Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/469117
www.wbjournal.com • Worcester Business Journal 37 25 YEARS: IMPACTFUL COMPANIES 1-800-343-0939 I N S U R A N C E A N D F I N A N C I A L S E R V I C E S F O R Y O U A N D Y O U R B U S I N E S S • S E R V I N G T H E S M A L L B U S I N E S S C O M M U N I T Y S I N C E 1 9 6 7 FRANCIS R. CARROLL • BRIAN K. CARROLL • LISA M. CARROLL Congratulations to Peter Stanton Publisher & CEO and the Worcester Business Journal on 25 Years of Service to the Central Massachusetts Business Community. I N S U R A N C E M A D E S I M P L E 1-800-548-6900 C OMM U N I C A TI ON A T I T S BE S T ! SBSB/SBIA half page Ad for WBJ 25th ann 2014_Ad for wbJ 9/16/14 2:09 PM Page 1 Y ou may not be familiar with the name "Worcester Restaurant Group." But you almost certainly know the married-couple owners and their culinary-delight establishments. Robb and Madeleine Ahlquist, found- ers of The Sole Proprietor, One Eleven Chop House and VIA, began their careers in food service while they were both students at Syracuse University. Robb was working for the university's food services to help pay for his school- ing when Syracuse sought greater stu- dent involvement in its operation. He was named the first student coordinator of the food-service program, which had 400 employees and served 20,000 meals a day in seven dining halls. After gradu- ation, Robb took a managerial position at a firm that owned two steakhouses and was opening a third. Meanwhile, Madeleine became a teacher. Based on that added training Robb received, he decided to open his own restaurant. He spent a year looking for an ideal location while Madeleine con- tinued teaching. They wanted to locate in Massachusetts and decided the Worcester market was underserved. After spending a year looking for an ideal location, they purchased the for- mer Shannon's II on Highland Street and opened The Sole Proprietor in 1979. It has grown every year for more than 35 years and now serves 350,000 meals a year and has 85 full-time-equivalent employees. In 1999, the Ahlquists opened the One Eleven, which quickly became one of the most popular restaurants in Central Massachusetts. Within 11 months, sales exceeded third-year pro- jections. VIA, their third venture, opened in 2007 next door on Shrewsbury Street. In our 2009 Business Leaders profile of the couple, we wrote, "One of the principles that the Ahlquists have adopt- ed is 'lean,' a term most often applied to manufacturing. But the concept — which puts a high value on efficiency — is a major part of the Ahlquists' business philosophy." n Worcester Restaurant Group Thirty-five years after Robb and Madeleine Ahlquist opened The Sole Proprietor in Worcester, diners continue to flow through the doors. The couple has also added two Shrewsbury Street eateries to their local menu of dining options. 25