What does it take to turn a single small-town bar into a three-location regional favorite? For Pam VanWinkle, the answer has always been simple: show up, work hard, and trust that everything happens for a reason. 

For nearly three decades, Pam and her husband, Rick VanWinkle, have been the heart behind Red Front, a pizza and grill brand that's grown from a historic building in New Paris, Ohio, into a beloved staple spanning the Ohio-Indiana border. As National Women's Small Business Month shines a light on the "makers and leaders who power local economies," there's no better time to tell Pam's story: one of sacrifice, resilience, and quiet, steady leadership. 

From One Small Bar to a Regional Favorite 

In 1998, Rick purchased the historic Red Front building in New Paris, Ohio, and the VanWinkle family's pizza legacy began. What started as a single location has since grown into three distinct Red Front restaurants, each shaped by the community it serves: 

• Red Front Inn – The original, historic location in New Paris, Ohio, where it all began. 

• Red Front Richmond – A modern restaurant and grill in Richmond, Indiana, opened in 2020 and led by Pam and Rick's son, Mike VanWinkle. 

• Red Front Lakengren – A carryout and drive-thru location near Lake Lakengren in Eaton, Ohio, opened in 2023. 

"The most rewarding milestone in my leadership journey has been growing from one small bar to now three Red Front locations," Pam reflects. "This is represented by the great employees and loyal customers we have had and continue to have." 

But growth like that doesn't happen on its own. It happens because someone is willing to do whatever it takes. 

The Early Years: Two Jobs, One Goal 

Long before Red Front became a multi-location brand, it was a leap of faith that demanded everything Pam had to give. 

For the first decade of ownership, Pam worked full-time at a dentist's office during the day, then clocked in for the night shift in the Red Front kitchen. Two jobs. One family. A singular goal: make this work. 

"This was a sacrifice I made to make sure we had success in the beginning years," Pam says matter-of-factly, the way people do when they've made peace with just how much something cost them. 

It's a story familiar to so many small business owners, especially women, who have carried the invisible weight of building something from nothing while juggling responsibilities most people never see. Pam didn't just help launch Red Front. She financed its survival with exhaustion, dedication, and the belief that the sacrifice would be worth it. 

It was. 

Leading from the Kitchen, Not Above It 

Ask Pam to describe her leadership style, and she doesn't reach for a corporate buzzword. She reaches for one word: servant. 

"I would describe my leadership style as a servant leader," she explains. "I have always been one phone call away to show up at the restaurant and give a helping hand anywhere that was needed." 

That hands-on philosophy shapes the way Pam has trained the people around her. Rather than stepping back and observing, she throws new employees into the action, teaching as they go. 

"It's hard to learn by watching, so I have allowed our employees to jump in and get started right away while teaching along the way," she says. 

It's a leadership style built on trust and proximity. Pam has never asked her team to do anything she hasn't done herself, whether that's working a night shift, training a new hire, or stepping behind the counter during a lunch rush. 

Resilience Through Hardship 

Even the most dedicated leaders face moments that threaten to pull them away from the work they love. For Pam, that moment came in the form of a major back surgery that limited her ability to work, teach, and visit with the customers she'd come to know over the years. 

"This was difficult because the reason I love what I do is because of the people, and I wasn't seeing the community as much," she admits. 

Rather than retreat, Pam found other ways to stay connected and contribute, leaning on the same mindset that carried her through the early years of double shifts: everything happens for a reason, just keep going. 

It's more than a favorite quote. It's the thread that runs through her entire story, the belief that challenges, however difficult, are part of a larger path forward. 

Lessons for the Next Generation 

If Pam could go back and speak to the woman who first walked into Red Front in 1998, what would she say? 

"It's okay to ask for help," she says. "I wanted to do everything myself for a long time, and that has brought challenges along the way." 

It's a lesson many entrepreneurs learn the hard way, and one Pam hopes other women in business take to heart sooner than she did. She's quick to point out that no success story is a solo act. 

"There is so much to learn from one another," she says. "Owning and operating a business comes with challenges that are difficult to fully understand unless you have experienced them yourself. Having other women to turn to for advice, encouragement, or simply a different perspective can make a tremendous difference. Success is never accomplished alone." 

A Community Built One Table at a Time 

Beyond pizza and burgers, Red Front has always been about something bigger: bringing people together. 

"When we first purchased the Red Front in 1998, I was inspired by the opportunity to build something of our own while creating a place where people in the community could come together," Pam says. "I have always believed in hard work, treating people with respect, and taking care of the people around you." 

Over 28 years, that philosophy has translated into real community impact; employing countless local residents, supporting area organizations and events, and creating gathering spaces for families and friends across the Ohio-Indiana border. 

It's the kind of quiet, consistent contribution that defines so many women-owned small businesses: not flashy, but foundational to the fabric of the towns they serve. 

What's Next: A Well-Earned Retirement 

After 28 years of double shifts, leadership, and resilience, Pam is looking toward a new chapter. 

"The exciting plans I have in store are to enjoy retirement," she says. "I am looking forward to spending time with my two kids, continuing to watch my grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow up, and to visit with our loyal customers while they are having lunch or dinner." 

It's a fitting next step for a woman who has spent nearly three decades giving to others, finally pausing to enjoy the community and family she worked so hard to build. 

Honoring the Women Who Power Our Local Economy 

Pam VanWinkle's story is a reminder that small business success isn't built overnight; it's built shift by shift, sacrifice by sacrifice, and relationship by relationship. As National Women's Small Business Month celebrates the makers and leaders shaping local economies, Pam's journey stands as a testament to what's possible when hard work meets heart. 

Know a local business owner whose story deserves to be told? Submit a story suggestion to The Hometown Headlines and help us celebrate the women and families powering our communities, one story at a time.