When you hear “things happen for a reason” do you believe it or do you sigh and just roll your eyes? Mike Hutchinson believes it and when an opportunity presented itself he grabbed it. As a result and soon after, people realized there was a new place in town. A breath of fresh air, a neighborhood place where you can end your day laughing with friends, celebrating milestones, and when needed most, find comfort.
When Mike decided to open a new restaurant, he knew the area he wanted and saw a space was available, but while looking at it, realized it was not exactly what he had hoped for. While there, he looked over and saw a moving truck adjacent in the parking lot. Piquing his interest he looked further, and noticed it was outside another recently vacated restaurant space. A space that he was familiar with and really liked, which prompted him to say to the broker, “I want that space, let’s make it happen.” And it did.
Coincidence? Being at the right place at exactly the right time, or maybe someone looking down who themselves led such a positive life, steered him there. He had a plan, a vision, and was ready to make it happen. With a cool vibe, classy menu, drinks to toast with, and a seasoned staff to carry it all out, Craftway Kitchen opened in Plano Texas October of 2019.
This is more than your regular brick and mortar place you pass by everyday. It has become a home away from home for most people, such as my family. There is an ease you feel when you walk in which comes from a genuine respect between the staff and owners. People flocked there. Inside seating, large bar area, and great outdoor patio ready for all the different weather that Texas throws their way.
Regulars were forming. It’s the type of place where you know the names of the people you see as you enter. You chat with everyone who works there. You want to know how everyone in their families are and they want to know about you. From the management, to the kitchen staff, to the wait-staff, this was a well oiled machine of happiness from opening day until around St.Patrick’s Day 2020.
Something was brewing and it was not behind the bar. It was Covid-19.Shut downs were starting. One afternoon with customers in the restaurant and due to new regulations just passed, they had no choice but to ask everyone to leave. What next?
With MIke’s positive outlook, which he attributes to his parents and his late sister who firmly believed in seeing the best, even in the worst situations, he was determined to find a way to make this work. With the news of the regulations and how it was going to impact dining-in at restaurants, he knew he had to be proactive. He gathered his staff together because at that moment taking care of his team was the most important thing. Shifts were changed and the staff on their own decided to share their tips. They wanted this special place saved as much as the neighborhood did.
Shutting down was never an option. Mike, his co owners, and management team wanted to not only take care of their own, but stay afloat for the neighborhood that had supported them so well. An “eat-in” restaurant quickly needed to change to becoming a “to-go” one. Our family turned our weekly dine-in to weekly pick-up.
Some think pandemic, save money. Makes sense, right? Well, not if you want to amp up packaging for to-go orders. Loyal customers came for the experience so why not continue that? And if you know Craftway, then you know their frozen old fashioned is special, so when they were able to offer liquor to-go, it was a great opportunity to still serve up a familiar drink during an unfamiliar time.
Keeping their menu that they were known for was also important to them. This was a time when most restaurants were closing or cutting back. Not Mike and his team! They were determined to keep on going. That determination led them to the idea of specials.
Specials that gave their customers comfort… Fried Chicken Sundays , Meatloaf Mondays (our favorite), and Chicken Pot Pie Tuesdays and so on.
In short order they were receiving videos and pictures from customers who creatively placed their to-go food onto plates to create their own experience while at home.
As days turned into weeks, life as we knew it was very different due to Covid, with new regulations being announced on an almost weekly basis. Not long after, isolation and longing for regular life such as going out to dinner crept in. But thanks to Craftway and their delicious food, calmness and being content was brought back because that is the effect that their food has on you.
At the end of the day, when the doors were locked, the staff, who are family to one another, laughed and danced while watching videos from customers enjoying their food, allowing for moments of joy during the uncertainty of this pandemic. Those moments and that joy just might be “the reason” in “things happen for a reason.”
Shortly before writing this, my husband and I celebrated our 30th Wedding Anniversary. We could have gone anywhere, but without hesitation Philip called Mike and arranged a special dinner for the two of us on their heated patio. A special place for a special moment with special people. A place where everybody knows your name.
You can follow Craftway Kitchen on Facebook and Instagram or to visit:
Craftway Kitchen
5809 Preston Rd Suite 578
Plano, Tx 75093
972-403-0555
