Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Miller
Hi Ryan, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
After working in restaurants since the age of 13, I decided it was time to try owning and operating one of my own or leaving the industry completely. In 2012, my wife and I relocated from Nashville, TN to Canton, Ohio and decided to open Deli Ohio in Downtown Canton and am thankful that we are still open and operating to this day. Through the past 12 years I have added the title of “micro-developer” to my resume as I have purchased vacant commercial properties around Deli Ohio. The hope is to redevelop the vacant properties and help other small businesses open their doors to our wonderful neighbors of other independent small businesses in Downtown Canton.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Like most restaurants you never really know what each day, month, quarter, or year will bring. Inflations, recessions, a global pandemic, more inflation, staffing shortages…the list goes on and on. Thankfully through our struggles for Deli Ohio we have always felt confident that our loyal customer base would continue to walk through the doors (or in the case of COVID, show up for curbside pick up) and that is exactly what has continued to happen.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Deli Ohio, Mike’s Pizza, Finney’s Arcade & Parlor?
Aside from owning and operating restaurants (Deli Ohio & co-owner of Mike’s Pizza) and the soon to be open Finney’s Arcade & Parlor, I have a passion for purchasing and redeveloping vacant properties in Downtown Canton and helping others walk through their path of opening a small business of their own and proudly call my self a micro-developer.. I truly believe in the power of small, local businesses and it gives me great pleasure to assist people follow their dreams. Through the past 10 years I have been able to play varying roles in Deli Ohio, Walkie Talkie Espresso & Coffee, Mike’s Pizza, 405 Wellness, StarkFresh, Finney’s Arcade & Parlor, Fourth Street Collective and many more.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Take the first step!!! When I first started Deli Ohio I thought that I needed to have the road map laid out before me and know exactly what was going to happen and when would be the time to take the next step. It could become debilitating at some points. Sometimes it seems that the hardest part is taking it from an idea or concept to executing that first step of the process. Starting a business will never be something that you have all the right answers to before you get started or never be something that doesn’t have a curve ball thrown in from time to time. That is when you realize the second step in the process may not be what you thought it was before you executed the first step. Take that first small step and pay attention to what is happening as you complete it, then flow naturally into the next step in the process and keep going.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.deliohio.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deliohio
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeliOhio
