Owned by born-and-raised DeKalb natives, at the heart of this small business is a hometown legacy.
In the late 1800s, DeKalb was known as “Huntley’s Grove.” Now, this former town name is The Grove Tavern’s namesake.
A “grove” in nature is a group of trees that can often function as a safe haven for a diverse array of animals, providing protection, sustenance, and respite.
This is effectively what Patterson and his team created in their tavern.
The open, commodious dining area is juxtaposed by warm, dim lighting and dark wood accents to bring a touch of tranquility and comfort to the vast space.
Patterson cites the customer experience as the ultimate driving force of The Grove’s growth path.
“The customers are obviously everything,” he said. “They’ve helped us navigate what the community wants, and we try to make sure we have a little bit of something for everybody while not sacrificing our true mantra: Good food, all scratch made.”
That’s the small business balancing act, pursuit of an authentic vision whilst doing justice to the community you’re serving.
Prior to starting The Grove, Patterson lived in Chicago for ten years working in corporate real estate.
“We took this blank space and we did the whole build out ourselves,” Patterson said. “It was a cement floor, that was all we had. No walls, nothing.”
As the dream of The Grove became reality, the team of owners began looking for growth capital to propel them forward.
“Every restaurant is going to need a little extra money,” Patterson said. “Between the build out, payroll, a little debt refinancing, there are a lot of things working against you up front.”
First, the team considered a “traditional” financing route.
“You’d think you’d go right down the street, go to your local bank and they’d be open arms, but it really was not that,” Patterson said. “They wanted us to put a bunch up for collateral, and rates were high, and it just didn’t make sense.”
That’s when The Grove team found NEWITY.
“I think now that we have the chef we’ve always wanted and he’s here for the ride, hopefully we can expand and maybe go East,” Patterson said. “Maybe try a different type of restaurant.”
But despite all their previous success and impending growth, Patterson and the rest of the team at The Grove continue to stay true to the foundation they were built on.
“My family, we didn’t come from money,” Patterson said. “You put in the time, learn as much as you can from other people, and then translate that into doing your own thing.”
When Patterson was asked what his advice to other entrepreneurs would be, he spoke of embracing humility as a foundation for ultimate learning, growth, and achievement.
This amalgamation of diverse experiences, working in tandem with their commitment to listening to their community, allowed these owners to come together to build something true and lasting.
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