Today we’d like to introduce you to Chad Goodwin.
Hi Chad, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My entrepreneurial journey started with my first business, “Manly Men Mulching”, in high school with my best friend. We went to college together and started a litany of ventures, many being busts. We dropped out of college twice while trying to get one of our ideas to take off – making iOS & Android apps, selling custom apparel, video production services, grocery delivery service — all of which failed. In 2016, after we had left college for the last time, my friend watched a documentary called “Cowspiracy” that outlined the negative environmental impacts of industrial animal agriculture, and it inspired us to go vegan. Believing that plant-based diets were an effective way to combat the climate crisis, as well as promote animal welfare – the goal became to use our entrepreneurial spirit to help plant-based foods go mainstream, and drop some of the negative connotations that people can associate with veganism.
We started doing pop-ups at our campus house in 2016 with our new concept ‘Eden Burger’ – vegan burgers, fries, milkshakes – letting our friends and family come over and give us feedback on the food. A few months later, we did a handful of pop-up events at real bars, gathered a small following, and opened our first brick-and-mortar restaurant in July 2017.
In January 2020, I opened 4th & state, my family-owned downtown diner. Within 3 months, COVID hit and we were forced to reduce our hours – and then eventually close for the summer when our entire block was vandalized during a protest downtown. With the support of the community, we reopened in September 2020 and our sales have continued to grow since. Being able to work with my family has been amazing, managing the day-to-day operations with my sister Chelsea, my mom does our baked goods and is affectionately known by our customers as “Mama State”, and my dad is just a do-whatever-you-need-anytime type of guy. He’ll fix an oven, wash dishes, proofread a lease or contract for you — anything that can help the business.
During that time (2013 – 2020) I also involved myself into the local film community, experimenting with acting in local short films, writing scripts, taking comedy classes, and going to stand-up open mics. Since I was a child, I had wanted to make movies, and I always had hoped I could leverage success in business to help fund my creative efforts.
In 2022 I sold my equity in Eden Burger to my partner, as the business prepared to rebrand and I was yearning to launch another venture of my own. I invested all of the money (+much more) into producing and hosting a vegan cooking competition show – Top Vegan. We filmed in July 2022 at Columbus State Community College at their state-of-the-art culinary facility, Mitchell Hall. 8 chefs from across Ohio came to compete across 6 challenges, for the chance to win business mentorship, a $10,000 cash prize, and the title of “Top Vegan”. The show is wrapping up in post-production now and will be available online this spring.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I mean there is failure at every juncture. In life, business, creative efforts — you are going to face adversity whether it is internal or external, and the journey is about overcoming it to still achieve the goal and enjoy life.
We’ve been impressed with 4th & State, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
4th and State is family-owned downtown diner in Columbus, OH. Open 7 days a week, serving breakfast all day, along with burgers, sandwiches, stuffed crust pizza, and house-made baked goods. Voted a top 10 vegan brunch spot by Veg Out Magazine in 2021 and nominated for Best Diner by Columbus Alive 2022 – we continue to serve Columbus the plant-based version of their favorite American diner fare.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
Whether it’s food, film. comedy — whatever they wanna collaborate on, just reach out! @chadbear__ @4thandstate @topvegantv
Contact Info:
- Website: 4thandstate.com
- Instagram: 4thandstate
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/4thandState
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chaddavidgoodwin/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRllpsGcCAd974xKkPL7KyQ
Image Credits
Niko Taylor
Dan Mitchell
