Building on tradition: Banken doesn't plan to stop working

For LaVeda Banken, the business strategy that drives the success of the Hickory Log restaurant in Dexter boils down to four things: tradition, quality, consistency, and family.

"As of May, 2015, we have been here for 48 years," Banken said. "We all have our positions here. I'm kind of an overseer. And I focus more on the finances."

While she is quick to share the credit with her family and employees, Banken may be downplaying her role in the business, as she also is involved in the interview process, along with hiring of employees, insurance for the business, as well as decorating the restaurant.

It is a far cry from how things started 48 years ago.

"It was a very hands-on experience, at first," Banken explained. "I was working as a secretary before I came here. I did everything from making pies to helping with the menu. When we first started, we were just a tiny little restaurant that served steak and beer. Sometimes, we had to get by on the money I made at my other job, so we could put money back into the business. And we used to be in the country. Dexter just kind of grew up around us."

While she is no longer at the restaurant for an average of 60-70 hours each week, she can usually be found at the location on any given day.

"You just know how you want the business to run, and you make sure that the people do what they need to do," Banken remarked. "I'm the one that adds a feminine touch to the business."

Appearances mean a lot to Banken, and that is one thing she said will never change.

"I prefer my servers to be in uniform," Banken explained. "I just think it looks better. It makes sense to me."

While many things have changed in the community, as well as in the restaurant, Banken said the focus on tradition is a necessity.

"The community has come to expect a certain level of service and atmosphere here," Banken remarked. "We want people to feel comfortable when they come in here. That's why we focus so much on keeping the quality up."

It's the focus on quality and tradition that leads Banken to believe the business is still so successful.

"The economy has changed. The competition has changed. Everything has changed," Banken remarked. "We've had to change prices, and we constantly update our menu to give people what they want."

Banken noted that one of the most popular menu items -- rib salad -- originally was not on the menu, but was later added.

"Something we started doing now is serving grilled vegetables with chicken," Banken noted. "People seem to really like that, so it's becoming a regular thing."

While Banken and her husband, Hickory Log co-owner John Banken, continue to play an active role in the day-to-day business operations, she said it's nice to have her sons working by her side.

"It's funny, because when they were kids, they didn't like working here, and they didn't want anything to do with the business," she noted. "But, now Jason and Lance are both an active part of this business, and it's so nice to have them taking a more active role."

As a result, Banken said she is able to work fewer hours, and has more liberty in her day to day schedule; but, she can't keep herself from the business she's known for almost 50 years.

"We're very involved in the community," she explained. "I used to be the Chamber of Commerce President, and we've always been very active in the school. Even though my children are grown, we have grandchildren who are in the school, so we want to continue to be an active part of that."

Banken said that focus on the community is obvious within the walls of the restaurant.

"Every year, we decorate elaborately for Christmas," Banken remarked. "We actually hire Gregory's Two East to do the decorating for Christmas. It costs us money, but we do it for the community. The community has come to expect it, and we want that tradition to continue. It works for us, and it's something we hope to continue for a long time."

Banken said she considers herself fortunate to be a part of something that has become such a well-known institution in the community.

"We're lucky we got established a long time ago," she remarked. "We've seen a lot of competition come and go. It feels good to be where we are, and to have stayed strong for so long."

While she and her husband enjoy their sons taking a more active role in the business, Banken said she doesn't see retirement as a viable option in the future.

"I just feel like, when it's a business that you helped build, you can't really retire from that," she explained. "How can you? I don't think retirement is in the future for me."