Behind the Scenes with Radish Market & Cafe

Adrienne Aker Partlow shares her unique experience with the Level Up Business Branding program

For many Level Up participants, the program has meant new photos, videos, and fresh marketing strategies. But for Radish Market & Café, what the business needed most wasn’t more content — it was capability.

When owner Adrienne Aker Partlow joined the program, she didn’t come in with a list of expectations. In fact, she hadn’t applied at all. “I was nominated for the program,” she said. “I didn’t really know what to expect going into it.”

That changed quickly once she met Ahmad McKinney with Vision Studio. “He was kind and understanding,” she said. “He asked, ‘What do you want? What would take your business to the next level?’ And for me, the answer was simple: a website that works.”

The pivot that made it possible

While many small businesses in the program focus on content creation and social media strategies, Radish Market & Café needed something more foundational — a functional website with online ordering.

“I’ve been trying to do that,” she said. “I know enough to be dangerous, but once we get online ordering, things will really take off.” Ahmad agreed — and made it happen.

“There were some issues that kept us from ordering online. I don’t know what he did, but he did something, and online ordering is actually going to happen.” The solution came through building the new site on a different CMS platform that could support the café’s needs — a creative pivot that turned a limitation into an opportunity.

“I was like, really? They’re going to do this for us? And they’re going to do this for someone every month? Wow. What a benefit the Level Up program is for local small businesses.”

Genuine support, real impact

When Ahmad visited the café, he took photos, met the team, and took time to understand what made Radish Market & Café special. “You can tell he’s genuinely interested in the people he’s helping,” she said. “You know how it feels when you’re talking to someone and they’re just saying, ‘Okay, okay, okay’? He’s not like that.”

That care and attention have already started to open new doors. “Online ordering will streamline things for us,” she said, eyes lighting up. “It will bring more people to us. Imagine how many people find us when it’s not easy — imagine how easy it will be when there are no hurdles to find us.”

Rooted in community

Radish Market & Café plays a small but important part in Kokomo’s visitor experience. Tour groups who stop at Kokomo Opalescent Glass often head to Radish for lunch — and her team sends those same guests on to other local attractions afterward. “It goes both ways,” she said.

As soon as she found out she’d been selected for Level Up, she went straight to Facebook to express her gratitude. “I sent out a thank you to whoever nominated us,” she said. “This is such a great opportunity.”

Taking the next step

For Radish Market & Café, the Level Up Business Branding program wasn’t just about looking better online — it was about working better online. By helping her business overcome a technical roadblock and add online ordering, Ahmad and the Level Up team gave the café exactly what it needed to grow.

And that’s the heart of Level Up — meeting small businesses where they are, understanding what will make the biggest difference, and helping them take that next step toward success.

Want to have this experience for yourself? Local entrepreneurs and small business owners can apply for the Level Up Business Branding program greaterkokomo.com/levelup