Member Spotlight: Pierpont's
The restaurant industry has experienced some of the biggest changes and barriers to overcome since the arrival of COVID-19. In this Member Spotlight, we are looking at how the Chamber’s Union Station neighbors at Pierpont’s have overcome the challenges the industry has faced, and how they plan to move forward.
November 2019 marked 20 years of fine dining for Pierpont’s, and they were able to celebrate that milestone in many ways, including hosting the Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs during their victory parade in February of 2020. Right around the same time as the 20-year anniversary, Scott Deigart was placed in charge of the iconic bar at Pierpont’s and has created a new wave of bar and cocktail offerings for guests to enjoy.
As has been the case with several businesses across the globe, the impact of COVID happened quickly. As Stephen Valenti, Pierpont’s VP of Marketing and Public Relations, stated, “The 100-year-old marble floor vanished from beneath us. We were heartbroken and worried about the future of the industry. Our passion, providing the Pierpont’s Experience for our guests, relies on being able to invite them to the timeless space we have called home for the past 20 years.”
The entire staff quickly rose to the challenge and began to adapt to the new era of restaurant service. The first change implemented was switching the menu to one that would become carry-out focused. The culinary team worked to create a menu designed for “to-go cuisine” that still provided the quality and attention to detail that comes with a meal from Pierpont’s.
Some of the standout aspects of the transition to curbside pickup were the raw steak packages and the “Bottled-In Quarantine.” Pierpont’s is known for serving top-quality USDA Prime Beef, and given a potential shortage in the industry and the supply chain, they made a decision to essentially shift to “A part time butcher shop with overwhelmingly positive feedback and high demand” explained Valenti. The “Bottled-In Quarantine” became a huge success when Deigart realized that he had incredible cocktails at his disposal, and no one was able to get their hands on a stiff drink across town. Pierpont’s began to bottle their cocktails and sell them as a new line that has now become a steady source of revenue and a potential future endeavor centered around holiday gifts and other celebratory events.
As conditions in Kansas City began to improve, Pierpont’s took all the necessary precautions to safely re-open their doors to the public. Following guidelines that include mandatory face masks for all staff, social distancing of six feet between parties and strategically located sanitizaing stations around the restaurant, Pierpont’s was able to let its eager customers back in, and has been able to experience as Valenti stated “A version of normalcy.”
Pierpont’s has been among the Chamber members taking advantage of the online resources provided during the pandemic. Valenti noted “With varying reports about the nature of the virus and its ramifications for businesses, schools, and everyday life, it was comforting to have a central source for reliable information.”
As Pierpont’s prepares to return to its top-notch dining experience, they are excited to announce the opening of the Conductor Club. This semi-exclusive social experience is only accessible through a secret staircase that leads to a second-floor space with a remarkable view of Union Station. More and more events are on the way through the Conductor Club, and you can follow along via their Instagram @ConductorClubKC.
