The HarborCenter project has been a breathtaking success for the City of Buffalo. The staff is a huge reason for the restaurant’s early success, and with thousands of people walking in and out of its doors daily, success is surely to continue. General manager Ron Kubiak couldn’t be happier.
Kubiak has worked in the restaurant business for 34 years. He started out by taking classes at Boce High School. His days started early at 7 a.m. taking institutional food services. Kubiak really enjoyed taking those classes, and from that point, his career began. Wendy’s was his first official job when he was 15. Kubiak continued school and worked his way up at Wendy’s. Four years later, Kubiak became general manager of Wendy’s in Niagara Falls at just 19. Kubiak admits he probably wasn’t ready.
“It provided a lot of experience and a lot of exposure to inventories, and even stuff I wasn’t aware about at the time, was I ready for a position at 19 years old, probably not, but it made me grow up really quick” recalled Kubiak. Stepping away from the fast food sector, Kubiak entered the casual dining business at Chi Chi’s. He operated as the associate kitchen manager. A bigger company didn’t scare Kubiak, as he worked at Chi Chi’s for 10 years, and was again a general manager when he left.
Kubiak likes many aspects of his job, but one in particular sticks out. “Being able to get a group of people to rally around you and basically move mountains for you, and getting to know the staff not only as a staff, but knowing what they do outside of work, knowing Mike is doing this as a project for school and being able to do this for him, it’s more than a paycheck for me,” he says. Kubiak also loves the developing and training pieces of his job, with his passion being the kitchen.
Feedback from the public about HarborCenter has been 99% positive, according to Kubiak. “Giving them a look at the new Buffalo, is what I call it here,” said Kubiak. Some people can not believe they are in Buffalo when they come into 716. The only problems existent are typical, such as long wait times. People have waited outside in bitter cold, and ask why. The answer is, 716 is at fire capacity inside. The solution to that problem is taking reservations.
As always with opening a new restaurant there is the honeymoon period. There has been a typical slow down business since. 716 is always looking to enhance. Each month features a sporting event. “Whatever is relevant in the sporting world, whether it be the Kentucky Derby, NASCAR, hockey playoffs, the hockey draft is going to be huge here” Kubiak remarks. For the Super Bowl, 716 featured cheerleaders and an ice carving of the Vince Lombardi Trophy. Consistency is a major focus, not only for service, but for product as well.
Kubiak sees a very bright future for the Buffalo Sabres. When he started with the HarborCenter, Ted Black, president of the Sabres, took every single person out to coffee and spoke about what the transition was going to be like and what the vision was. “If we don’t get a Stanley Cup we will definitely get a Super Bowl Trophy in the next 10 years” Kubiak predicted.
For all of Kubiak’s efforts, recently he received a promotion to becoming the head of all culinary operations for the HarborCenter. Taking over for Kubiak as GM of 716 will be Craig Altobello.
The two have worked together for eight years. Altobello says Ron is “ a very dynamic person, he’s very passionate, loves what he’s doing, has a commitment to excellence.” Kubiak get’s disappointed when he sees talent going to waste.
“Hilarious guy, he’s really fun, very sarcastic in that you kinda need it way in a restaurant industry. He helps the day go by, you’ve got a friend and a leader. He’s one of the best teachers I’ve ever had at anything,” said Altobello. Kubiak doesn’t really drink wine, nor are there certain ethnic cuisines he has no clue about, specifically Indian food.
Altobello foresees Kubiak becoming the food guru for the Pegula’s. Altobello says: “He’s got the heart and soul of a younger person, he’s an amazing father and family man, and that all attributes to the fact that he’s an amazing friend, and that’s why he’s such a good leader, coach, and mentor.”
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