Today we’d like to introduce you to Alan Donovan.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
After graduating college, I worked in finance in Washington, DC. During my later years of college I developed some dietary restrictions and became much more aware of what I was eating. As I began my desk job, I noticed a big lack of healthy food options, especially in the breakfast market. I wanted something that was quick and healthy and something I could feel good about. I was always a big oatmeal fan and I realized that it was the one thing I could eat in the morning and feel full and energized until lunch. I began experimenting at home and realized all the amazing combinations of oatmeal, both sweet and savory. I was also surrounded by health-conscious folks feeling the same lack of options in the breakfast market. And this is how my concept came to life. I took six months to write the business plan and research and then I quit my job in January 2016 and moved back home to Boston. After another six months of planning and networking, I found a cafe that allowed me to do a pop up at their space for the summer. After a successful two month pop-up in Brookline, I found a permanent space in Davis Square, Somerville. We did a quick buildout and we opened in January 2017. I had no prior food background so it has been a major learning experience.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Definitely not! There have been many challenges along the way. As a small, independent business, it can be a major challenge navigating the permitting and city regulations when it comes to building out a space, zoning restrictions and food-specific health department guidelines. We encountered many delays and tricky situations, but managed to eventually get the business open.
Oat Shop – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
We are the Boston area’s first oatmeal cafe. We specialize in creating custom oatmeal bowls. We have many signature sweet and savory options and also have a build-your-own option as well. We pair this with Counter Culture coffee and espresso and MEM tea alongside baked goods and other items made in house. We are most proud of creating a warm environment that offers products with real ingredients at a fair price and quickly.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I am still very new to my business, but there have been some very proud moments. The proudest moment so far was having a couple come into that shop that traveled from 40 minutes away and had been eagerly anticipating trying us out. This is definitely something rare in the quick-service space and I was so proud that they were not disappointed and will be coming back.
Contact Info:
- Address: 22A College Ave
- Website: oatshopboston.com
- Phone: 6176401377
- Email: alan@oatshopboston.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oatshopboston
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oatshopboston/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/oatshopboston
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/oat-shop-somerville
Image Credit:
Deer Drifter Photography
Getting in touch: BostonVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
