Chris Ryan has been described as one of the masters of entrepreneurship in Windsor
Olivia Ryan loves her Riverside Pie Cafe . In the coming year , they ’ ll focus on refining their pie flavours , both savoury and sweet .
“ And now I ’ m slinging pies ,” says Ryan with a humble laugh .
Marchand has known Ryan for many years and described him as one of the masters in entrepreneurship in the Windsor-Essex community . “ We have folks like Chris Ryan who are exceptionally good at what they do and ... we are lucky to have his type of entrepreneurial spirit and creativity and of course success in our community ,” he says . “ He serves not just the Riverside Pie Cafe but as a mentor to many .”
Olivia said growing up around her dad ’ s hard work ethic and customer service helped shape her into the person she is today . Before opening the pie cafe with Ryan , Olivia attend the University of Windsor and St . Clair College and worked for Walkerville Brewery and the Salvation Army .
Now in her mid-twenties , she ’ s discovered it takes a lot of work and hours to run the cafe . She finds it hard to turn her brain off at night and not think about work or what she has to buy the next morning on her way in . It can be consuming . Despite this , Olivia loves working at the cafe and has always enjoyed working in customer service .
“ I like getting to know the regulars and working for something that ’ s your own , knowing you have to give it your all because at the end of the day it comes down on you ,” said Olivia . “ Right now , my brain is tied to this place so I wouldn ’ t be able to do anything else while working here .”
The cafe currently has six employees , two working the sweet side , two working the savory side and Ryan and Olivia working the retail side . Olivia said they spent most of their first year figuring what exactly the consumer wanted and how they could modify their products and recipes , the marketing and even the concept . This year , she said , will focus on refining their flavours .
“ Now we ’ re doing our cafe lunches , which is calling to a greater group [ of customers ], as well as our pot pies and our soups and kind of slowly expanding out from just made from scratch foods ,” said Ryan .
Bridget Scheuerman , executive director for Olde Riverside BIA , has noticed the cafe attracts customers from all over , not just from the immediate area . She speaks highly of the business .
“ When you have a good product and you have excellent customer service , that ’ s a winning combination ,” said Scheuerman .
Ryan said Olivia has done an amazing job at marketing on