Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Chase.
Hi Chris , it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My journey with MST started when I was bartending at the original location while finishing my master’s degree at Tiffin University. I fell in love with the energy of serving people, the conversations, the friendships, and the way food can bring joy even on tough days.
Back then, I never imagined I’d own the place one day. But life has a funny way of showing you where you belong. I worked my way up, learned the ropes, and eventually took a leap of faith to buy the business. Those early years were tough, lots of debt, long nights, and lessons learned, but they shaped me into the leader I am today.
The sauce company came later during COVID, born out of necessity when dining rooms shut down. What started as a survival move turned into something incredible—award-winning sauces, snack sticks, and now retail partnerships across Ohio.
Now, MST is a small-town bar in Tiffin, Ohio that slowly transformed into a restaurant focused on food, family, and community. Over the years, it’s grown into something much bigger, a collection of connected ideas all built around the same mission: serve great food, build genuine relationships, and give back to the community that made us.
Today we operate MST Pub & Grub, MST Sauce Company, and the MST Street Grub food truck. Each one represents a different way to reach people, whether it’s through the handcrafted sauces and rubs we bottle, the food truck fundraising weeks that support local programs, or the restaurant that’s become a gathering place for friends and families.
What makes MST special is simple: we care about people as much as we care about the food. We’re not just trying to sell a meal, we’re trying to create moments that bring people together.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Like every small business, we’ve had our share of challenges. From staffing issues and long hours to negative reviews and unexpected breakdowns, it’s all part of the grind.
But every setback has taught me something. I’ve learned to listen to feedback, stay calm under pressure, and focus on solutions instead of problems. We’ve restructured schedules, added a food truck to relieve the restaurant rush, and started closing Early to give our team time to recharge.
On the sauce side, getting into retail and distribution wasn’t easy. Competing with national brands takes persistence, but by partnering with TPC Food Service and leaning on our local following, we’ve found our lane.
At the end of the day, I’ve realized success in this business isn’t about perfection, it’s about consistency, resilience, and how you handle the bad days.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My “why” has always been about community and connection. I grew up valuing hard work and relationships, and I’ve carried that into everything I do.
During my early days in grad school, I went through some dark times, broke, lonely, eating canned tuna and creamed corn in a dorm room. But those experiences gave me perspective. They taught me that no matter where you start, you can build something meaningful if you lead with purpose and stay consistent.
Now, my drive comes from knowing what MST stands for: helping others, creating opportunities, and using what we’ve built to make our corner of the world a little better.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
For me, mentorship hasn’t always come from one specific person, it’s come from a lot of small conversations with people who’ve walked the same path. I think we get caught up in trying to find “the” mentor, when really, you can learn something from just about anyone if you listen the right way.
I’ve met some of my biggest influences by being curious, talking with other restaurant owners, asking my distributor reps questions, or just sitting down with someone who’s been in business longer than me. A lot of my networking happens naturally because I lead with value first. If I can help someone with marketing, fundraising, or storytelling, that opens the door for a real relationship instead of a one-sided one.
My best advice is this: don’t chase connections, create them. Go to local events. Support other small businesses. Show up for people when there’s nothing in it for you. When people know you genuinely care, they’ll show up for you too.
Contact Info:
- Website: mstpubtiffin.com and mstsaucecompany.com
- Instagram: @MSTPubandGrub
- Facebook: MST Pub Tiffin/Sauce Company
