Stone Soupe

Stone Soupe was a different kind of investment for me. Unlike my other businesses where I’m hands-on, this was my first acquisition where I intentionally took a step back from the daily operations. That made it both a strategic challenge and a personal milestone in my growth as an entrepreneur. Stone Soupe is a gourmet deli and catering operation located inside the Stony Brook Technology Center. It sits right in the heart of a high-traffic medical park and primarily serves the doctors, researchers, and staff working throughout the complex. Our bread and butter is catering, and our goal from the start has been to grow that channel through existing relationships with medical offices and labs in the area. The thesis for this project was rooted in modernizing how the business reaches customers and where it allocates its resources. One of the first changes we made was adding third-party delivery platforms like Uber Eats and DoorDash. At the same time, we started phasing out our in-house delivery operation, which in most cases is a break-even or loss-leading service in food businesses. As the restaurant consultant Bruce Reinstein put it, “Delivery is not a profit center; it’s a marketing tool. You don’t make money on delivery.” That philosophy aligned with our goal to simplify operations while maintaining reach. We also saw an opportunity to expand evening hours. Right next to us are two busy neighbors Kumon tutoring and a popular dance studio both of which see traffic well into the night. By staying open later, we can capture that crowd and bring in a new stream of revenue without major changes to the infrastructure. Lastly, we’re building out a more premium coffee program. The demographic we serve is largely made up of high-earning professionals who are in the building early and value convenience. With the right coffee and grab-and-go options, there’s a strong chance to increase ticket size and become a consistent part of their morning routine. This acquisition is teaching me how to grow and optimize a business from a higher altitude. It’s about building systems, empowering operators, and making thoughtful bets on where the market is going. So far, the results are promising and we’re just getting started.