11/29/2024
We recently sat down with Ashley Allen, owner of All in The Family Grill and Mini Mart (she’s also the store’s “dessert queen”), and asked her a bit about how the business came to be, and why she likes running it alongside her fellow family members including:
•Jessica (Ashley’s mother) “Cooking Queen”
•Eva (grandmother) “Cornbread Queen”
•Brian (uncle) “Fish King”
•Kevin (dad) “Chicken King”
•Jasmine (cousin) “Queen Greeter/Cashier”
•Leslie (god mother) “Lemonade queen”
•Tanya - (aunt) “Greens Queen”
According to her recent Facebook post:
“I brought this vision to my mother, father and my uncle B in 2022 with, “Let’s open up a restaurant!.” They did NOT take me serious at all, but they agreed to it. I started taking business classes, having meetings with the SBA, and speaking with banks to find the best banking for our business. Every week I was coming back with new information, and showing them I was serious. I finally got approved for EVERYTHING that’s when they saw how serious I was !. So here I am at 33 with my first business along with my family’s help !. I could not be more proud of us!”
About the business:
Opened: May 18, 2024
Location: 116 Broad Street , Milton, NC
Hours: Vary - Posted daily on Facebook
Tue-Sat 7am-7pm • Sun 12-5pm
Phone: +1 336-654-4111
Description: Soul Cooked Food with Love
**Here is our interview with Ashley:**
Q: What do you do at the restaurant?
I do inventory, handle the banking, financial things, I come in and cook, I do the desserts, I run the register, I fix plates.
Q: How did you decide on the type of cuisine you wanted to serve at All in the Family?
On this little strip in Milton there is no home cooked food, reasonable priced. My Mom, Grandma and Aunt love cooking southern meals, and all different types of country food. People enjoy the southern food. They get tired of having the fast foods, they prefer a home cooked meal.
Q: What makes your menu unique, and are there any signature dishes you’d recommend?
Because it’s cooked with love, it’s prepared fresh, our chefs are taking their time not rushing it out.
Q: What are your personal favorite menu items?
The fish, hamburger and gravy, meatloaf, collard greens, homemade macaroni and cheese, spaghetti and cornbread.
Q: What values or principles do you prioritize in your restaurant’s culture?
We welcome all people, we don’t discriminate, and we don’t turn anyone away.
Q: How do you source ingredients, and are there any local farms or vendors you work with?
Sysco is our main source. Also, some local farmers bring fresh vegetables in, and we go to markets to get fresh vegetables, and of course local grocery stores.
Q: What’s been the biggest challenge so far in launching and running this restaurant?
Having enough food. Just so you have enough during the rush and don’t run out.
Q: How would you describe the overall atmosphere you aim to create for your guests?
It’s a friendly, family atmosphere, it’s welcoming - we walk around and talk to the customers. Come as you are.
Q: What’s the most surprising lesson you’ve learned on this business journey so far?
The support, for real! The town is so small and we were nervous, but business has been booming, We love the support of the locals and people nearby. We have new customers every day.
Q: What is the customer’s favorite item?
For breakfast: Bacon and egg and cheese on toast, and fatback, simoncakes
For lunch/dinner: Fried chicken, Hamburger and gravy, Meatloaf, Spaghetti
Q: I know this may sound like an obvious question, but how did you get the name?
All of us are family and so we wanted to do something that represented that. There is eight of us. And we are all born and raised here in Milton.
Q: What do like best about running the restaurant?
Meeting new people. We meet people from all over, which is amazing. When the VIR did a recent big race, we even met someone from California.
To find our more about All in the Family Grill and Mini Mart, visit their page!
