A desire for breakfast led an Imperial resident to embark on a new business venture.
Secil Schodroski, a nurse practitioner who operates a wellness center in Sunset Hills and an in-home care business, plans to open the At Sunrise restaurant Saturday, June 18, at 1277 Main St., in Imperial.
The restaurant will be housed in the retail complex where the Frankie Gianino’s restaurant is located.
“This whole (At Sunrise) restaurant thing came up just because I wanted some breakfast,” she said.
Schodroski, 45, said her restaurant will serve breakfast and lunch.
In addition, brunch will be available on weekends, she said.
“On Saturdays and Sundays, I love to have brunch,” Schodroski said. “I found in Jefferson Country, there was not a place that is more upscale with things like crabcake benedict, chicken and waffles, and fried-green tomatoes.”
Along with her craving for breakfast food and fondness for brunch, Schodroski said the closure of Sunrise Restaurant at 4313 Jeffco Blvd. near the Pleasant View Motel outside Arnold inspired her to open her own restaurant.
Schodroski said she ate there often, mainly because of its potatoes, and when the restaurant was torn down in the summer of 2021, she felt compelled to open her own place for breakfast.
“When I got word they were closing, I called one of the servers,” she said. “I asked the server how to get the place back open. I prayed about it. I said, ‘Lord are you giving me another project?’ My kids make fun of me, saying ‘Mom you always have to have a project.’”
Schodroski describes herself as a serial entrepreneur. She opened The Health and Wellness Center, 9717 Landmark Parkway Drive, about eight years ago. She then started the Lea Helen’s Helping Hands for Supportive Care, which provides at-home care for patients, about three years ago.
She said some of the staff at Sunrise Restaurant has been working for her at-home care business since that restaurant closed and while waiting for At Sunrise to open.
“That was important for me to do,” Schodroski said.
At Sunrise
Schodroski said she rarely cooks and often there is little to no food in her refrigerator. However, she feels her experience operating her own businesses will help her succeed in her new venture.
Also, she said she plans to surround herself with the right employees.
She said Brian Barnes, who owned the Southern Barnes restaurant, will be the head chef, and he will be joined by cooks Jeff Smith and Yolanda Ishman in the kitchen. Meghan Ruhl will be the manager, and Olivia Stevens will be the kitchen manager.
She also said George Gilley, who worked at the former Sunrise Restaurant, will work at the restaurant, and will make the potatoes she loved at his old place of employment.
Schodroski said she plans to employ a minimum of 16 people at the restaurant.
“We are going to be successful,” she said. “I understand it has been harder to get materials and there can be issues with supply chain, but for some reason, I have not been afraid.
“I figure if I can build (The Health and Wellness Center) practice without doing it before, I can do this.”
Along with diverse breakfast and lunch menus, Schodroski said the restaurant will have six alcoholic beverages on the menu, like mimosas and bloody Marys.
“I want this to be a fun place where you can hang out, get something to eat and listen to some good tunes,” she said.
Schodroski said music is important to her and she put in a sound system in the restaurant, and she plans to have live music on Sundays.
She also said the building was completely gutted, new plumbing was installed and everything in the kitchen is new.
“We want to keep the food hot, have great presentation and have great energy,” Schodroski said. “The main thing I want is great service.”
Schodroski and her husband, Russell Schodroski Jr., have five children: Amanda Schodroski Thomas, 34; Patrick Schodroski, 29; Sethan Schodroski, 27; Symphony Schodroski, 19; and Serenity Schodroski, 18, and three grandchildren: Hailey, 5; Axel, 1; and, Lucas, who was born May 17.
She said she is looking forward to owning a restaurant in a community she loves.
“I have been here for 20 years,” Schodroski said. “I love Jefferson County and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. I’m pretty excited to open the restaurant.”