Rising Stars: Meet Shannon Zemba of downtown, Kent Ohio

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shannon Zemba.

Hi Shannon, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in the restaurant industry alongside my mother and stepfather in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, where I developed an early appreciation for hospitality, hard work, and the sense of community that food can create. Those formative years shaped not only my work ethic but also my passion for building meaningful dining experiences.

As I continued my journey, I sought out opportunities to expand my knowledge, including learning from the McCormick family and eventually serving as the Assistant Food and Beverage Manager at The Buccaneer Resort & Spa. These experiences deepened my understanding of restaurant operations and reinforced my long-term goal of one day opening a concept of my own.

In 2010, I returned to Ohio with a clear vision for the future. Over the years, I had the privilege of working alongside talented restaurant owners and chefs, absorbing as much as I could. While I am largely self-taught as a cook, those experiences helped me refine my skills and shape my culinary perspective.

That vision became reality in 2019 with the opening of Over Easy Morning Café. In 2022, we expanded and relocated to the historic Erie Depot, where we reintroduced ourselves as Over Easy at the Depot. Today, the restaurant reflects years of dedication, learning, and passion.

Our menu is thoughtfully crafted by my husband and me, blending creativity with the comfort and familiarity of a classic diner experience. As a hands-on owner, I remain deeply involved in the kitchen, continuing to do much of the cooking myself.

Over Easy is truly a family-owned and operated restaurant, and with the support of our incredible staff, we are proud to celebrate seven years in business as of May 7th. Our journey has been built on perseverance, community, and a genuine love for what we do every day.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Opening Over Easy Morning Cafe in 2019 came with the challenges any new restaurant faces—building a customer base, refining operations, and establishing a presence in a competitive industry. However, just as we were finding our footing, the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, bringing unprecedented uncertainty.

As a new business, we were forced to quickly adapt and completely rethink how we served our breakfast and lunch menu. We shifted our approach to prioritize safety while still delivering quality, all in an effort to keep our doors open and our staff employed. Those early days required constant learning, flexibility, and resilience.

In the midst of navigating the pandemic, I faced a deeply personal challenge. I was diagnosed with early onset MS, along with tachycardia and atrial fibrillation. Within a year, I underwent three heart ablations, significantly impacting my ability to maintain the demanding workload that comes with running a restaurant.

Despite these obstacles—both professional and personal—I remained committed to OEATD. These experiences forced me to adapt not only the business, but also my leadership style, learning how to balance perseverance with the realities of my health. The journey has been anything but easy, but it has shaped the foundation of who we are today.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a restaurant owner and hospitality professional with a lifelong passion for food, service, and creating meaningful guest experiences. I grew up in the restaurant industry, which shaped my work ethic and deep appreciation for the business. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to learn from exceptional chefs and operators, gaining hands-on experience in both front- and back-of-house operations, as well as leadership roles in food and beverage management.

I specialize in building welcoming, community-driven dining experiences, with a strong focus on quality, consistency, and genuine hospitality. My restaurant centers around a thoughtfully crafted breakfast, brunch and lunch menu, where attention to detail and customer connection are at the heart of everything we do. We put a creative twist on the classics.

What sets me apart is my resilience, adaptability, and commitment to people—both my customers and my staff. I lead with empathy, work hard to create a positive environment, and refuse to give up, no matter the obstacles. My journey has shaped not just the way I run my business, but the values it stands for: perseverance, community, and heart.

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
The Dave Chang Show is a great podcast
Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly – Anthony Bourdain
Finding Freedom – Erin French
Thriving Through Multiple Sclerosis – Jen Powley

Contact Info:

• Website: https://overeasyatthedepot.com
• Instagram: overeasyatthedepot
• Facebook: overeasyatthedepot
• Yelp: overeasyatthedepot