Exploring Life & Business with Yonder Miller of Way Down Yonder Beignets & Coffee LLC & Way Down Yonder New Orleans Finest Restaurant

Today we’d like to introduce you to Yonder Miller.

Hi Yonder, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My journey began with family. I grew up watching my parents, grandparents, and other relatives operate as entrepreneurs throughout my adolescent and adult years. Entrepreneurship was where I came from, whether it was bar rooms, body shops, daycare centers, rental properties, or church organizations. What I witnessed long ago became the catalyst for who I am today. At the time, I didn’t fully grasp the impact my family was making back home in New Orleans. Later, I watched my own mother, who had moved to Columbus, Ohio before I became a resident, continue to follow her dreams. She opened a staffing agency and, in 2017, Way Down Yonder New Orleans Finest Restaurant to bring our cultural heritage and authentic New Orleans flavors to Columbus.

That experience inspired me to launch Way Down Yonder Beignets & Coffee, giving people a lighter, more casual way to enjoy our culture and traditions.

Today, our story is about more than food. It’s about culture, community, and ownership. We’ve built jobs, inspired others, and created a space where people feel connected. Every decision we make, whether it’s expanding into new spaces, exploring franchising, or forming stakeholder partnerships, comes back to the same foundation: resilience, authenticity, and protecting what our family started.

Way Down Yonder has grown from a single dream into a movement. And that’s the story I carry forward every day.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. The restaurant industry is full of risks, and we’ve experienced many of them firsthand. We’ve planted our seeds into spaces that didn’t always live up to the promises made or didn’t align with our long-term vision. We’ve navigated partnerships that didn’t always work out, dealt with unexpected financial pressures, and even faced denial from banks despite presenting a legitimate business plan. At times, organizations have approached us under the false pretense of helping with staffing or workforce development, only to fall short. We’ve had our doors closed more than once, and we’ve faced moments of greed that challenged our trust. On top of that, the day-to-day grind, teaching and managing staff, navigating supply chain issues, and keeping up with rising costs, has tested us at every level.

But each struggle has sharpened our resilience. Those hard lessons pushed us to be more strategic, to protect our family’s legacy, and to ensure every decision aligns with our long-term vision. Looking back, the struggles weren’t just obstacles, they were necessary steps that made us stronger, more intentional, and more committed to building something that lasts.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Way Down Yonder is more than a restaurant, it’s a celebration of culture, family, and community. We operate two concepts under our brand: Way Down Yonder New Orleans Finest Restaurant, founded by my mother Yonder Gordon in 2017, and Way Down Yonder Beignets & Coffee, which I launched in 2021 to give people a lighter, more casual way to enjoy New Orleans flavors. Together, we bring authentic New Orleans cuisine and experiences to Columbus, Ohio, while honoring the traditions and spirit of our hometown.

We specialize in authenticity. From our beignets made fresh to order, to gumbo, jambalaya, red beans & rice, and other southern staples, everything we serve reflects the heritage we carry from New Orleans. People know us for our flavors, but also for the feeling of home and hospitality that comes with it. Our mission has always been community before commerce, making sure that every guest who walks through our doors feels connected, welcomed, and part of something bigger.

What sets us apart is that we are family-owned, legacy-driven, and unapologetically authentic. We’re not chasing trends, we’re preserving culture. Every decision we make is about protecting our family name, sharing our heritage, and creating opportunities for others. I’m most proud that our brand has become a platform: not just for food, but for storytelling, job creation, and inspiring future entrepreneurs.

For readers who may not know us yet: Way Down Yonder is where New Orleans meets Columbus. Whether you come for a cup of coffee and beignets, or a full southern meal, you’re stepping into a space built on family, resilience, tradition, and love.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I believe entrepreneurship and risk-taking go hand in hand. You can’t build anything meaningful without stepping into the unknown. For me, risk has never been about recklessness, it’s about faith, calculation, and courage. Every major move we’ve made as a family and as a business has carried risk.

One of the biggest risks we’ve taken is planting our brand into spaces that, at times, didn’t align with our long-term vision or live up to the promises made. Signing a lease, building out a restaurant, and investing in staff and equipment are all major commitments. When things don’t go as planned, whether it’s a landlord dispute, financial setbacks, or unexpected closures, the risk becomes very real. We’ve also faced the risk of protecting our name and legacy in a world where others may try to take advantage of it.

But I’ve come to see risk as necessary. Every risk we’ve taken has either led to growth or to lessons that made us stronger. I don’t shy away from risk, but I approach it with intention, asking if it aligns with our family values, our culture, and our long-term vision. To me, risk is the price of building something that matters, and it’s also the fuel that keeps us pushing forward.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://wdybeignets.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wdybeignets/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wdybeignets/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yonder-miller-05585b256/
• Twitter: https://x.com/wdybeignets