Today we’d like to introduce you to Brent’lee Williams.
Hi Brent’lee, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Our story has been quite the journey.
in 2020 we started as a coffee trailer that parked outside of nomad east. in march of 2021 on the way to park at nomad we hit black ice and the trailer and the truck were totaled.
Then thanks to our beautiful customers that started a GoFundMe and we were able to sign a lease in SSL opening Old Cuss Cafe a vegetarian cafe and coffee shop in Dec 2021.
That was open for 3.5 years and due to our beautiful customers, we outgrew the space and signed our lease right here at Pierpont ave. After construction was delayed, we have been closed for 11 months but now we are back and better than ever. We have had craft soda, we now serve breakfast, lunch and DINNER. having added 20+ menu items all made in house or sourced locally. We are working on starting live music back up and opening the 2nd half of our business which is Vintage and antique store. After being closed for so long we know that folks might not remember or know that we are back and we have zero give up in our hearts.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
no restaurant is a smooth road. we have seen challenge after challenge but with unity in our partnership Chef Chandler and me know that we can overcome.
We opened in peak pandemic and the had the wreck and the construction delay but we will not be deterred. This is meant to be and in the process Chef and myself have created a trust in each other that is unmatched. i know no matter what hits us that we got this and that Chandler and have each other’s back.
His immense talent in the kitchen and my heart for front of house and beverage. We won’t give up and we will be the premiere Vegetarian restaurant in Utah, I know we belong in the best in the country.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I have been in the coffee/ restaurant industry for over 20 years. My parents are urban farmers, and my mom is a chef and florist. I very much have tried to follow in my mother’s footsteps. she is a true artist but mostly what i try to follow is her drive and her overflow of love and kindness. This has made me very passionate about the customer facing of a restaurant. i aim for Old Cuss to not just be one of the best places to eat and drink but for it to be a place where there is no “cool kid” stuff happening. I want my patrons to feel at home and for our table to feel like the family table. As an establishment I have focused on specialty beverages. We are known for our hose craft syrups and drinks like The Cereal Milk Latte, our Root beer Chai or our Black Currant Latte. We also added Craft Sodas and my favorite is the Amaretto by morning (inspired by a whiskey sour & Cherry limeade. In the kitchen Chef Chandler is known for his innovation with handmade Sub meats, like our mushroom bacon (this stuff is pure gold) and his handmade Chickun. As a vegetarian restaurant we have always said we are making veggie-based food for the most passionate omnivores. We celebrate the veggie and give a a dang about people, product & place.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
As a youngster i remember playing in moms garden with my brothers or climbing the mulberry trees in our yard and collecting berry stains all over our hands. We had a very free range childhood in Oak grove/Odessa Missouri (50 miles out of KCMO)
My Mom ( Christine ) taught me & my brothers how to cook and i really took to it. No matter how tight fund got as a family. Mom & Dad would innovate and made sure we always had food at our table. Sometimes it was pasta and butter and sometimes a feast that Mom would trade with the Amish Village down the road. Life was hard but i could myself very lucky to have had the love from my parents.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Oldcuss.com
- Instagram: Oldcusslc
- Facebook: Old Cuss Coffee
- Yelp: Old Cuss Cafe
