Inside how Cara and Cliff are building a recovery-friendly, wellness-first workplace -- and what others can learn from it.
The industry we know--and the one we need
The restaurant industry has long been defined by intensity.
Long hours. High pressure. A pace that doesn't leave much room to pause--let alone recover.
For the people doing the work, that often means burnout becomes part of the job description.
Cara and Cliff saw that reality up close. And instead of accepting it, they started asking a different question:
What would it look like to build a restaurant where people could actually sustain the work?
Building something different
At Odie B's and Boombots in Denver, that question became a blueprint.
Not for a perk.
Not for a program.
For a different way of operating.
They began to rethink what support looks like--not as something offered occasionally, but something built into the foundation of the business.
A workplace where people feel safe speaking up. Where recovery is supported, not stigmatized. Where care is visible, consistent, and shared.
Because when people feel supported, everything else starts to shift.
A better way to run a restaurant
Cara and Cliff didn't just change the tone of their workplace.
They built a system around it.
Start with culture
Their approach is grounded in three principles: Honest, Open, Proud.
- Honest about stress, burnout, and the realities of the work
- Open to conversations around mental health and recovery
- Proud of growth, progress, and the people doing the work
It's simple language. But it creates clarity--and over time, trust.
Make care structural, not situational
Support doesn't depend on a single manager or a good day.
It's built into how the business runs:
- Flexible scheduling when it's needed
- Space for mental health days
- Managers trained to recognize burnout and respond with care
- Access to support systems, both internal and external
Care isn't reactive. It's expected.
Lead as a recovery-friendly workplace
In an industry where substance use and mental health struggles are often hidden, Cara and Cliff chose a different path. They've created a recovery-friendly workplace--one that actively supports employees navigating those challenges.
That includes:
- Second-chance hiring
- Access to recovery resources
- A culture that reduces stigma instead of reinforcing it
It's not just compassionate. It's forward-thinking leadership.
Create rituals that reinforce it
Culture isn't built in a single conversation. It's reinforced over time.
Each year, Cara and Cliff host a dedicated Wellness Week--a chance for their team to reset, reconnect, and be supported in tangible ways.
Throughout the week, care shows up in real, visible ways:
- On-site services like massage, acupuncture, and nutrition support
- Preventative health offerings
- Shared meals across their restaurants
- Time spent volunteering together in the community
- Space to celebrate, unwind, and reconnect as a team
It's not about stepping away from the work.
It's about making the work sustainable.
Treat wellness like a business strategy
This approach isn't separate from performance--it drives it.
Investing in employee wellness leads to:
- Stronger retention
- Higher engagement
- Reduced burnout and absenteeism
Care isn't at odds with running a successful business.
It's part of how you build one.
What changes when people feel supported
When care becomes part of the foundation, the impact shows up everywhere.
In how teams communicate.
In how long people stay.
In the pride they take in their work.
The shift isn't always loud. But it's lasting.
A workplace becomes more than a place to get through a shift.
It becomes something people can grow with.
Where to start
For operators thinking about what this could look like in their own businesses, the path doesn't have to be complicated.
Start here:
- Build the culture first
- Equip your managers
- Make care visible and consistent
Small shifts, done with intention, can change everything.
A different standard
Cara and Cliff aren't just rethinking their own restaurants.
They're part of a broader shift--one that's beginning to take hold across the industry.
A shift toward workplaces where people can pursue meaningful work--and sustain it.
Where care isn't a perk.
It's part of the job.
And where supporting the people behind the work is understood as essential to the work itself.
