The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
Saladworks open for business in Lansdale
Owners hope new restaurant will help support community
LANSDALE » A pair of siblings are using a familiar name to help out those in need during the era of COVID-19.
Co-owners Alvin and Kinnari Patel hope their new Saladworks Lansdale can make a difference for those who need a fast, casual meal, or a place to work.
“It’s a hard time to enter the industry. Both of our spouses lost their jobs during the pandemic, and we made a decision that we’d help build something for the future,” Kinnari said.
Located in the Pavilion shopping center at 443 S. Broad Street, Saladworks opened on Jan. 13 and features more than 60 ingredients that can be combined or offered in salads, wraps, grain bowls, soups and more, to meet any nutritional need or diet trend.
The brother and sister duo bring experience in the food service industry — more than 17 years for Alvin and more than 10 for Kinnari — and the latest in COVID precautions to their new venture.
“We were scared about opening, we just wanted people not to be offended, that we’re not doing seating. But people have been so nice, saying ‘We’re so happy to have you back,’ ‘We didn’t know you guys were open.’ They just have all been so friendly,” Kinnari said.
During lunch hour on Jan. 15, the two greeted visitors as they entered one door, lined up with safe distancing in front of the extensive menu, then placed orders and watched masked staff create their meal before heading out a separate exit.
Between visitors, Alvin said he’s very familiar with the greater North Penn area, largely from operating Dunkin Donuts’ restaurants and the Wendy’s just across Broad Street from the new Saladworks, and said Lansdale is friendlier than most, if not all.
“All of the towns I’ve worked with, it’s always been red tape. Here, it was the other way around: ‘How can we help you?’”
Alvin said.
“I think it’s because times are hard right now. They were just like, ‘Anyone we can help survive, let’s do it,’” Kinnari added.
Entering the new Saladworks, the wall-mounted menu displays a wide range of options, from Grilled Chicken, to Barbecue, Caesar, Asian Crispy, Southwest Chipotle, Avocado Cobb, and more, with options to add toppings or turn them into wraps, sandwiches or soups instead. As Alvin and Kinnari described their offerings, Alvin’s wife Sunita picked out ingredients from a spotless salad bar, while general manager Nieema Beatty kept an eye on incoming orders.
“It’s going pretty good. We’ve been really busy, we’re super popular,” Beatty said, with a grin behind her mask, orange with the W-shaped Saladworks logo.
Alvin and Kinnari said now that the doors are open, they have two main priorities: hiring new employees, and making sure those on board are taken care of.
“We absolutely are looking to help anybody and everybody out. Anybody that wants to move ahead in life, we want to bring them onto our team,” Alvin said.
“We want to offer careers. People should feel like family. When they come in, no matter how long their shift is, the first thing we say is ‘Did you eat? Go grab some food, go sit,’ we don’t charge them for their meals because times are hard right now,” Kinnari added.
Of course, all employees also take temperature checks when they arrive, and anyone questionable stays home, while sanitizer, mask reminders, and safe distancing markers can be seen throughout the restaurant.
Alvin said online delivery services including Uber Eats, Grub Hub and Door Dash have helped ensure orders can be delivered anywhere in Lansdale, and Saladworks Rewards and their downloadable app can help visitors earn points by coming back often — like, Kinnari said, their neighbors in the shopping center are already doing.
“All of the neighbors are coming by, and we’re making sure we’re taking care of them. We want to be a part of the community. That’s why we’re here,” Kinnari said.
Saladworks Lansdale is located at 443 S. Broad St. and is open from 10:30 am. to 8 p.m. weekdays and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. For more information call 215-4209351 or visit www.Saladworks. com and search “Lansdale.”
“We want to be a part of the community. That’s why we’re here.” Kinnari Patel