Kim Bartmann swore to herself that she’d never put herself in the position of being treated unfairly in the workplace. It was after a stint as a cook in a restaurant, supporting herself as she went through college, that the inequality in the workplace opened her eyes.
Free-spirited Bartmann is a self-professed hippie who was known for her anti-establishment beliefs. Authority wasn’t something she respected. I was from a “punk-rock culture” and “very anti-authoritarian.”
But since working in a culture where low pay and unfair work issues were the norm, Bartmann set about establishing her own business to achieve the opposite. Tiny Diners was opened in the 1980s in an area no one wanted to touch. Since her doors opened, her diner has been full; the alternative business attracting all walks of life.
Bartmann put the importance of her workers first. Living wages are paid, and kitchen workers receive free meals on a daily basis. Communication is encouraged too – where she ensures her employees have a chance to sit down and talk while enjoying their meals. The atmosphere is welcoming upon walking through the doors.
The customers also enjoy the feature garden outside, which grows up to 70 percent of its own food, and the environmentally friendly attitudes of the business with the installed solar panels, and friendly staff.
For other small businesses looking for an ‘edge,’ this story isn’t difficult to replicate. As one customer says about Tiny Diner, it’s about supporting places like this, rather than the big chains. “I love. And I love the garden outside, too. I think that’s awesome.”
