Order Reprints

By Lisa Mackinder | M&C
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Food Dance in Kalamazoo offers different sized spaces for meetings all paired with locally sourced food creations from the restaurant’s chefs. COURTESY PHOTO

KALAMAZOO — When businesses choose to hold their meeting or event at Food Dance, an independent restaurant in Kalamazoo infused with a culture of serving fresh, locally grown food — they do so for the “entire experience.”

According to Food Dance’s Michelle Miller, that overarching experience includes great service and great food, meaning how it is prepared and how it is served.

“Our guests trust that we have their best interest at heart and trust we are serving the best quality fresh foods,” Miller told M&C.

That means supporting local farmers and community, which the establishment takes very seriously. It has various partnerships with organizations like Fair Food Matters, a nonprofit that works to build, educate, support and empower the community around local food. Miller emphasized that fresh, local foods represent Food Dance’s focus and identity.

“We know they are getting the best freshest foods locally and we do not compromise that quality,” she said.

That attention to quality products keeps clients coming back, Miller said, noting the company’s adeptness at hosting events also plays a key factor in repeat business. She said that at Food Dance, taking care of guests equates to welcoming them into one’s home.

As such, Food Dance takes great care in attention to details to ensure an event is successful — such as flowers on the tables and guest selected menus and linens. And its new building provides an ambiance that she feels reflects the unique “charming, comfortable, fun and professional” character of downtown Kalamazoo, she said.

Good hosts also listen to their guests. And that’s what Food Dance does when considering strategies for growing the meeting and catering side of the business. For one, they stay connected and have become an integral part of the community. Miller said that in the future, the restaurant looks to offer off-premise delivery and catering. Branching into that realm is important because it would allow the restaurant to meet a need many customers have voiced.

“Our guests have a demand for it,” said Miller. “They regularly ask if we plan to do it or if we can.”

When the time comes for this kind of expansion, she said Food Dance would utilize internal, external and social media marketing, as well as good-old fashioned word of mouth. According to Miller, off-site delivery will start soon and off-site catering is slated for introduction next summer.

“We need to know and provide what our guests want,” said Miller. “So we have to go out and find the information so we can exceed their needs.”

Four years ago, Food Dance moved into its new building, going from a 97-seat restaurant to a 225-person capacity. The move increased options for meetings and events, and thus drummed up more business. Miller pointed to bigger accommodations for events and meetings, and an on-site bakery that creates desserts, cakes, cupcakes, cookies and baked goods made each morning. The atmosphere in the new Food Dance building harkens back to Miller’s description of creating that welcoming, home feeling, with guests walking into rooms with murals on the walls.

“They are served beautiful plates or delicious, bountiful buffets delivered by staff catering to everything they may need,” she said.

Food Dance has three rooms available for meetings and events that may be reserved together or separate, accommodating anywhere from 15-124 guests. Miller indicated that the establishment has the ability to assist clients with events from start all the way to finish and has a wide variety of food options, including salmon, chicken and sirloin dishes. Food Dance hosts breakfast, lunch and dinner meetings. And don’t let the comforting, welcoming environment be deceiving. The restaurant has the technology necessary for business events, like Wi-Fi and projector screens.

Though letting businesses know about Food Dance’s opportunities includes taking menus to places like Borgess Hospital, Bronson Methodist Hospital and Pfizer, sometimes the inviting smells rolling out of the kitchen and relaxing atmosphere is all it takes for diners to select the establishment for an event.

“Personal turns to business and vice versa,” said Miller. M&C