Today we’d like to introduce you to Paul Graves.
Paul, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My first bartending job was at age 16 in Huntington, NY in 1990. After taking a summer job in Montauk, NY in 1992 and becoming a busboy, I was hooked. I loved everything about the business, not only the food, guests, and hospitality but the relationships and “storytelling” amongst the staff (front and back of the house). After working almost every position over the years, I bought the place in 2003. It was called Oyster Pond. It was known for “Great Food & Rockin Bar”. I sold in 2008 and signed a 2-year non-compete in Montauk, so I had to travel. And reconnected with an old college buddy named Ryan Odonnell. He hired me to come to help him with a project he was working on in Miami. We not only had a passion for working hard but a passion for having fun while doing it. After a short stint in Miami, my plan was to head back to Montauk, however, Ryan then found a “pharmacy in Lincoln Park” that “I’m going to turn into a restaurant” “come in for a year and run the bar for me”. I moved to Chicago on 7/6/09 and Gemini Bistro opened 9/9/09 after a few feeble attempts to head back east I realized Chicago could be the spot for me( and my newly acquired wife and son). So, I bought into Gemini as a partner in January of 2017, we signed a 20 yr. lease, did an extensive renovation, and opened as Gemini in April of 2017.
Has it been a smooth road?
The struggle for me at my first venture at Oyster Pond in Montauk was not having a strong support team around me. As well as not understanding the importance and power of such a team. Ryan and Anna of Ballyhoo Hospitality, who I’m grateful to be partners with, have shown an ability to put together extremely strong efficient teams to produce at their establishments. You are only as good as the team you are able to not only put together but keep and strive to be better. In this business, we have had a great record of keeping and promoting staff from within.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Gemini story. Tell us more about the business.
Gemini Restaurant and Bar in Lincoln Park. A 100 seat restaurant with a beautiful 26 seat bar. Neighborhood friendly cuisine. I am most proud of the team we were able to put together for Gemini and the clientele we’ve been able to keep over the years and call “regulars”. We make them feel like they are at home or in their own exclusive club that happens to be open to the public. Hospitality to the next level without prong intrusive.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Technology is constantly changing the way we do business and will continue to do so. Having the ability to keep and pay great employees is and will continue to be a primary goal for the industry. Farm to table will go even further to the on-premise garden to table(already happening). There will be a throwback to just “old school bartending” with less of a focus on “mixology”, double strainers and extracts, foams…
Contact Info:
- Address: 2075 North Lincoln Ave
- Website: Www.geminichicago.com
- Phone: 773-525-2522
- Email: info@geminichicago.com
Image Credit:
Kira Williams
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