CoreLife Eatery, an active lifestyle restaurant chain, opened its first location in Syracuse three years ago. Now, the homegrown company has nearly 50 locations in 11 states.

CoreLife celebrated the public grand opening of its DeWitt location on Dec. 1 at Widewaters Parkway. The restaurant is known for its fresh bowls, salads, noodles and “power plates.”

“It was like a homecoming,” said Meggan Camp, the community engagement director at CoreLife. “The last couple of days it felt like almost a celebration, if you will, in our community that this brand and concept that was started here has come back around.”

Before doors opened at 11 a.m., Co-founder John Caveny helped more than 15 employees with final preparations. For most employees, this was their first day with the company — the job posting on its website reads, “No experience preferred.”

For Caveny, cultivating a staff that’s kind and energetic was more important than hiring employees with extensive food experience. He said CoreLife prefers to have people with minimal experience in the restaurant industry because the industry has created many “bad habits.”

“We really want to hire for attitude, not aptitude,” Caveny said. “We’re trying to be more proactive with how we train people and that they’re smiling, that they’re engaged, that they’re authentic.”

About 10 employees were stationed right behind the counter, half of them assigned to an ingredient station. The first customers who came in were police officers — something Caveny said speaks to the quality of CoreLife’s menu because first responders often aim to eat healthy to perform better.

Business was steady throughout the early morning and afternoon with customers of all ages. Nearly every menu item is highly customizable, and each employee assisted customers with their order as they moved down the counter.

Elizabeth Goldish, a sophomore graphic design major at Syracuse University, ordered a Mediterranean Green Bowl with extra falafel at Saturday’s grand opening. She has been to the other CoreLife location in Syracuse and said she is excited that there’s now one closer to campus.

She said she enjoyed her meal so much that she ordered a noodle dish to take home for dinner.

“Now that it’s closer to campus … you can probably see me here at least once a week now,” Goldish said.

In addition to using fresh ingredients and shopping locally when ingredients are in season, CoreLife engages with the community by connecting with local businesses. Camp reaches out to fitness studios, gyms and health food restaurants to help reach CoreLife’s target audience.

A few stores down from CoreLife, a Panera Bread is in the same plaza. Scott Davis, CoreLife’s president and chief concept officer, led Panera’s menu development for more than a decade before joining the CoreLife team. Although the companies have similar values, Camp said there are some differences — CoreLife doesn’t use microwaves or freezers and doesn’t sell soda, either.

Caveny said CoreLife aims to be on the front edge of making unprocessed food accessible. He is hopeful that more people will turn to healthier options.

“We’re the only place that the more you eat here, the better you feel,” Caveny said.

CoreLife is located at 5743 Widewaters Parkway and is open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Published on December 2, 2018 at 9:36 pm

Contact Haley: hrober03@syr.edu