New technology lets Lockport brewery create virtual food hall

A Lockport brewery began using a new ordering platform last weekend that has turned its venue into a virtual food hall.

Porter is an ordering platform for businesses in the food service industry – such as breweries, stadiums and hotels. Porter allows customers to order from multiple venues in a single transaction and without having to download an app.

Nik & Ivy Brewing Co. used Porter for the first time last weekend, and except for one “hiccup,” the platform ran smoothly, said Paul Ivnik, co-owner of the brewing company and Lockport native.

“Ordering food online is not unique, particularly in 2021, but being able to place a single order and, for example, get a burger from one establishment and some barbecue from another is what sets Porter apart,” John Barry, co-founder of the Porter company, said in a news release. “It is the first mobile technology to manage orders and payments from multiple menus and multiple vendors in a single transaction.”

Paul said that when he and his wife, Chrissy Ivnik, opened Nik & Ivy Brewing in Lockport last August, they wanted to offer food without becoming a “grub pub,” Paul said.

“We were new to the bar/restaurant industry,” Paul said. “I ran a marketing company before this. We wanted to keep it as simple as possible.”

Paul said the brewery’s landlord, Stagecoach Eatery Saloon, also is housed in the same building as Nik & Ivy. So to be fair, and because Stagecoach has great food, Paul said he kept the ordering of food exclusive to Stagecoach for the brewery’s first six months.

But when Paul started looking at online delivery options, he felt some of the existing platforms took too high of a cut from the restaurants – as much as 15% in some cases, he said.

So Paul reached out on a social media group for restaurant owners and asked about their favorite platforms. A represenatative from Porter jumped into the comments and provided information on Porter, Paul said.

“I started working with them three months ago,” Paul said. “It took a while to get it up and running. But our first weekend just passed, and it seemed pretty successful.”

Here’s how it works. Patrons use their smartphones to scan a QR code posted at the bar or table. This allows them to browse the curated menu, select food items from as many restaurants as they wish and then pay for the order, according to the release.

Patrons don’t interact with employees and they don’t need an app. The individual restaurants – six Lockport venues so far – receive the orders and then deliver the food to Nik & Ivy.

Porter handles the ordering process, the delivery details, payment and tipping in one smartphone transaction, according to the release. Venues don’t need special software or physical menus. People just order their food and then stay and “hang out with us,” Paul said.

“We’re keeping more people around,” Paul said.

For information, visit nikivybrewing.com and heyporter.app.