Executive Chef Alisa Reynolds set out to open a restaurant that created a sense of evolved nostalgia, a place where comfort food is prepared in a way that reflects the modern cooking styles of today. The result? My 2 Cents. Named one of the top 100 restaurants in LA, My 2 Cents is a vegan, gluten-free soul food restaurant that prides itself on taking food from the soil to your soul. But managing a thriving small business with complicated, unclear tools became a challenge for Reynolds. So in 2024 she made the strategic decision to switch to Square and quickly saw her efficiency, customer experience, and business operations evolve.

The challenge: Lack of cohesion within the previous point-of-sale system

Reynolds’ previous restaurant technology solution lacked clarity and efficiency. Often she had to struggle to find where important aspects of her business lived, such as inventory reports or catering details, which led to time wasted. She also needed a clear path to customer service support and a better understanding of her customer’s journey. “When you’re all over the place, like myself, you need one thing that is a set system,” she explained. With the constant chaos of the day as a restaurant owner, she needed everything laid out in front of her in a simple, streamlined way to help her thrive in a fast-paced environment effectively. “Square creates clarity for me —a clear pathway forward,” she added.

The solution: The Square ecosystem

Since implementing Square, Reynolds has experienced significant improvements in operational efficiency. “Square creates clarity for me — a clear pathway forward,” she said. With everything in one place, Reynolds and her staff have more time to focus on other aspects of maintaining the business. “Now I’m looking at my interface, and I have my staff, I have my schedule, I have my time cards. I have my bank, I have what I made today. For somebody that doesn’t have an office, this is changing the game,” she remarked. 

Beyond managing the day-to-day operations, Reynolds also found Square Banking solutions especially helpful to keep her business organized. Now she can easily manage what she made in a day in the same place she manages other aspects of her business. “Square Checking is unbelievable. That was a feature that no [other] POS had,” she noted. 

The impact: Using newfound efficiency to cook up a seamless customer experience 

Straightforward integration with existing systems and streamlined processes ensures that operations run smoothly, allowing staff to focus more on providing an exceptional customer experience. Reynolds noted that the need for a cohesive system was paramount in bringing the restaurant into the 21st century. “We now are engaged with our customers more. … The customer loves that,” she said. Using Square Terminal, for instance, allows the business to check out customers at the table instead of forming a line at the front, making the payment and tipping process easier. “My staff has come and said that the customer engagement since we’ve had Square has given them 25% more tips a week,” she noted.

The benefits: Saving time to innovate within the business

The transition to Square has allowed Reynolds to focus more on culinary creativity and innovation within her restaurant. With operational challenges minimized, she can dedicate more time and energy to growing the business. “Now we’re able to do table service. We were fast casual before Square, so that changed the entire makeup of the restaurant”. The newfound clarity and efficiency also enable her to enhance her culinary offerings and expand the menu, ultimately enriching the dining experience for her patrons.’

“I need efficiency. Square has given me that. It’s just plain and simple,” she said.

Switching to Square has transformed the operational landscape of My 2 Cents, providing clarity, efficiency, and a streamlined process that enhances both customer service and culinary innovation. “Square makes you feel more confident about your business,” Reynolds concluded.