Claire Calvin, founder of The Porch, talks tacos and margaritas

The serial entrepreneur discusses Wake’s favorite eatery

For every order of the “Tres Amigos” served at  Winston Salem’s The Porch, its owner and manager Claire Calvin formulates a new idea.

Even with a full day of customers, as well as planning and budgeting ahead of her, Calvin’s mind refuses to slow its tendencies towards entrepreneurial thinking. Though her friends and family may shrug off many of these ideas as crazy or unrealistic, The Porch – Wake student’s favorite taco and burrito eatery – stemmed from Claire’s brainstorm.

A Mexican-inspired restaurant, however, was not the original plan.

When Calvin moved to Winston Salem from New York city, following the relocation of her husband’s job, family took priority. Pulling from the personal struggle felt as a mother of three to get a meal on the table, Calvin came up with an idea: a catering company called Dinners on the Porch. Initially, she thought up a local business that would deliver TexMex dinners to families in similar stressful situations. Though the company served only 11 dinners in its first week, Dinners on the Porch now caters to an average of 50 to 80 Winston Salem families weekly, including one anonymous Wake Forest student (yes, we are all jealous and want your life).

As demand grew, Calvin took this idea one step farther, opening the now very popular local restaurant, The Porch, Kitchen and Cantina. In 2014, it was named the “Best New Restaurant” by Smitty’s Notes’ “Best of Winston Salem.”

“Dinners on the Porch is just another one of my crazy ideas that happened to work,” said Calvin. “I never truly thought that this is the route my life would take me.”

Though Ms. Calvin could not foresee such inevitable success, Wake Forest students have been quick to jump on the Porch “bandwagon.”

Wake Forest junior John Idzik said: “The Porch offers delicious margaritas and great food in a casual and friendly atmosphere that breeds conversation and consistent fun. It is unlike any place in Winston.”

Sophomore Annabel Love echoed similar sentiments, adding: “The Porch has the best fajitas! My birthday was a few weeks ago and it was the first place I thought to bring my friends.”

Creating more than just a popular lunch or dinner stop, however, Claire Calvin also wanted the Porch to serve as a venue for charitable Wake Forest and community events. Wake N’ Shake and Hydrating Humanitate are just two of the Wake Forest organizations to recently hold fundraisers at this restaurant with the help of the community-oriented Porch staff.

“Community is Claire’s middle name,” explained Beth Spieler, a close friend of Calvin’s and the creative director and events manager at the Porch. Every month, Claire donates a portion of The Porch’s proceeds to a philanthropy or local organization of her choice. The River Run Film Festival, located in downtown Winston Salem, was the past month’s recipient.

Though the Porch may simply be the home of “the world’s best queso” for many students, the dedication and enthusiasm Claire Calvin has poured into this restaurant has made it a hub for community, charity, and of course, a little TexMex grub.

So what next “brilliant idea” does Ms. Calvin have up her sleeve? Though hesitant to talk about some new projects in the works, Claire did reveal one entrepreneurial venture she believes would further benefit Wake Forest students and the Winston Salem community.

“I have always wanted to create a gym where both humans and dogs can work out at the same time,” Claire said. “Both pet and owner could get their needed exercise in. I think some people think I’m crazy, but I don’t know, wouldn’t that be fun?”

Whether or not you have a dog or even like to work out, I think us Wake Forest students can all agree on one thing. If such a gym serves the Porch’s tacos or margaritas, Claire Calvin’s newest idea is destined for success.

More
Wake Forest