Popular Catering Biz Expands, Opens Eatery

If you like her catering business, Jennifer Keaton hopes you love the restaurant she’s opening.

Keaton owns Kruton’s Catering Inc., located at 1039 S. Gutensohn Rd. in Springdale’s Southwest Plaza. Originally from Fort Smith, Keaton said she could not have fathomed how well Kruton’s would do. Her company averages 10-12 events per week, and has serviced at least 1,000 events since launching in Sept. 2009.

With business stretching from Sebastian to Benton counties, three part-time and 12 on-call employees assist Keaton. Although she declined to discuss financials, Keaton did say revenues have been “very, very nice. We are able to pay our employees, put money back into the business, into savings. I’m debt-free on everything.”

That sort of good luck – plus the ability to utilize her 2,000-SF kitchen/storage space – helped Keaton make room next door for a 49-seat, 1,000-SF restaurant. With renovations complete, Kruton’s II opened for business Oct. 18.

Hours are Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. The eatery serves three staple items (a gourmet burger, salad, and pasta dish) plus a blue plate special that will likely depend on what the catering crowd prepares that day. Keaton plans to keep lunch prices below $10.

“Every company I’ve worked for has been successful,” said Keaton, a food industry veteran of 15-plus years. “But they put limitations on what you can and can’t do. The reason I wanted to open my own was to not have any of that. If I want to go above and beyond, I don’t want anyone telling me I can’t.”