Meet Brianna Keefe — Washington D.C.’s freshest, youngest, and most zealous female entrepreneur
Brianna brings clean living, aesthetic food, and female empowerment to new levels on the waters of D.C.’s newest waterfront destination, The Wharf.
Brianna Keefe is the owner and founder of Toastique, a gourmet toast and juice bar, offering a colorful variety of fresh and responsibly sourced breakfast and lunch items. Toastique’s simple and wholesome menu is not only one to salivate at, but one to admire as well, as each meal is elegantly and artistically crafted.
I am honored to be sharing the personal and entrepreneurial story of Brianna Keefe. Just through our virtual interview, and several email communications, her enthusiastic spirit and passionate ambition left me with an unparalleled awe and admiration, moving me deeply as a woman and a professional.
If anyone needs reassurance for silencing their fears, following their dreams, and turning them into your every day reality — despite your age, experience, or gender — meet Brianna Keefe.
1. What were your plans after graduating college? Did you always consider yourself an entrepreneur?
“Senior year at James Madison University (JMU) I had a job lined up for me at a hotel in the food and beverage department in DC. I knew it was a great first step into the ‘real world’, but I knew I wasn’t going to be with that company forever. I wouldn’t say I have always considered myself an entrepreneur, but I have always been my own person; the way I think, the way I act, who I am.
Ever since I was young, I always pushed boundaries and challenged myself to see if I’m capable of things that I (or others) didn’t think I could do.
Have I always wanted to be an entrepreneur though? Absolutely! I even took an entrepreneurship class at JMU.”
2. What inspired you to create Toastique and how did you get started with it? Talk me through it.
“Toastique is my childhood dreams, inspirations, love of food & health, and passion for hospitality all combined into one. From a young age I’ve been passionate about clean living in all its forms. In high school I made smoothies almost every day, this sparking the dream of owning my own ‘smoothie shack by the beach.’ When I got to JMU, I was in for a bit of a schedule shock as a D1 athlete cheerleader (go Dukes!) I learned quickly how important it was to have wholesome meals to keep my energy up throughout the day running from training to class to practice to games. This is when I really started experimenting with toast. Soon I started expanding my original avocado toast, to various toast creations to accommodate my busy schedule anytime of the day.
Every time I visit a new city or country I’m always in search of juice bars and toasts, which honestly is quite hard to find in the states! I went overseas to Australia a few years ago and that is when I finally realized everything I ever wanted in a piece of toast, Australia had it. The states (more specifically DC) needed something like this and I wanted to be the one to create it here. So this idea has always been in the back of my mind for a while now. I didn’t know when I was going to do it or how, but I knew one day I was going to figure it out. When the beautiful new waterfront area in DC, The District Wharf, was being built I walked around while it was still under construction and as soon as I saw the potential in the area I said to myself, ‘this is it.’ In that moment, I knew I was going to do whatever it takes to make it happen.
I saw the challenge… the biggest, riskiest challenge I was ever determined to succeed at: convince the management of this incredible new waterfront area that a 23 year-old girl who has never owned a business before join the neighborhood.
With a lot of sleepless nights, a ridiculous amount of determination and the knowledge I’ve brought with me from JMU, I did it. And the rest is history.”
3. What wakes you up in the morning?
“Instant adrenaline. It’s kinda crazy, but as soon as my alarm goes off I have this sense of adrenaline and my mind starts racing of excitement and a little anxiousness of everything that needs to be done that day.”
4. What does a typical day look like for you?
“Crazy to say the least. Right now we are in the middle of construction. Which honestly is probably one of the coolest parts about it all. I wake up every day and am at the store by 5 or 6am. I have a folding table and chair I’ll sit at and do work while I watch my dream come to life right in front of me. I’m in the store every day for 12–16 hours. The work never ends, but knowing you’re doing it for yourself, that keeps the energy going all day long.”
5. What’s the greatest thing you took away from your education at James Madison University?
“The greatest thing I took away from JMU was to be kind to everyone, every day. It’s not something I learned in the classroom, but it’s something that I cherish so much at JMU. Everyone is so kind and friendly and I think that’s why people are so passionate about the JMU lifestyle. The atmosphere anywhere on campus was always buzzing of good vibes. Being kind will get you further in life than most of the knowledge you learned in some classes.”
6. Have you faced any challenges personally or professionally as a woman entrepreneur?
“I think the biggest challenge is gaining respect from others. I tend to find that most people don’t take women seriously as they do men. Luckily being at the Wharf, they really encourage the neighborhood livelihood and everyone has been extremely friendly so far. It’s more of the outside people that sometimes look at you and question you 20x because they truly don’t believe a young girl like myself is opening a restaurant.”
7. What does it mean for you to be a female founder/woman entrepreneur? EVERYTHING.
8. Do you think being an entrepreneur is for everyone?
“No I do not. Entrepreneurship is all about the drive, passion and commitment someone has towards something. You need to want something so bad that you will dedicate your whole life, if you need to, to make it happen. Once you start, it’s something you can’t just quit or give up on half way through. You have to go 110% full speed ahead and don’t look back.”
9. What has been your proudest moment so far in your entrepreneurial journey?
“My proudest moment so far was getting the physical lease.
The fact that this all started as an idea, I sat down and banged out a 27 page-long business plan, proved myself to the biggest broker and developer in the DC area that a 23 year-old girl who has never opened a restaurant before deserved to be a part of the new waterfront area in DC.
I worked my butt off pushing for Toastique to get in for months. Throughout those months I was doing everything I possibly could to make it happen, but I knew it was a bit of a stretch to actually make it happen. So when it did, I’ve never felt so proud that my endless hours I put into this paid off.”
10. What sets Toastique apart from other restaurants in the DC area?
“I think Toastique is going to bring something that everyone never knew they needed. What makes us unique is that we are having our focus on toast. Some places have avocado toast as an option, but no one has it as their specialty. We are using beautiful fresh ingredients, so why put another piece of bread on the top and close it up?
Whether you notice it or not, you eat with your eyes first and we are really taking on that concept. Everything on our menu, whether it be toast or a smoothie or an acai bowl, will be almost like a piece of art.”
11. What personal or professional traits/skills of yours have aided you the most in creating your startup?
“Sometimes, I have tunnel vision (which is not always a good thing), but when I see something, I won’t stop ’til I get it and this was one of those times. As soon as I saw the Wharf, my passion and drive took full reign and it was only forward from there. I also consider myself to be very much a people person. I love talking to people and listening to their stories. I think this is another trait that helped me with my startup because I had to talk to A LOT of people, including a lot of important people as well, that could make or break it for me. It’s good to listen to other business owner’s struggles and successes.”
12. How would you say we create space for women in the entrepreneurial, business, and tech professions?
“I think women are amazing. I think every day we are creating space by telling a story.
One story of a women doing something incredible leads to another 10 women getting inspired to follow their dreams and do something incredible.
It’s a snowball effect, a beautiful, beautiful snowball effect.”
13. If all the women in the world were going to read this article, what is the most important thing you would say to them?
“Doing something for yourself, something that you absolutely love, is hands down the most rewarding feeling in the world. It’s going to be scary, I can promise you that, but you just have to do it and you’ll never look back.”
If you’re in the DC area — visit Toastique today!
