Rising Stars: Meet Sydney Turnbull Cameron Kurz of Hyde Park

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sydney Turnbull Cameron Kurz

Hi Sydney Turnbull, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My sister Cameron and I purchased Carl’s Deli two and a half years ago, but our connection to it runs much deeper. We’ve been regulars at Carl’s our entire lives, growing up just a few blocks away. Having grown up within a family-owned business – Honeybaked Ham Company – we’ve always understood the importance of tradition and legacy. When the opportunity came up to take over Carl’s, it felt like a natural continuation of what we were raised to value. We’re proud to carry on its legacy while adding our own touch, and we’re excited to keep serving our community.

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?
We came into Carl’s with a vision but also an understanding of what Carl’s was and is to the community and strong customer base. We had to develop a phased approach to making our changes and adjustments, especially when it came to the space and any menu or recipe updates.

We acquired some new vendors. We lean into local vendors, small-businesses, and family-owned businesses as much as possible. We brought in quite a few new vendors, so it can be a challenge to incorporate change into an existing restaurant environment. While the cost of some locally made products can be a bit more, it’s been well-worth the enhanced quality and partnerships that we’re building.

We’ve added two major elements to the business that can add some complexity to our day-to-day operations. We’re still growing the catering business and navigating the coordination and space requirements. Online ordering has been a game changer for us but certainly took some time for us to manage the volume.

Our space can be very limiting in that we don’t have much to work with. We’ve had to purchase quite a few pieces of equipment as well as rework the layout of the space in order to accommodate our processes and to create more efficiencies.

We’ve been fortunate in that our customers have continued to support Carl’s and the transition. Our current employees have also been tremendously supportive, informative, and eager to share their Carl’s knowledge and experiences as well as embrace the changes we’ve made. We’re gracious for the folks that continue to wait in our line and support our business.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My name is Cameron and I’m one of the owners of Carl’s Deli. I have a background in social work and project management. After earning a Masters Degree in public administration, Cameron continued with her career in project management until the opportunity to take on Carl’s became a reality. I value community and really good food.
When we purchased Carl’s, my focus was on improving processes and efficiency. We aimed to provide the best possible service to our customers, which meant refining existing procedures and developing new ones. We also looked for ways to streamline prep, reduce wait times, and make better use of space. I found this aspect of the transition especially rewarding. Embracing change leads to growth, and we believe we’ve made significant strides toward enhancing the customer experience.

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
We’re seeing a lot of folks that are wanting vegetarian and gluten free options. We offer both.

We’ve also found tremendous success in our online ordering system. This will continue to be a trend. While we don’t currently offer delivery, this is clearly a trend in the industry that will continue.

Pricing:

• Our average sandwich price is between $9.50 – $12.50
• Our deli sides and salads are around $4.50 for a half lb serving

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.carlsdeli.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/carlsdelihydepark