NCC Student Designs Logo for New Restaurant & Brewery
Will Lewis, NCC Advertising & Graphic Design student
The new Sweet Taters logo was designed by NCC Advertising & Graphic Design student, Will Lewis.
“Microbreweries are a booming business right now, and we want to help make Rocky Mount a destination location. We hope to engage the local community, but we also want to draw people in from further out. And the more people that come to Rocky Mount Mills, the more businesses will open there, and the better it will be for everyone. We love this area, and we want as many people as possible to experience it, too,” said Chris Flora, owner of Sweet Taters Restaurant and Brewery.
Committed to the community, Flora and his wife, Erin, have drawn from local talent for their marketing and brand design. Nash Community College Advertising and Graphic Design Student Will Lewis, an intern at Sweet Taters, is the talent behind the new logo. A native of Nashville, Will graduated from Nash Central High School and plans to graduate from Nash Community College in May 2016. “Will is working on bringing the Sweet Taters brand together by providing different creative directions that we had not even thought of. He is working on not only the new logo, but flyers, stickers, merchandise designs and of course beer labels,” Erin said. “Will’s design experience has been helpful as we brand both the brewery and restaurant through integrated marketing efforts.”
Chris and Erin Flora of Nashville, along with Chris’ brother, Greg, are among the first tenants in the re-purposed Rocky Mount Mill. Sweet Taters Restaurant and Brewery is scheduled to open April 30 at 1121 Falls Road, Rocky Mount.
The restaurant’s name celebrates the community as Nash County produces more sweet potatoes than any other county in the United States,” Chris said. “And we use North Carolina grains and hops wherever possible. Just like the best fruits and vegetables come from your local farmer’s market, so does the best beer. That is where our slogan comes from: Eastern North Carolina Born and Brewed.”
The Floras’ combined educational and career experiences are a natural fit for the new venture. They are among the first graduates of Nash Community College’s inaugural beer brewing courses. During the Nash Community College 360 Degree Brewer Program, they refined their brewing skills and knowledge in OSHA Safety, Stainless Steel Welding, Fermentation, Chemistry, Plumbing, Equipment Maintenance, Electrical Systems, Entrepreneurialism, Microbiology and Marketing. Chris said, “The 360 Degree Brewer Program was very useful for several different reasons. One of the biggest reasons is meeting people with the same mindset; it was great to meet the other brewers in our classes, hear everyone’s plans, and help each other out as much as possible. And of course from the business side, there is just so much to do and prepare for.”
Erin’s professional life provided her years of unique practice as a lab technician with the United States Department of Agriculture specializing in cereal grains such as wheat and barley. Much of the equipment she used there is also used in breweries for quality control. “That’s one of the biggest differences between the commercial brewery and the home brewer; it is absolutely essential in the commercial brewery for your beer to taste the same every time,” Chris explained. It is in the laboratory that brewers can maintain quality and consistency. Erin has been honing her home brewing skills for a while now, and is prepared to serve as brewmaster and assist with restaurant operations.
From left: Chris Flora, Erin Flora and Greg Flora
Chris Flora, the business mind behind the new operation, is currently completing his Master of Business Administration degree at East Carolina University’s College of Business and polishing his practical business management skills. His professional acumen will benefit the restaurant in all areas from marketing and sales to operations. Greg Flora will provide his expertise drawn from 15 years in the restaurant operations field. He has served in various front-of-the-house and back-of-the-house capacities and will lead Sweet Taters Restaurant and Brewery as restaurant manager.
“In the Fermentation and Chemistry classes at Nash Community College, we learned a lot about the specific chemical off-flavors that can spoil beer: how to identify them, and most importantly how to avoid them,” Chris said. “We also learned a great deal about scaling the batches up. There is a huge difference between home brewing five gallons of beer and a commercial brewer running 150 gallon batches.”
The trio plans to also take advantage of NCC’s Continuing Education offerings. “Before we enrolled in the 360 Degree Brewer Program, we were already working regularly with Fred Brooks, Director of the Nash Community College Small Business Center.” Chris described the experience saying, “It was invaluable. We attended about 15 different seminars, all completely free. We also had a few one-on-one sessions with Fred to discuss the business plan in general, and to get his input on how we are moving forward.” In the future, Chris says, the College’s Brewing, Distillation and Fermentation degree program and restaurant management classes will provide a great opportunity for ongoing professional development.
The restaurant will offer full service fast-casual dining, a taproom and live music throughout the year. “This opportunity is exactly what we were looking for: a way for us to make a solid connection with the community while running a business that we are passionate about,” Chris said. Learn more about Sweet Taters and see renovation photos at SweetTaters.com.
Chris and Erin Flora, along with Advertising & Graphic Design intern, Will Lewis, examine renovation progress at Sweet Taters
