First Week at Ari’s

It’s been a minute since I’ve experienced a first week at a new job.

Specifically, 1,576,800 minutes… so, 3 years.

Especially in a role that feels completely new to me.

For the first time ever, I have a work desk. A computer. A work phone. And business cards.

Still processing that one.

I almost jumped up and down when I saw them.

And I’ll be honest, one of the strangest parts of this transition has been realizing that for the first time in years, my work week doesn’t revolve around nights and weekends.

Which means I could technically become one of those people who posts “closes laptop until Monday” memes if I ever really wanted to.

For the past few years, hospitality has looked like getting 15k steps in a dinner shift, burning my hands carrying various pizzas, and creating memorable experiences face-to-face.

And while this role looks different on paper, I’m already realizing a lot of the things I loved about hospitality still show up here.

Connecting with people.
Building relationships.
Learning new things.
Becoming part of a community in a different way.

Here’s what my first week at Ari’s Pantry has me realizing:

Community starts immediately.

I spent a few hours at the Oak Cliff location learning about all the products Ari’s has to offer with the help of an incredible culinary ambassador, David.

David is so caring, hospitable, and extremely knowledgeable.

I’m telling you!!!

I’d point at a jar of pesto and he’d know the entire backstory.

While working in the store, I met all kinds of people who frequent Ari’s.

Curious. Talkative. Excited. Genuine.

It was so fun getting to know the people who come by often and with purpose.

Along with spending time at the Oak Cliff location, I also attended two Chamber of Commerce events in Coppell.

It was very exciting to meet so many hardworking and knowledgeable people. Hearing about the industries people work in, what they do for the community, and the ways they support one another was incredibly inspiring.

The more people I meet, the more I realize community isn’t something you slowly discover here.

It’s something you’re welcomed into immediately.

Expect Ari to make you try snacks.

I don’t know if this was technically listed in the job description, but it probably should have been.

I’m almost certain Ari’s love language is food. I know Amy would back me up on this.

We’ll be talking about the business, and then suddenly we’re pivoting to testing a new product.

It’s becoming increasingly difficult to leave work without discovering a new favorite snack.

Right now, I am loving the Mitica Cacio e Pepe Taralli crackers. The orange Perle di Sole candies are also fire.

This is a “problem” I’m more than happy to have.

Our kitchen staff is awesome, and the food they prepare is AMAZING!!!

On Friday, I had the opportunity to come in early before starting my day at the office to spend some time with Ari’s Pantry’s Executive Chef, Trevor.

I’ve worked alongside all types of chefs over the last few years, and it’s always fun getting to know the people preparing the food.

Out of everything new I’m learning in this role, being around a kitchen staff feels the most familiar.

It reminds me of where I came from and what I love most about hospitality.

I’m really looking forward to working with and learning from Trevor, Stephanie, Fred, Colleen, and the rest of the culinary team.

The amount of work that goes into preparing food for multiple locations, catering events, and special orders is very impressive.

The entire kitchen staff works incredibly hard, and it shows in every dish that leaves the kitchen.

Plus, if I visit them enough and make them like me, they’ll hopefully give me these lasagna bites I keep hearing about :)))))

Hospitality looks different, but it still feels familiar.

One of my biggest questions coming into this role was whether I would miss the parts of hospitality I loved most.

The answer so far?

Not really.

The setting is different, but the heart of it feels very familiar.

Whether it’s helping someone find the perfect gift, learning about a client’s upcoming event, introducing myself to local business owners, or simply having conversations with people who walk through the door, it all comes back to relationships.

At the end of the day, hospitality has always been about people.

In the span of a few days, I’ve been learning about catering, community outreach, lead generation, software systems, office operations, corporate gifting, and approximately 47 other things currently written in my notebook.

Every day I’ve been introduced to a different piece of the business.

It’s challenging.
It’s a little overwhelming.
It’s also what makes it exciting.

There are moments where I feel confident and moments where I’m convinced I know absolutely nothing.

I promise I know things. I’m just dramatic sometimes.

But that’s probably part of starting something worth doing.

For now, I’m taking notes, asking questions, meeting people, trying snacks, and figuring it out one day at a time.

And honestly? That’s exactly where I’m supposed to be.

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Thank you for following along on this first chapter of my journey with Ari’s Pantry. I’m excited to continue learning, meeting incredible people, discovering new flavors, and sharing stories from our community along the way.

If you’d like to follow more of my experiences, observations, and connections throughout the Ari’s Pantry community, you can explore additional stories here:

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