Today we’d like to introduce you to Ted Grady.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Ted. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I began my career in catering after moving to Chicago from St. Louis, Mo. in 1992. I started working with J&L Catering at one of our corporate accounts, as a waiter. I’d been in fine dining before, so it was a great fit for me. It was a very structured environment and quite formal. I was pretty young, so I appreciated the opportunity very much. You don’t see that style of corporate environment much anymore. In a way, I kind of miss it. I’m still great at polishing silver and crystal, though!
Not long after, I became a captain, who runs our events and then a junior planner. I became a full-time planner for J&L a few years later and I’ve been doing that ever since. I bought the company, originally founded by Lisa Gershenson and John Chavez (that’s where our “J&L” comes from), with my business partner and chef, Kevin Kelly 17 years ago, in May 2011 with about 45 employees. Since then, we have established Venue West, an all-inclusive 15,000 square foot loft-style venue in the West Loop area, along with 606 Fresh, an extension of our wholesale food service division. We’ve begun construction on our new equally sized kitchen, also in the same location as Venue West which will allow us the opportunity for much more growth for J&L in the coming years. We now number somewhere around 200 strong. So we’ve had a robust and steady growth throughout the years, which I am immensely grateful for. We have over 25 incredibly talented chefs who produce amazing food every day of the week. Our service staff is equally as talented and dedicated. And of course, our management team, delivery drivers & event planners who helps J&L run every day are all tremendously invaluable to us. We are coming up on our 30th Anniversary!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
We went through a lot of ups and downs together after Kevin & I first purchased J&L, as many businesses did following 9/11, but we got through it together and as a company. Likewise, we survived the financial crisis of 2008-09, but that was a very scary time for us. Everyone in the company did their part, even giving up part of their salaries, so that no one would have to be let go for financial reasons. That moment of selflessness and sense of community is still amazing to me today. It’s rare to experience that “we’re in this together” particularly when it comes to people’s incomes, children, houses, cars, etc. Everyone pulled together and we are very much still here!
Please tell us about J&L Catering, Venue West & 606 Fresh.
J&L Catering is a full service catering company. We can assist with as much or as little as our clients need us to. We often pull our resources from the best vendors in the Chicago area, including finding the right event or day-of planner, venue, decor, special talent and music, valet, rentals, linens and tenting. I personally really enjoy taking care of everything for my clients. They are incredibly busy people and don’t always know who to go to, nor do they have the time to do all the calls and emails it takes to find the right fit.
I think one of the things I am most proud of is that I believe we are the only catering company in Chicago that is owned by 2 former employees. I can’t think of anyone else. People who meet me and or Kevin at site visits and tastings still are amazed that the owner of a company like J&L is sitting with them for several hours discussing menus and ideas to create an amazing event for them. I think people are often surprised at how laid back I am. I do have a lot of experience and respect within this industry, but I always want our clients to know that I’m also incredibly accessible. That’s so important to me.
Another thing that sets us apart from many others is that Kevin is an owner and also our Executive Chef. That’s pretty rare in the catering scene in Chicago. He’s a great leader not only with our chefs, but within the company in general. And Kevin has an incredible palette. We are very lucky. We each bring our own talents to the company, which I think balances us out. He’s more practical, I am the emotional dreamer.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I have to say, I have many great memories of my childhood. There are two that stick out, though. The first, is my first time I ever performed at the Many Opera in St. Louis. I don’t even remember the name of the show (I think it was Cinderella), but I just remember looking out at this huge crowd and thinking, “I can do this!” I must have been about 8 years old.
Another favorite memory that sticks out for me is walking to Forest Park in St. Louis with my father and sketching a waterfall & bridge that we both loved to sit by. My father and I both had speech impediments at the time. Mine was far worse as a child (I’ve mostly outgrown it now), but we didn’t really have to talk. We just sat by the falls and sketched, or he watched me sketch. Many years later, I was at an art festival in Chicago and I ran into an artist that photographed the very same bridge at almost the exact angle I used to sketch at. It was shortly after my father died and the two photographs were called “Crossing Over.” It still gives me chills in a very positive, fond way. I have both photographs in my house today. It’s a great memory of where I get up, and also of my father.
Last one, the first time I saw the ocean in Mexico. It was breathtaking to this 9 year old. And feeding the giant Iguanas fresh fruit on the beach with my mom, which I’m sure you can’t do anymore. It was an out of the body experience for me.
Contact Info:
- Address:
J&L Catering-1639 West Walnut, Chicago, IL. 60612
Venue West-221 North Paulina, Chicago, IL. 60612
606 Fresh-1626 West Lake Street, Chicago, Il. 60612 - Website: jandlcatering.com, venuewestchicago.com and www.606fresh.com
- Phone: 7737274929
- Email: info@jandlcatering.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jandlcatering/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JandLCateringChicago/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/jlcateringchi
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/j-and-l-catering-chicago
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/venuewestchicago/
Image Credit:
Naomi Epstein Photography
Lee Ross Photography
Sheri Whitko Photography
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