Dining Services Manager Allayna Schadel in the Caesars Windsor Club
Great “Guest”pectations
In 1985, a teenage Allayna Schadel never imagined that her summer job as a
Allayna holds a staff meeting before an event with a few of the bartenders
parking attendant at Pine Knob Music Theatre was a precursor to bigger things at the venue. But after years of following her career around the country, Allayna returned home to become a part of the Palace of Auburn Hills management team who now ran DTE Energy Music Theatre – the venue formerly known as Pine Knob.
Allayna’s interest in the hospitality industry was first sparked at age 15 as a server at Hickory Hoovies in Lake Orion, MI. “The owners let me to run the whole business,” she said. “I’d hostess, cook, serve and cashier. I loved it! I recognized at an early age how much I enjoyed enhancing a guest’s experience.” After more service oriented jobs, including the summer stint at the Pine Knob, Allayna found a home at Max & Erma’s while attending college.
Allayna spent 13 years with Max & Erma’s, working her way up from server, to store manager and eventually to General Manager. At age 27, she became the chain’s youngest Regional Manager in company history. Her territory included the Louisville, and Lexington, Kentucky markets. Allayna opened two Louisville restaurants from the ground up and oversaw every aspect of the restaurants opening from building plans to hiring. Eventually she longed for Michigan and returned to her hometown of Lake Orion.
In 2002, she was brought on to the Palace of Auburn Hills as a Dining Services Manager. Allayna’s main area of responsibility was the venue’s fine dining a la carte restaurant The Palace Grille, which she ran for 6 years. During her tenure at the Palace, Allayna has managed several other areas including suite catering but now calls the Caesars Windsor Club and the Ameriprise Financial Club her home base. Allayna answers a few of our questions about her experiences, dining out, and the future of the restaurant business in a tough economy..
Palace Eats: How do you find ways to keep things fresh and exciting for guest?
Allayna works closely with Sous Chef Jason Smith
Allayna Schadel: We do quite a bit. In the Caesars Windsor and Ameriprise Financial Clubs, we will do theme nights which are always fun for the guests. We’ll match the food and drink to a particular theme and we’ll decorate and let the staff dress up as well. For example, we did an “Around the World” theme that was really fun. Our menu reflected different cuisines from difference cultures such as American, Caribbean, German, French, Italian, Asian, and Mexican. We do lots of drink specials & featured menu items. I’m always open to suggestion and new thoughts on ways to keep it fresh. I like moving things around and the chef’s are great about changing menu options. I think it’s just about going outside the box and always realizing that our guests really want something new & great every time they are here.
PE: What are some of the most important things a server can do to take care of a guest?
AS: Listen! Listen to what the guest wants. I encourage the staff to pay attention to the reason that a guest is here. Is it a fun night with friends? Are they entertaining a client? Is it a special occasion? Find out and then do something special based on it. Our servers really care about guests and I encourage them to assist in creating an experience. In our clubs, we have a guest the entire night, from beginning to end. It’s really in our hands to make the experience memorable.
PE: What do you look for in a staff member?
Every shift, the staff gathers for a pre event meeting
AS: Someone with an easy smile. Someone who is engaging. Someone who will represent us well as the face of Levy Restaurants at the Palace of Auburn Hills. You don’t necessarily have to have a ton of restaurant background. Serving drinks can be taught, but a look in the eye, a fire in the belly, the love of the game – you can’t learn that.
PE: Where are some of your favorite places to eat?
AS: Aside from the Palace Grille of course! (laughs) Sagebrush Cantina in downtown Lake Orion is a favorite of mine. It’s comfortable, and everyone knows my name. Also, Gene and Georgetti in Chicago. I’ve been there twice and I loved it! It felt like family….oh yeah and the food was great too. But that’s what it was about, the service. That is what it is always about, especially with what is going on with our country right now.
PE: How does being in the restaurant industry shape your dining experiences?
AS: Interestingly enough, I try not to be so critical. Obviously I see things others don’t. My expectations are naturally high, be cause I expect that of my staff. But I try to squash the manager in me when I dine out so that my dining companions aren’t uncomfortable. My husband will always say, “What are you looking at?” I will admit that I’m a stealer of ideas. I will incorporate something service-wise if I see that it works at another restaurant. The goal is always to be better than we were yesterday.
PE: How do you balance family life with this schedule?
AS: I have a great support system. My husband is amazing and everyday his support and love are very evident to me. My son is crazy about him. My extended friends and family are life savers too! It’s different everyday and some days are harder than others, but in the end I do this for my family.
Allayna strives to provide a welcoming atmousphere to every guest.
PE: What trends have you seen in the restaurant industry with this economy? Where do you see the future of the industry going?
AS: More than ever people want value for every dollar spent. If they are going to reach into their pocket, it better be one heck of an experience. Every day, every game, every staff member, every detail. As far as the future goes, honestly, I’m not sure. I look at the future as ‘How can we be better today than we were yesterday?’ I’ve always looked at it like that but now more so than ever. Never plateau. The guest will always have high expectations and it’s up to us to exceed them.
PE: What is the best part of your night?
AS: I very much enjoy making people happy. The best part of my night is recognizing that happiness in a guest’s face or getting a hug from a regular. From the grand scale to the smallest detail, the goal is to make every single guest feel like a VIP. That’s why we’re here.
Home Opener is dedicated to Breast Cancer Awareness with all fundraising proceeds going to the Karmanos Cancer Institute. Employees will be wearing ribbons and T Shirts in support of the cause and our usual red and blue linens have been traded in for pink. Fans will have the opportunity to make donations and buy shirts. 
With free tickets and easy redemption, there is not excuse not to come and support your Detroit Pistons as they play Dwayne Wade & the Miami Heat on Monday and former member of the Michigan State NCAA Men’s National Championship Team, Charlie Bell with the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday.
Levy Restaurants at the Palace of Auburn Hills is actively looking for 
energetic, fun-spirited, hardworking people to join our team. Our primary needs are for servers, server assistants, cooks and warehouse/purchasing positions although we continue to accept applications for all positions.
We are a family of passionate restaurateurs. 30 years ago, we started as two brothers, their mom and a deli. Our passion was ignited to celebrate food and guest experiences. We embrace guests with heartfelt hospitality and are intent on exceeding their expectations. We still love what we do and it shows!
markets across the U.S. and abroad. The Sports & Entertainment Group is the only such operator to have received Restaurants & Institutions’ “Ivy Award,” the dining industry’s Academy Award, bestowed upon the group in 2003.
The Palace of Auburn Hills is home of the Detroit Pistons (NBA), Detroit Shock (WNBA) and numerous concerts, family shows and special events. The Palace has been nominated “Arena of the Year” 10 times by Performance magazine and won the award 7 times. Since its inception in 1988, the Palace has hosted almost every major touring concert act.
Margarita on the Rocks
Cosmopolitan
