coverage over the middle of our patio, (and
we have) an outdoor ceiling fan. In the late
evening, especially in the cooler months,
we are able to fire up our two fire pit tables
around our soft seating areas.”
What also makes The Exchange’s patio
a popular destination is the fact that it is
dog friendly, and several local pet-centered
events have held fundraisers there. “My
family and I are big time animal lovers,”
Hall says. “We have two dogs –– Teddy and
Brody –– and a cat named Cash. We thought
it would be really great if our guests could
bring their four-legged friends and enjoy
dinner with their owners.
“We offer dog bowls for all our guest
pets, and we have found our guests really
appreciate us being dog friendly. We had
a huge patio kick off party for the second
year in a row, and it was a huge hit. We had
close to 70 dogs visit over the course of the
day (and) we had some local pet vendors
join us and sell their products and services.
Our chefs at The Exchange did a great taco
and bratwurst bar, as well some special
treats for the animals. We had a fenced-in
play area equipped with a kissing booth,
a potty area and Astroturf. My wife, Nikki,
handled all the decor and did an awesome
job. We have found that our guest counts on
the patio have increased and more people
are finding out our patio is dog friendly.
All we ask is they stay on a leash and off
the furniture!”
Outdoor dining does create staffing
challenges, and Hall says it “definitely
changes the footprint of our restaurant. If
you think about it, we are essentially opening
another restaurant every year in May. Our
staffing has to increase, both in the back of
the house and the front of the house. We
are basically adding about 20 tables to our
space, with the same size kitchen and bars
that we have in the winter months.
“Since we do seasonal menus throughout
the year, it’s important that we plan on that
when doing development. We have to have
dishes that are more prep heavy but quicker
to execute when we add that many seats.
It’s a monster no doubt, and our kitchen
doesn’t always get the credit they deserve
17