Conversations with Alec Schuler

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alec Schuler.

Hi Alec, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I began working in restaurants at age 15 and loved the fast pace and comradery. I had no idea nor intention in these early years that restaurants would be my career, it was just a fun paid job.

However, after 12+ years working a variety of “front of house” restaurant positions, I was at a juncture in my life. I felt an internal pressure to start my “career path” and I enrolled in Culinary School, with the idea to eventually open my own concept. About 9 years after that, in 2009, I opened my first Restaurant, Arugula Ristorante in North Boulder. Arugula was immediately bursting at the seams, and we expanded by about 30 seats into an adjacent out-of-business restaurant space in 2011. And with the remaining room and full kitchen of the new space I opened Tangerine, a breakfast and lunch concept, so as not to compete with Arugula’s dinner service. Well… that went so well that in 2018 I sold Arugula and opened two more Tangerines, Lafayette in 2018 and Longmont in 2019.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not so smooth. Building out a restaurant to match your concept and needs perfectly is a tedious and expensive endeavor. The importance of keeping top level staff is a continuous focus, and it seems impossible not to have constant turnover in the service staff. Obviously, COVID nearly crushed all 3 Tangerines. And throughout all that, the yearly CO state mandated large “tipped minimum wage” increases since about 2015 may just crush Tangerine. And those wage increases just keep coming every January 1 !

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Creating a warm, comfortable and safe environment for people to enjoy a meal together. Showing them and great time with intriguing and creative food and drink creations. All this is a daytime atmosphere (i.e. not evening dinner) is hard to find.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
Treat all with respect and work hard

Contact Info:

• Website: https://TangerineEats.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tangerinecolorado/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tangerinerestaurants