The food scene is booming in Hudson, MA and we’re honored to bring you a tasty look at one of our favs!
Located in the Landing at Hudson Mills, MA is The Wild Hare! This up and coming restaurant brings a modern and tasteful feel to downtown Hudson, MA. The food is AMAZING, the ambiance is truly an experience and the staff at The Wild Hare are down-to-earth, welcoming and genuinely really love being a part of something unique.
In this feature of our “What Inspires Us” campaign, we loved getting to know the awesome entrepreneurs and visionary team at The Wild Hare and spoke with the owner, Keith Sullivan to find out all the ins and outs of this dynamite spot.
Whether you are in the mood for a great breakfast, lunch or one of a kind dinner, visit The Wild Hare of Hudson, MA located on 43 Broad Street #B102
Hudson, MA! For more information or to make a reservation, visit their website www.wildhareofhudson.com
Interview with Keith Sullivan from The Wild Hare of Hudson
Tell us about your Hudson based restaurant:
We bring people together in a unique and inspiring space, offering world class barrel-aged beer, a sophisticated yet mischievous brunch and dinner menu, fresh-baked breads and pastries, and a high end espresso program to top it all off.
What is your personal story? How did you get started?
Through traveling for work I realized that being on an airplane and in hotels for many weeks a year was not taking the best advantage of my skills. Having been in rock bands for most of my teenage and adult life up to that point, I felt the need to bring people together and entertain them. Soon after that realization I met my two current partners, Keith Antul and Tom Sutter, and the three of us built Medusa Brewing Company in Hudson, MA. After opening the brewery in 2015, we continued to build on our creative side, guiding us more and more toward advanced beer-making techniques and the connection between beer and food. Eventually, we were presented with the opportunity to build something in a newly-renovated mill building just a stone’s throw away from the Medusa taproom. We took the opportunity with the intent to bring something brand new and totally unique to the burgeoning Hudson food and beverage scene. Allowing us space to create wild and unique beers, as well as to provide guests with a next-level food and coffee program, Wild Hare was born.
The passion for what I do came from my upbringing. I grew up in a home where food brought us together, and my friends were always taking advantage of my mom’s cooking. Creating gathering spaces such as Medusa and Wild Hare are a reflection of the desire I have to continue that.
How long have you been in business?
Wild Hare has been in business for just about one year.
What kinds of things do you want to hear from your customers?
“Are those real?” (referring to our living wall of plants).
“That was the best croissant I’ve ever eaten.”
“That was so good. We have to come back here.”
“I love the people here. Everyone is just so friendly and always asks how my day is going.”
What is the biggest factor that has helped you achieve success?
The biggest factor in success thus far has been the trust I put in others. This industry is all about teamwork and unless you can trust your team, you will not succeed for long.
Describe a way that your business helps your community in a positive way?
We try to focus our community help in ways to make a measurable, positive impact with someone on our team, within our community, or for something that our business relies on for mutual support. Some examples include raising funds for ALS research, women’s causes, cancer research, veteran groups, and the Massachusetts Brewers Guild.
What makes you different from other companies?
Wild Hare stands out with its artisanal and adventurous approach to all aspects of our offerings. We make and cellar our own beer through Medusa Brewing Co. (also of Hudson, MA), while our kitchen strives to inspire guests through a French-inspired menu unlike anything in the area.
What are some things you value as a business owner?
As a business owner, I value the team of people we’ve put together to make things happen. Without their creativity and dedication, Wild Hare would not be anything like it is today. After all, we are not a business based on a particular restaurant model or food program, but rather, an experience guided by what inspires those of us who work and visit our place.
What is the best advice you can give to others?
The most important thing we have as individuals is our identity, and that transcends to the business entities we create. Unless you know your identity and that of the business you intend to create, you will always make more mistakes, take longer to decide, and lack the enthusiasm and leadership qualities that will be necessary for when things are difficult. Things will always get difficult.
If you could start all over again, what would you do differently?
Starting it all over, I would have adopted a more conservative approach to expansion, and a stronger focus on solidifying what we had. Growth is good, but growth that outpaces your abilities is surely to lead to tough decisions.
At the end of the day, what puts a smile on your face?
What puts a smile on my face at the end of the day is knowing that we made someone else happy. Whether that was through a tasty beer, a good meal, or an inspiring coffee date, someone will always have a better day because of what we do.
We need your help to nominate businesses that go above and beyond to support the community and others in need.
Our goal is to showcase these individuals by offering them a collaborative experience by featuring their story in our “What Inspires Us” campaign.
Help us promote inspiring stories for others in our network to see!
