Ep 1. The Business of Family

Welcome to Sweetie Pie's is a reality TV show that captures the lives of Robbie Montgomery, her family, and her employees as they run their famed soul food restaurant in St. Louis, Missouri. In season 1, episode 1, titled "The Business of Family", viewers get an introduction to the Sweetie Pie's family and the challenges that come with running a successful family business.

Robbie Montgomery, affectionately known as Miss Robbie, is the matriarch of the family and the backbone of the restaurant. She is a former backup singer for Ike and Tina Turner and has been cooking up soul food for over 30 years. Miss Robbie runs the kitchen with her son, Tim, who is also the general manager of the restaurant. Tim has a tough job keeping the front of the house and the back of house running smoothly, which includes managing the large staff of servers, cooks, and dishwashers.

The episode starts with Sweetie Pie's in the middle of their busy lunch rush. Viewers see the cooks hustle to get meals out quickly while servers scurry to keep up with the orders. Miss Robbie takes the time to check on customers and greet those she knows, truly making the restaurant feel like a home away from home.

As lunch service winds down, Tim and Miss Robbie meet in her office to discuss the business side of running the restaurant. They discuss staffing issues, menu changes, and how to increase their revenue. Tim is running the numbers and notices that their food costs are too high, which is cutting into their profits. He suggests cutting down the portion sizes, but Miss Robbie is hesitant, knowing that their customers expect a hearty meal. She quickly shuts down the idea, reminding Tim that they are in the business of making people happy, not just making money.

Later on, Miss Robbie's grandson, Charles, stops by the restaurant to discuss his desire to start his own food truck. He has great ideas, but Miss Robbie is hesitant, knowing that starting a new venture requires a big investment of time and money. She tells Charles that he needs to consider the costs and make sure he has a solid business plan in place before he takes the risk.

Throughout the episode, viewers get to know the staff that make up the Sweetie Pie's team. There's Danielle, the head server with a sassy attitude who is always calling the shots; Linda, the new server struggling to keep up with the fast pace of the restaurant; and the sous chef, Aneesha, who has a fiery personality and is not afraid to speak her mind.

At the end of the day, Tim departs the restaurant, but not before reminding his mom that they have to keep making tough business decisions to ensure the longevity of Sweetie Pie's. As the restaurant quiets down and Miss Robbie heads home, she reflects on the challenges of running a family business but knows that through thick and thin, her family will always have her back.

Overall, "The Business of Family" sets the stage for a captivating season of Sweetie Pie's. Viewers get a glimpse into the family dynamics and complex business decisions that come with running a restaurant. The heartwarming moments of family bonding mixed with the fast-paced restaurant scenes leave viewers wanting more.