Walking around Main Street, many people decide to stop at the locals’ favorite sandwich shop: Vagabond. But has anyone ever paused to wonder what it truly takes to run a local business—or how its owner, Ben Meyer, turned his dream into reality? Curious to uncover the story behind Vagabond’s success, I decided to take it upon myself and interview Ben Meyer on how he brought his vision to life.
Ben Meyer originally was an art student, and although he does not see himself as much of a “businessman,” he built Vagabond “out of its ashes.” But it was never easy, as success isn’t handed to you right away—Ben Meyer can say that for sure. He worked paycheck to paycheck as the business didn’t make enough money to pay its own bills. He was working 13-hour days, 7 days a week, and even considered getting a night job to make money.
Then Covid hit—laws changed, staff quit—and Ben Meyer did the only thing he could: adapt. He implemented new Point-of-Sale systems to streamline operations, collaborated with the local ice cream shop, The Frosted Rooster, and even launched a food truck to boost sales and expand into event hosting.
But with growth comes backlash. “We get about 50 complaints/suggestions a day. Most are just people trying to burn the world down to feel better about themselves, so they go in one ear and out the other,” says business owner Ben Meyer. Although he does admit that there are occasionally suggestions that would work, and he later ends up implementing the changes. “Generally, the whole thing is my making, but I’m cool using constructive criticism to tweak things here and there, be it menu items, procedures, etc.,” Meyer adds.
Vagabond has grown within the community—not just through its food, but also through donations, spirit nights, sponsorships, scholarships, adopt-a-family programs, volunteer work, and more. Meyer is proud of its success because “[Vagabond] has truly become a part of people’s lives.” He says, “we’ve got a wall of pictures showing people on vacation all over the world with our Vagabond stickers. I’ll spot stickers on cars around town from time to time. I’ll hear feedback from total strangers about their experiences. I’ve met people while I’m out of state—even out of the country—who are from the area, and when they learn that I own Vagabond, they tell me about their experiences there.”
It doesn’t end here! Meyer has a thousand ideas for the business in the future, but they all take money and time, “which [he doesn’t] have much of.” There will always be subtle changes at Vagabond—like it now being open on Sundays. Meyer’s big dreams are focused on the future, and he hopes to expand the brand to do different things around town. Although he didn’t specify what he plans to do within the community, the love for Vagabond will undoubtedly continue to spread.
