Little Bear
Day care center · Oaklyn
300 White Horse Pike, Oaklyn, NJ 08107
Highlights
Multilingual daycare with caring staff and clean facilities
Multilingual daycare with caring staff and clean facilities
"Chef-owner Jarrett Stieber opened after seven years of running a pop-up, initially unsure he wanted to continue in an industry with "long, grueling hours for little pay," but hoping to "build something better and more sustainable, for both him and his workers." The restaurant opened on February 26, 2020, and two weeks later Stieber was spending the $2,000 the place had earned in profit on takeout boxes and disposable cutlery, trying to figure out if menu items like beet egg drop soup or catfish okonomiyaki would travel well; the spot would serve takeout only for the next 18 months. Five years on, the business is "experimenting with new menu items and themes, and launching a digital cookbook," and Stieber says, "What I originally envisioned is the restaurant that exists now," adding that he wanted "No takeout, a small staff, an open kitchen so we can interact with the guests. It’s definitely been nice to see that dream become a reality." He also acknowledges the role of luck and early sympathy in 2020—"we had just opened, so we got sympathy orders. There’s no way around that"—and the persistent financial strain: "If I could build up extra savings for anything I’d be happy. That’s impossible in restaurants realistically, at least ones that aren’t rip-off cash cow concepts. We haven’t put anything proactive in place because I’m not sure what we can do, there’s no way to just magically make and save more money." - Jaya Saxena
"Known for collectible merch (notably a 'Fernando' motif on t-shirts) and for playful, high-ticket menu items — an example is “Dealer’s Choice (a.k.a. Just F--- Me Up, Fam)” which designers place in prime spots to grab attention. Chef Jarrett Stieber, who has collaborated with a local design studio for years, says, “Alvin’s Diec’s handwriting is very distinctive, and Elizabeth McNair illustrates by hand. The way they lay things out, the fonts they use, the mixture of his handwriting, her illustrations, are a distinct style.”" - Avery Centrella
"A pop-up-turned-permanent restaurant that illustrates the local ecosystem’s ability to incubate new concepts and support their growth into established businesses." - Beth McKibben
Lilian Alwilly
Hafsa Ahmed
Rosmilqui Jimenez
Gina DiMarco
unique love
kelly matthews
Rahma Ahmed
Tara Sullivan
