Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Morton.
Amy, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I grew up in the business working alongside my father, Arnie Morton of Morton’s Steakhouses, and always loved it. From him, I learned every aspect of the restaurant business from top to bottom, while garnering an old-school outlook that I still use when working the dining room at Found today!
I first joined forced with family to open The Café in Gold Coast in 1988, before opening Mirador and The Blue Room in Old Town on my own the next year. I took a fifteen-year hiatus to raise my beautiful daughters, before deciding to re-enter the hospitality business in Evanston with Found.
In 2012, I launched Found Kitchen & Social House, and The Barn four years later in 2016. I am incredibly proud of what we have built, and love how both of the restaurants welcome guests in a way that feels more like homes than eateries.
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?
It’s been incredibly smooth. It could not have been better from A to Z, and I wouldn’t change a thing!
Please tell us about Found Kitchen and Social House.
Found is a gathering place for the community to eat, drink, and think in the heart of Evanston. Our kitchen serves seasonal, rustic new American fare in a spirited atmosphere inspired by Bohemian Paris in the 1920s and icons of the Beat Generation.
I’m most proud of the integrity we have to our product and what we serve at Found, as well as the fact that we’re very focused on local products and supporting the community. We’re a genuine and groovy place to hang out, whether it’s for a drink or dinner.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I’d say my favorite memory growing up was going downtown with my whole family to my dad’s place (Arnie’s) for dinner. It was really, really special when we all got to do that together.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1631 Chicago Avenue, Evanston, Illinois
- Website: https://foundkitchen.com/
- Phone: (847) 868-8945
- Email: jen@kinshipcompany.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foundkitchen/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/foundkitchen
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/FoundKitchen
Image Credit:
Galdones Photography, Jackie Gillum
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