Epiphany – Hospitality is a Business of Passion and Love!

BY SIMONE J. SMITH

When you walk into a restaurant, you want to be treated like a human, not like a number, so it is important that when you walk into an establishment, you have a genuinely happy experience, and this happens if you are able to have a human experience. Since 1995, when Epiphany first opened its doors, Phyllis James, the visionary and owner of Epiphany Lounge has focused on providing this human experience for all who enter the door. Born on the island of Jamaica, Phyllis knows what it takes to deliver delicious tasting, well-seasoned Caribbean cuisine, as well as providing her clients with an experience straight from the islands. Toronto Caribbean Newspaper would like to present to you, the Epiphany experience.

When you initially arrive at Epiphany, one of the first vibes that is felt is a vibe of family and togetherness. It is no surprise the Epiphany logo is two hearts together; this symbolizes the coming together of friends and family in one place, eating great food and having a fantastic time. For Caribbean people, food is more than the sum of ingredients; it is what brings people together. During the mid- 1990’s to about mid-2000’s, Club Epiphany was not only a restaurant but also one of the hottest nightspots in Toronto. Staying true to the logo, Epiphany became the heartbeat of Toronto and everyone who was anyone frequented and spent time there. It has always been a good mixed crowd; you would have your blue-collar workers, white-collar workers, celebrities, and young people who would come to enjoy good music, and even better food.

Like any other entrepreneur, Phyllis has felt the brunt of starting and sustaining a business. The financial struggles were real from the very beginning; the startup finances were not available, and it was very hard at first to keep afloat. “They tell new restaurant owners that you should have at least six months expenses set aside, but let’s be realistic, most restaurant owners only have about two months set aside,” Phyllis confessed. If it were not for her supporters and the community, Epiphany would not have lasted, which is why she has stayed as loyal to her clients as they are to her.

The club began to consume Phyllis, which is why Club Epiphany had to close down for a while. When she became a mom, she wanted to be there full-time for her children and running a successful club like Epiphany became too much of a strain. With a restaurant opening at 9:00 am and closing at 2:00 am the next morning, it became difficult to juggle the two, so Phyllis then decided to become a full-time mom and put the business on hold. She completely understands the importance of a mother; she looks up to and highly respects the role her mother has in her life. Even with six children, Phyllis’s mom took the time to care for her children, and she taught them all how to cook, and how to run a business. Mom most recently celebrated her 80^th birthday, and Phyllis says that her mom is still very active in helping run the restaurant.  Although she is not mobile, Mom lends ideas and provides support to Phyllis, “God and my Mom are my biggest sources of strength,” Phyllis told Toronto Caribbean Newspaper. “I now know how hard it is to raise children; they consume your life, so I hold mom in high regard because she had to do this with six of us.”

The Epiphany Lounge has now branded itself as an after-work hotspot, which is a little different from the original club vibe that it offered before. They have now started to cater to business professionals who are looking to wind down after work and soak up some good energy. At Epiphany Lounge, people are able: to interact in a friendly, authentic way, provide feedback and express their needs, feel like their needs are heard and met, create special moments, personalize their experience, and feel like everybody knows their name. They continue to strive for the highest quality in food, entertainment, and overall experience. With their “mama’s home cooking” style, and lively clientele it is no wonder that people feel driven to come back week after week. Of course, great food is absolutely critical to the restaurant experience, and the one special that Epiphany is known for is their wings and festival combinations. It’s more than the wings and festival that keeps customers coming back to Epiphany; it is the fact that when you go there, you are treated like a person, and your specific needs are catered to.

By 2020, Gen Z will account for 40% of all consumers, which makes engaging them a priority for business owners (Abravomich, CMO by Adobe, 2015). Phyllis has begun to tap into her children to get ideas on how to attract the younger population. She realizes that you have to find connection points between your brand and consumer. This means connecting with them on their terms, not what you think is their terms. The core of all human relationships is connection, and if a brand can tap into a connection point, a strong relationship can be made with the target demographic. With attention spans plummeting to eight seconds, her children have taught her the power of having a strong social media presence and have begun helping her with her social media content. It is just another way that she has been able to keep it in the family and grow outwards.

There is no denying that after being in business for over 20 years, Epiphany has established itself as a staple in the Toronto Caribbean Marketplace. With their focus on developing, and connecting with people in the community, they are promised prosperous years to come.