him run the store, including his mother, “Ms. Lillian,” his sisters, Barbara and Penny, and his brothers, Michael, John and Kenny. This neighborhood that had never seen a young Black man own anything now witnessed a Black family of business owners working together. It may have been called The Little Store, but it had a huge impact.

Cliff then opened a 5,500-square-foot, full-service supermarket on Wilmington Avenue in Compton in 1979. Employing young people from the neighborhood and his family, the business thrived until it was met with insurmountable refrigeration problems and closed.

Eventually, Cliff decided to buy a hot dog cart and sell $1 hot dogs. With the success of the first cart, he bought two more and then opened a brick-and-mortar location in Los Angeles near Centennial High School.

Finally, in 1992, Cliff sold his Los Angeles restaurant and opened a soul food restaurant in Compton. As the community and culture of Compton changed, Cliff wanted to connect the Black and Latino communities through fusion food. A new Afro-Mexican fusion restaurant was born: Sr. Cliff’s Texas Style Burritos.

Sr. Cliff’s, as it is affectionately referred to by customers, is an essential part of the Compton community because they are located in a family-oriented neighborhood within close proximity of John F. Kennedy Elementary School, Walton Middle School and Compton High School.

“It is important to us to be able to provide hot meals and great tasting food at reasonable prices to the parents, teachers and children who live and work in our service area,” said co-owner Delores Williams, wife of Cliff Williams.

A Decade of Accepting SNAP Benefits

Sr. Cliff’s has been accepting EBT payments since 2010 through the California Restaurant Meals Program. This program allows eligible homeless, disabled and/or elderly EBT recipients to use their CalFresh SNAP benefits to purchase hot, prepared food from participating restaurants. While not the majority of their sales, a lot of the surrounding community relies on EBT to receive nutritious food on a regular basis.

Now, customers from outside of the Compton community have started to frequent the restaurant to redeem their SNAP benefits: “As we’ve grown and the word has gotten out about the food and service, we’ve had customers from outside of our community come to taste our food. We even got the word out on the KJLH radio station in Los Angeles, which has increased our reach in attracting EBT customers,” said co-owner Cliff Williams.

In 2015, the quick-serve restaurant turned to goEBT’s EBT processing solutions to help grow their business further. Co-owners Cliff and Delores Williams especially enjoy goEBT’s fast solutions and excellent service: “It’s been a great situation for us, bringing EBT to our business. Working with goEBT for the past few years has made things easier because they don’t miss a beat when assisting their customers. After I talked to customer service, goEBT sent out our payment terminal the next day!” commended Delores Williams.

Adapting to COVID-19

As an essential source of nutritious food, Sr. Cliff’s has been fortunate enough to have a staff that agreed to continue serving their community during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Accepting SNAP payments has allowed us to continue to serve our local community and maintain our sales. We’ve made a special effort to make sure that our menu, prices and service accommodate the local community that relies on EBT,” said Cliff and Delores Williams.

To adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sr. Cliff’s also made a special effort to make sure that the restaurant was safe for the local community: “We want to create a safe environment at our restaurant for our staff, suppliers and customers,” said Cliff Williams. Customers and staff are required to social distance and wear masks, and an online ordering program was also launched so that customers could pick up their orders when ready.

Using their goEBT COUNTERTOP terminal, Sr. Cliff’s also launched a curbside service program to continue serving their customers safely during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Accepting SNAP payments has allowed us to continue to serve our local community and maintain our sales. We’ve made a special effort to make sure that our menu, prices and service accommodate the local community that relies on EBT.”

So far, curbside service has worked well for Sr. Cliff’s, and they plan to continue curbside service after the pandemic is over: “If you look at major chains with drive-throughs, getting as many people in and out as safely and quickly as possible seems to be the new business model,” said Delores Williams.

When I began speaking with their owner, Ron Dean, I asked him, “What is it that you sell? What makes Knicker Knacker different compared to other businesses?” Mr. Dean’s response astounded me. “We sell a little of everything. We fix computers and we have a travel agency in our grocery store”. Mr. Dean said the best way to describe his business is a bodega of sorts. Fixing computers and planning people’s travel arrangements is quite different, but Knicker Knackers is also home to regular goods for everyday customers. They sell simple food items, hygiene products, prepaid gift cards, as well as, souvenirs and books. Mr. Dean’s focus on providing the most for his customers does not end there, though, as he plans to offer beer and wine starting in October of this year. 

Being a business owner in a big city like Montgomery has meant a lot of competition for Knicker Knacker Market. With several C-stores in the surrounding area, Mr. Dean had to develop a strategy that would out-rival his competitors and make his business more appealing to the community. When I asked how he said, “We are several businesses in one with great customer service!” Now, there is no question that they compile multiple businesses into a one-stop location for the most convenient experiences, but Mr. Dean makes service his priority when someone enters his store. From the time a person walks in, Mr. Dean provides, “a warm welcome and a fond farewell” to remind customers that his diversity goes beyond his products or services, and carries into how he serves others. 

With all of the businesses we feature, we put a spotlight on the struggles they face. Like many business owners, every struggle is unique and we believe sharing those stories can help other businesses and owners in need of inspiration. Knicker Knacker Market faced a common struggle among C-stores and that was a lack of foot-traffic, low customers, and little advertising to make his store a house-hold name. With hundreds of other stores in the area, Mr. Dean had to make his business known to people and outshine rival businesses to be successful. Mr. Dean stuck to his key principles and committed to his customer base day-in and day-out. He served anyone that came around his neck of the woods, which has made him known to the local community and travelers. Mr. Dean told me a lot of his growth came from his usage of social media, business cards, and flyers given out to the people around him. It is safe to say his number one advertiser is word of mouth and his ability to retain reoccurring shoppers after they arrive. 

A lot of good came from partnering with goEBT. Through our business, Knicker Knacker was able to offer services for his customers that he originally could not. Our services added more diversity for Mr. Dean and his store, and made his brand more distinguishable from the rest in the Montgomery area. The simplicity of our systems and low flat-rate for our service has allowed our business to shine brighter than other processing companies, which is why Knicker Knacker and Mr. Dean have shown their loyalty to us for more than nine-years! Like Knicker Knacker market, we strive to offer the best goods with the most outstanding support system for our customers. Without people like Mr. Dean, we do not have a business, which is why we want to provide him with the best opportunities to help Knicker Knacker Market and Grocery grow. 

We would like to thank Mr. Dean for sharing his story with us, and providing great feedback to help our business improve. As previously mentioned, a large part of his business was built off of social media so feel free to follow him at: Knicker Knacker Market on Instagram, @KnickerKnacker1 on Twitter, and Knicker Knacker Market and Grocery Store on Facebook. 

Roeser’s Bakery was founded in 1911 and although the world has seen much change since that time, Roeser’s is still a refreshing reminder of the tried and true standards of baking and a great neighborhood business. Opened during WWI, the bakery has continued to serve the people of Chicago through our country’s highs and lows. That isn’t to say that Roeser’s Bakery has been untouched by events of the past.  When I asked about struggles his business had faced, John told me, “Sometimes it’s food costs- butter, sugar crop, eggs, etc… sometimes it’s maintenance costs- bread slicer breaks down, mixer breaks down, or one of the ovens breaks”.

John also mentioned a struggling economy can sometimes bring about struggles in his business as it does with most. John is an affirmative man, though, and remains hopeful and hardworking through it all. “The way to overcome them [hard times] is to just buckle down, don’t give up, find ways to be more efficient and do your best to keep steering the ship in the right direction, that’s all you can do.” With a family-owned business still in tact after over 100-years, it’s hard to argue that Roeser’s Bakery has proven this strategy to be a success.John says the staff’s mental toughness and grit through the hard times are just one part of his business’ lasting success, though. John told me, “We have created our success mainly by offering a product that is superior in quality, baked fresh daily and given to you (consumer) with superior customer service”.

Over the years, Roeser’s has adapted and added new items to their menu to cater to people’s wants and needs. They are avid about listening to their customers and giving them the best good possible selection and conforming to whatever they wants. “We hardly say no,” said John when discussing customer’s requests. They take last minute orders regularly when making cakes and other goods and operate well under a ticking clock. This type of service and commitment to the people around them is what makes them shine more than the sign out front.

Being in business for over a century, peoples knowledge of the bakery has stretched far beyond the limits of Chicago. Mr. Roeser told me, “It’s not uncommon for people to come here from Wisconsin, Indiana, the suburbs of Chicago, or Iowa”. Their outreach is vast and growing, largely due to the unique colors displayed on their packaging that adds an extra bit of character beyond the delicious taste of their food. This isn’t their first “big” feature either. Roeser’s Bakery has made appearances in newspapers, magazines, and T.V. All of which, have increased their popularity in ways they didn’t think possible.

Many businesses with this level of success might take the family out of the business and just use the name, but not this bakery. Mr. Roeser keeps a physical presence in-store to ensure that, “everything is being done properly and in a timely manner.” He accredits this to hard work. It’s not easy keeping up with market trends, handling inventory, and making sure the day-to-day operations go smoothly, but Mr. Roeser makes it happen. His outstanding work ethic makes this company successful and it’s the reason people will continue to shop at Roeser’s Bakery for years to come. 

Roeser also credits a lot of his success to how active he remains within his community. Simply put, the act of giving back has made all the difference in how people perceive Roeser’s Bakery. Roeser’s Bakery is a member of its neighborhood Chamber of Commerce and develops strategies to help grow the community around them. Being a part of your community does not necessarily mean you have to be in association with an agency, though. Roeser’s is a regular participant in things like The Donut Fest and The Chicago Fire Fest, which spreads their awareness outside of their West-Side neighborhood. His community participation does not end at the festivals either and the chamber of commerce meetings either.

Mr. Roeser wants to offer every person who has the chance to enter his store to walk out feeling like they’ve been taken care of. He accepts EBT to help those people who otherwise wouldn’t get a chance to try one of his delicious donuts or custom birthday cakes. goEBT is just another way for Roeser’s Bakery to take care of the people that have made his business so successful for over 100-years.

With many of our customers, Social-Media plays a large roll in the growth of their business. You can follow their pages @roesersbakery on Instagram and Roeser’s Baker on Facebook, and keep track of their business in real-time.

While the standard convenience stores and gas stations make up the bulk of our goEBT merchants, we also serve a number of other types of stores who like to be able to accept EBT as a form of payment. 

Another really important part of the store’s success has been the owning family’s dedication to not only the store’s success, but also the impact that the store has on the community it is in.  Husband and wife, Shatanie and Keith Brewer, are both committed to seeing their vision come to life, and with the help of their son, the store is doing great so far.

Since opening the store almost a year and a half ago, the Brewer family has already gained many repeat customers who come in to make a purchase nearly every day.  Shatanie shared that one of their main strategies for keeping customers satisfied is to make sure they are paying attention to the items customers by the most and the ones they may come in asking for often, so that they can always keep them in stock.  She also shared that because staple foods and snacks are in such high demand, she could see expanding into food service in the future of Dollars Plus.

As mentioned before, Dollars Plus is not your average c-store, and their inventory proves it.  You can find laundry detergent, paper towels, and even DOG BEDS at Dollars Plus.  All name brand.  All fairly priced.  Shatanie says that the family has even made the decision to renovate and create space for even more products so that they can continue to grow the business.

How has goEBT helped the Brewers’ business?  Shatanie shared the goEBT’s EBT processing was an essential part of serving the community where there store is located, as many customers needed a place that was easy to get to and carried a good variety of food.  Also, the Brewers have added our prepaid solutions to their store, which allows them to sell digital gaming gift cards to local families who may only have cash and need an easy way to load credits to their favorite PlayStation or Xbox games, a solution that the younger crowd loves.

We are so happy for the Brewers on their success and really excited that they are even in the process of opening another location!  Hopefully their story will inspire many other families to continue thinking outside the box and keeping the customer first when making decisions for their stores.

Our Merchant Spotlight for the month of January goes to Nabeel Ahmed! This proud goEBT merchant is the owner of S & M Grocery in Griffin, GA.

With over a decade in business, S & M Grocery is one of the more established small businesses in their area. This convenience store not only offers amazing prices on gasoline, but is also a resource for many other essentials. With over a decade under its belt, it’s no surprise Nabeel has been able to keep the customers coming to S & M. This establishment is the perfect example of a convenience store that is dedicated to serving the consumers nearby by carrying most of the items a member of the community may need. Products kept in stock at S & M Grocery range from ice to fire wood. Nabeel says he feels it is his duty to carry everything the surrounding neighborhood needs and desires.

Nabeel knows it isn’t enough for customers to love your products, but the owner needs to also care about his business and customers. Nabeel wakes up every day, looking forward to three things above all else:

• The clientele
• The customer service
• The memorable experience

These are the three things that make the magic happen. Nabeel’s focus is on his customers and by providing an excellent customer service, he tries to create a memorable experience.

Another important part of S & M Grocery’s success has been goEBT. goEBT’s EBT processing has allowed his business to prosper by not only accepting an additional form of payment, and therefore make more money, but also by attracting even more customers.

With such a successful business, it is only natural to have plans for the future. S & M Grocery is eager to continue the same level of customer service and keep up with the new waves of customers by adding more products and solutions to keep the customers coming back time and time again.

Nabeel would like to thank the people of Griffin for allowing his store to be a part of their community for all these years. Every citizen has assisted in allowing S & M Grocery in growing to what it is today.

Featuring our Merchant of the Month is just one of the many ways goEBT appreciate its partners. Be sure to read our Merchant of December by clicking here.

Our Merchant Spotlight for the month of December goes to Fedie Chani! This proud goEBT partner is the owner of Roosevelt Connect Mart. His establishment is located in the “Windy City” of Chicago, Illinois.

Not too long ago, a watchful store opened its doors to all who needed great customer service and great products. Roosevelt Connect Mart began business on March 1st, 2017. Despite being new to the community, the citizens adapted quickly. His customers were able to purchase everything they needed. This is not limited to quick groceries or snacks, but being able to access their Boost Mobile needs. The success of his mini market is mostly based on his love for the community. Not only does Fedie Chani offer necessary products for his customers, but he does so with a smile!

His method for increasing the customer base is classic, just like his store, and it gets the job done. Gaining word-of-mouth reviews from customers is the main focus for Mr. Chani. By creating a wonderful shopping experience for the customers, they are without a doubt spreading the word. These influencers of the community have done well for Roosevelt Connect Mart.

The entire neighborhood is aware of what the store represents. It is important to Fedie Chani that he is keeping customers happy any way he can. 

In today’s fast-paced c-store industry, it can be difficult to remember customers are the most important part of your business. It is important, though, to slow things down and enjoy every interaction of the day. This hard-working store owner says that of everything he loves the most about being the owner of Roosevelt Connect Mart, two things are at the top of the list:

• Offering convenience for his customers
• Supporting the community 

These two tasks are accomplished with the help of goEBT! Fedie Chani states our EBT card readers are definitely the fastest around. His customers have added, there is no other retail as fast as Roosevelt Connect Mart’s payment process. By equipping his mini mart with a reliable point of sale device, he is able to always provide his customers with a pleasant and speedy experience.

Furthermore, accepting SNAP has brought waves of customers to the store and this is only the beginning. Fedie Chani is excited for the future to come for he plans on expanding and reaching new heights. In the near future, a second store may be in the works, and we are more than excited to join him in the process!

]]> https://goebt.com/merchant-spotlight-khurram-ghani/ Sat, 06 Oct 2018 00:42:52 +0000 https://goebt.com/merchant-spotlight-khurram-ghani/ Khurram Ghani opened his first store, Island Lake BP, in 2015. After seeing success with this store in a small community, Khurram saw an opportunity to expand and open a second store. His second store, Jefferson BP, was opened in Joliet, IL in 2017. In a town with close to 170,000 people, he saw a lot more room for growth and success. 

As an independent owner competing with many large chain stores around him, Khurram invests his time in a lot of advertising. When customers swipe their card at a pump, the machine will begin speaking, telling customers about promotions and advertising, one of which tells people that they can use their EBT card in his store. He changes the advertisements every few months depending on what specials he has going on. Since he is an independent owner, he tries not to spend too much money on big advertisements.  He also invests in signs around the store advertising deals such as:

• Milk – $1.99
• Loaf of Bread – 99 cents
• Energy Drinks – 3 for $5
• King Size Candy – 2 for $3

Deals on milk and bread grab the attention of his EBT customers, who are a big clientele for both of his stores. When he heard of  goEBT’s Bill Pay solution , he saw this as another opportunity to cater to his EBT customers and offer a better service than his competition could.  When he initially signed up, he was unsure of how successful the solution would be. With the help of a promotion going on with goEBT’s Bill Pay at the time, mail was sent out to the area letting the neighborhood know about the new solution at his store. Soon customers began coming to his store curious about what the Bill Pay solution was. He said that with the help of goEBT’s advertising to the community, he saw new customers and repeat customers coming to his store to pay their bills. Aside from Bill Pay and EBT processing, he offers fishing and hunting licenses and does money orders.

Khurram’s motto is: “ The better the store and better the customer service, the more likely customers will come back.” His employees are held to high standards ensuring that the store is well stocked, bathrooms are cleaned, and pumps are wiped down throughout the day. He also gives his employees an incentive to perform at their best by offering a cash bonus at the end of every year. Through BP Mystery Shopper, every quarter a mystery shopper comes into the store to grade it. If they receive a 100%, their store receives a cash bonus. Both of Khurram’s stores have gotten a 100% 6 times in a row. The cash bonus goes to his employees at the end of every year as a job well done.

Khurram plans on adding a Chester Chicken to his Joliet location in November 2018. Right now, both stores have a small fridge close to the cash register that offer cold food like sandwiches, cheese sticks and more. He intentionally puts the fridge next to the cash register as customers are more likely to have impulse buys at checkout.

For now, Khurram has his focus on the two stores, looking for new ways to better them. Since his stores are in a large EBT area, he puts a large amount of focus on those customers learning what will attract them. What attracted more EBT customers to both of his stores was adding the Bill Pay solution and also offering deals on grocery items. With the great success of the two stores, he is looking into opening a third store in the future. 

Are you interested in becoming one of our Merchant Spotlight? 

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