Episode 95: Cameron Gerber with Pebbles Family Buffet

In 2014, Cameron Gerber bought a hotel and restaurant near his home outside Varney, a small community in Ottawa, Canada. After trying to sell the real estate, he and his brother Andrew opened a casual full-service concept on the property, with no restaurant experience. Their first restaurant struggled until they renovated it into Pebbles Family Buffet, which became a local hit. 

The success of the buffet, fresh bakery, and gift shop required the brothers to develop operating systems and procedures to improve efficiency and profitability. "We learned so much from the information and operating materials we found on www.restaurantowner.com, it remains our go-to reference to this day," says Cameron. 

In 2019, Pebbles Family Buffet increased its guest capacity to more than 250 seats and expanded its food-to-go program. They built a 10,000-square-foot commercial kitchen for the Pebbles Pantry, which delivers seven popular dinner offerings to more than 100 community grocery stores. 

In this episode, Cameron explains the importance of the business’s relationship with its staff and how his vision of Pebbles as a family became a reality. Says Cameron, "We show our care by involving our staff members in our daily operations, menu planning, and community marketing."

Over the next few years, Cameron and Andrew say they plan to continue their commitment to expansion, marketing, and staff. "We see Pebbles with an expanded bakery and gift shop and a pantry that has doubled in its production," says Cameron.