Taste – All In The Family
By David Walton | Photos by Evermore Photo Co.
To start a restaurant, an owner needs to have a passion for the food they serve along with a natural focus on customers. Joe and Sam’s owner Kim Woolbright checks both of those boxes and more. When the Woolbright family moved to the area, they could not find any restaurants that satisfied their desire for dinner outside of fast-food chains. Woolbright never envisioned starting a restaurant, but there were no options for fresh homemade soups, salads and sandwiches.
Yet the difficulties of starting a restaurant during a global pandemic in 2020 were not lost on her family. They signed the lease in December 2019, assuming they would open in March/April 2020. Trying to build out a restaurant when other restaurants were closing every other week was tough, but they have now grown to nearly 40 employees!
Because the Woolbrights previously owned two Jittery Joe’s coffee shops, they incorporated a unique logo that was a throwback to their coffee shop roots — the logo is a nod to the Jittery Joe’s racing team from back in the day. Woolbright’s vision, though, was to grow into a full coffee bar along with food. Over time, the bike in the logo grew into a larger tandem bike, reflecting this vision and growth of the Joe and Sam’s family and business.
Many recipes are also a nod to their family — the cucumber salad is Kim’s grandmother’s recipe. They were initially only going to feature it seasonally, but it was such a hit they decided to offer it year-round. Customers often say that it reminds them of their family’s recipe! Joe and Sam’s also serves gluten-free biscuits and scones, and the sandwiches can be prepared gluten-free.
Fresh food has been important to the growth of Joe and Sam’s. Like many successful restauranteurs, the owners feel that food should be fun, so Woolbright encourages creativity through weekly specials, pastries, or drink combinations by the baristas.
Woolbright loves that her employees focus on their regular customers; many have become like family to the team. She is proud of the Joe and Sam’s team that has built a comfortable, consistent and caring environment. Learn more at joeandsams.com or visit them at 1021 Jamestown Blvd. in Watkinsville.
