Mercasa – Little Italy Eatery & Catering
THE STORY
I’ve known Executive Chef Tom Mercante since kindergarten, and we’re still close friends today. Like most Italians (I’m married to one), Tom has always been in love with food. He was always by his mother’s side in the kitchen and their family restaurant, and when Tom chose to become a teacher, he taught the culinary arts.
Tom and his wife Jen founded Mercasa as a side catering business operating out of the Rossini Lodge kitchen in our hometown of Brantford, ON. Their business quickly grew beyond Rossini’s capacity, so Tom decided to search for a space to exclusively house their growing endeavour. One step into 195 Henry Street— just off of Brantford’s famed Wayne Gretzky Drive —and Tom knew he’d discovered his new home away from home.
Mercasa’s new space included more room than their catering business required, which got Tom’s wheels turning. Maybe it was time to give this culinary dream a go full-time. He applied for a sabbatical from his teaching position and put the plan to follow in his parent’s footsteps in motion. Tom became a restaurant owner.
The idea of a “Fast Casual” hot-table style restaurant was new to the city, but a healthy, yet convenient option was exactly what Brantford needed. The concept allows Tom to continue to focus on the catering side of his business, while servicing the greater public on a daily basis.
Mercasa’s countertop service gives Brantfordians a fresh and efficient option for lunch or dinner, to eat in, take out or delivery through Mercasa’s iPhone or Android apps. It’s stylish dining area is a place for friends, family and colleagues to catch up or host special events. Its catering services remain second to none across Brant County and beyond.
HOW I HELP
Mercasa is a beautiful creation. The restaurant is super stylish, as are Mercasa’s catering events. Tom and his team put their heart and soul into each dish and that’s what we hope people can feel when they visit www.mercasa.ca.
When I first started working on the site, it was on the WordPress platform. I completely reorganized the user experience from its original launch, to ensure it’s responsiveness for tablet and mobile and to accentuate the authentic Italian vibe of the restaurant. Unfortunately, like most Wordpress sites, template updates started to become a problem, as conflicts with other plugins created bug after bug. So, earlier in 2023, we moved the site to Squarespace and it’s been smooth sailing ever since.
The site is set up to highlight Mercasa’s mouthwatering menus and the vast array of catering options available. It’s not fully integrated into the site, but Mecasa’s online ordering service, UEAT, is easily connected to it. A promotional blog highlights Mercasa’s special events and giveaways and a frequent newsletter—via Mailchimp—delivers communications directly to the inbox of their most loyal customers.
Tom is super personable and web savvy, so he executes his own social media strategy. I’m available to consult and assist when needed, but nobody can represent a business better than the people who live and breathe it everyday. Tom knows his customers and product very well and it shows on his very robust and active social channels.
“Gregor Davidson has made my life easy! He created an amazing, functional and attractive website that I get compliments on almost daily. He is very knowledgeable and professional. I recommend Gregor wholeheartedly to everyone!”
THE RESULTS
Tom always searches for ways to extend Mercasa’s reach, which makes him an ideal client. As we dig into the metrics and reflect on what seems to work and what doesn’t, the entire business evolves. The website receives thousands of visitors each month, and you can see significant increases with each online promotion.
The website and newsletter are time savers for Tom and his staff. Every question in regard to the menus and current promotions can be answered online, which frees the Mercasa family to continually provide quality service. Throughout the pandemic, Mercasa’s web presence proved to be a vital resource to continue communication with customers and maintain steady sales. Mercasa quickly pivoted to a take-out focused outfit and managed to thrive during some pretty trying times for everyone.
The Mercante’s dream is a resounding success! I’m an extremely proud member of the Mercasa family and look forward to helping them grow their business in the digital space for years to come.
ARE YOU READY TO START YOUR PROJECT?
All first consultations are free! It’s time we start answering your digital questions.