Inspired Indian Co.

Very thankful to the Evanston RoundTable and Julie Chernoff for this latest write up of Inspired Indian Co.! The lead-up to opening my restaurant presented so many unexpected and frustrating challenges, but now that we’re open I only feel immense gratitude to the Evanston and Northwestern University community for their unwavering enthusiasm and patronage the minute we opened our doors two weeks ago. I’m also very thankful to the City of Evanston for all their support throughout the permit and inspection process. I’m excited to continue expanding our menu and hope to see you if you’re in the Evanston area!

We have big news! Inspired Indian Cooking is expanding and relocating--with your help. This summer Inspired Indian Co., a fast-casual vegetarian eatery will open in Evanston, Il, offering distinctive, handcrafted Indian sandwiches, salads, and desserts. But wait, that's not all. The new space will feature a boutique food shop prioritizing emerging food brands from underrepresented founders along with our own Inspired Indian spice kits. Inspired Indian couldn't have become what it is without help from so many of you--as customers, partners, advisors, and well-wishers! You have our deepest gratitude. Now, to bring our new vision to life, we'd love your support again. We just launched a Kickstarter and have partnered with amazing Evanston businesses for several of the rewards. You'll find very cool items from Reprise Coffee Roasters, Anchorfish Printing, and Sarita Kamat Designs. There's something for everyone, and anything will help. Please consider joining us on this latest journey, and share with your networks as you can. We greatly appreciate your support, and look forward to welcoming you to Inspired Indian Co. this summer! View our Kickstarter: https://lnkd.in/gCW_kGQ7 Sign up for email updates here: https://lnkd.in/g9WbSQ-R

My knees knew before I did. ? For more years than I care to admit, I've struggled with chronic severe joint pain. My mobility decreased to the point where I couldn’t even walk a block without extreme discomfort. Workouts, walks, travel, concerts - so many activities I loved became impossible.? ? I knew I had to do something. But I delayed the inevitable because of the nature of my work. I'm a solo entrepreneur who roasts, grinds, and hand-blends spices for Inspired Indian Cooking spice kits. It's part of my brand and commitment. So putting my business on hold seemed impossible, especially given our monthly sales growth and momentum. And I was reluctant to potentially disappoint my customers who regularly tell me how much they enjoy cooking Indian food for their friends and families with our kits and giving them as gifts. ? But a few months ago I realized I couldn't wait any longer. My business, or more accurately, my beliefs about running the business, was holding me back from taking care of my physical and mental health. I also recognized my mobility issues were?stopping me from pursuing important business goals. For example, I used to have my best, most creative ideas while walking 20+ miles a week, time when I mentally worked through a range of business challenges.? ? So I went for it. ? Late last month, I had total knee replacement surgery for my left knee, and am having my right knee replaced early next month. "You couldn't have avoided this," the orthopedist said, showing me how the anatomy of my knees made surgery a question only of when, not if. And I was long overdue.? ? Of course it wasn't an easy decision. I had to close?my retail shop for several months to prepare for the procedures and recovery periods. To offset this,?I created enough inventory to cover several months of forecasted Amazon sales and continue shipping website orders. Most importantly, the first surgery went as well or better than expected, and I'm on track to have the second one on-schedule. Thanks, modern medicine, especially the pain meds and ice machine! So it won't be long before I'm back in action: walking, going to concerts, traveling, and enjoying a much more pain-free?existence. Oh, and I'm working on an exciting new?business expansion that I couldn't have pursued had I not opted for the surgeries! I’m excited to share more,?so look for an update before long.?In the meantime, I’m very thankful for everyone's support and wishes. Thanks for reading, and good luck with your own health and pursuits, whatever they may be!