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Jessica — Owner of Penelope’s Little Cafe

Episode Description

In this episode of Brand Lincoln, Christopher Beecham and Henry Schmidt sit down with Jessica Runge, One of the owners of Penelope’s Little Cafe, to talk family, food, and what it really takes to build a beloved local restaurant.

Jessica shares the story behind opening Penelope’s Little Cafe as a way to bring her family closer together, how the concept evolved from dinner service to a breakfast-and-lunch favorite, and the realities of running a family-owned restaurant in Lincoln, Nebraska. The conversation dives into the challenges of the restaurant business, the importance of community support, and how Penelope’s has built a loyal customer base that truly feels like family.

They also break down how social media and creative marketing—like themed events and local promotions—helped grow visibility and engagement, including participation in Munch Madness. Jessica highlights customer-favorite menu items, the thought behind evolving the menu, and the personal meaning behind the name “Penelope’s.”

This episode is for restaurant owners, small business operators, and anyone who appreciates the heart, hustle, and community behind local dining.

Sponsored by Perch Merch

This episode of Brand Lincoln is sponsored by Perch Merch, a relationship-first merch company helping businesses and nonprofits stand out with custom apparel, promotional products, and branded online stores.

Perch Merch works with growing local brands that want to look professional, consistent, and memorable—without corporate fluff or confusing processes.

Topics Covered

• Building a family-owned restaurant
• Transitioning restaurant concepts
• Social media marketing for local restaurants
• Community engagement and loyalty
• Signature dishes and menu development
• Creative promotions like Munch Madness
• Navigating challenges in the restaurant industry
• The personal story behind Penelope’s Little Cafe

Episode Takeaways

• Family can be the foundation of a strong business
• Community support is everything for local restaurants
• Social media isn’t optional—it’s essential
• Consistency builds a loyal following
• Creative marketing helps small businesses compete
• Signature dishes create repeat customers
• Adaptability keeps restaurants alive
• Personal stories strengthen brand connection

Sound Bites

“It’s a fantastic problem to have.”
“We went balls to the wall.”
“We have a cult following.”


Episode Chapters

00:00 – Introduction to Penelope’s Little Cafe
01:34 – The Journey of Opening the Restaurant
05:37 – Evolving the Menu and Concept
10:10 – Social Media Strategy and Engagement
16:16 – Signature Dishes and Customer Favorites
20:25 – Community Impact and What’s Next
22:13 – The Story Behind the Name Penelope’s

🎧 Brought to you by Perch Merch — where your merch game doesn’t flake, fade, or fall apart like a bad business partner. Check out the fun stuff: Perch-Merch.com

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In this episode of Brand Lincoln, we sit down with Paul Larsen, owner of Crepe Cafe, to talk crepes, community, and what it really takes to build a food business in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Paul shares his journey from military service to entrepreneurship, how Crepe Cafe became Nebraska’s only crepe-focused food truck, and the hard lessons learned while transitioning into a brick-and-mortar location. The conversation breaks down what makes crepes different from pancakes, why National Crepe Day matters more than you’d think, and how offering both sweet and savory options helped Crepe Cafe stand out in a crowded food scene.

They also dive into the reality of the “lean years,” the importance of local support, collaborating with breweries and other businesses, and why perseverance and consistency matter more than hype. Paul wraps by sharing what’s next for Crepe Cafe, including menu expansion, gluten-free and protein-focused options, and creating a space built for both food and community.

This episode is for food lovers, aspiring restaurant owners, and anyone curious about the real, unfiltered path from idea to execution in a local business.

Sponsored by Perch Merch

This episode of Brand Lincoln is sponsored by Perch Merch, a relationship-first merch company that helps businesses, nonprofits, and organizations show up professionally with custom apparel, trade show merch, and branded online stores.

Perch Merch isn’t about cheap giveaways or confusing corporate jargon. It’s about helping brands look legit, feel consistent, and build long-term relationships through quality merch that actually gets worn.

Keywords

crepes, food truck, entrepreneurship, National Crepe Day, Crepe Cafe, local business, food history, culinary innovation, Nebraska, food pairing

Topics Covered

• What makes a crepe different from a pancake
• Building Nebraska’s only crepe-focused food truck
• Transitioning from food truck to brick-and-mortar
• National Crepe Day and crepe culture
• Military discipline and entrepreneurship
• Surviving the lean years of business ownership
• Collaborating with local breweries and businesses
• Expanding menus and testing new ideas
• Using social media to grow a local brand

Sound Bites

“What is a crepe?”
“Free crepes for everybody.”
“Hard work does pay off.”

Episode Chapters

00:00 – Welcome to Season Two of Brand Lincoln
01:00 – Meet Paul Larson of Crepe Cafe
02:55 – What a Crepe Really Is
08:40 – National Crepe Day
10:29 – From Food Truck to Brick-and-Mortar
16:18 – Starting a Food Business
18:21 – From Concept to Reality
21:26 – The Lean Years
24:39 – Community and Collaboration
27:34 – Expanding the Menu
29:59 – What’s Next for Crepe Cafe

🎧 Brought to you by Perch Merch — where your merch game doesn’t flake, fade, or fall apart like a bad business partner. Check out the fun stuff: Perch-Merch.com

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Kawasaki isn’t just about motorcycles anymore — and if you live in Lincoln, Nebraska, you’ve probably seen their work without even realizing it. In this episode, Chris Beecham sits down with Jason Hellbusch to unpack the incredible story of Kawasaki’s Lincoln plant — from cranking out the iconic KZ400 motorcycle in the ’70s to building rail cars for NYC’s subway and cargo doors for Boeing 777s.

We dive into how a Japanese manufacturer became a Nebraska powerhouse, employing over 3,000 people and leading innovation in rail, aerospace, and now… personal transportation vehicles that look straight out of the future.

Jason shares insider stories about manufacturing at scale, the skills Kawasaki is desperate to hire for, and what’s next for the largest Kawasaki plant in the U.S. If you like business, engineering, or just a good “how the heck did that happen in Nebraska?” story — this one’s for you.

Key Takeaways:

• Kawasaki has called Lincoln home for over 50 years.
• First U.S.-built Kawasaki motorcycle? The KZ400.
• Expanded into rail cars, aerospace, and now next-gen personal transportation.
• The Lincoln facility is the largest Kawasaki plant in America.
• Employs 3,000+ with major demand for skilled welders.
• Builds subway cars for East Coast cities and airplane cargo doors for Boeing.
• Always innovating — from motorcycles to the NAV vehicle.

Keywords: Kawasaki, Lincoln Nebraska, motorcycles, jet skis, rail cars, aerospace manufacturing, product innovation, skilled trades, factory jobs, manufacturing history, economic impact, transportation design, subway cars, Boeing, personal vehicles, welders wanted

🎧 Brought to you by Perch Merch — where your merch game doesn’t flake, fade, or fall apart like a bad business partner. Check out the fun stuff: Perch-Merch.com