Life and Work with Grace Lee

Today we’d like to introduce you to Grace Lee.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Grace. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Seven years ago, I opened my first restaurant. Probably one of the scariest things I’ve ever done until that point, mostly because I had no experience or money but I did it anyway. And that’s when I fell in love with the industry. Turns out, taking that leap of faith was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

Entrepreneurship is a wild and unpredictable journey. Nobody really knows what they’re doing, they just have an idea and are willing to do whatever it takes to pull it off! But if you’re lucky and you love what you do, it’s the most rewarding discovery. Fast forward to now and I’m opening my 6th venture, Café Casa and the excitement is still the same.

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?
Running a business is hard! Working for yourself is even harder. There is no safety net. I always say entrepreneurship is a lonely journey. The late hours, lack of sleep, nonstop worry of every detail from ordering to payroll all consume you every day before you even have your first customer. And even with the incredible support of family and friends, nobody will understand all your highs and lows. Having a business is never as glamorous as it seems or the fantasy we imagine it to be.

For women, especially young women, it’s even harder. Unfortunately, that’s just the reality. Atlanta has always been extremely kind to me. It gave me the opportunity to prove myself as a young woman of color to build something in a male-dominated industry. When I was seeking advice from fellow restauranteurs to open my first business, they all gave me the same reply. It was a unanimous “NO, don’t ever do it”. I’m so glad I didn’t let it discourage my dreams and followed my heart. Sometimes, you just have to believe in yourself, your vision, and your idea and keep going.

Please tell us about Café Casa. What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of as a company? What sets you apart from others?
I never know how to answer people when they ask me what I do. It’s not a simple answer. I guess in this stage of my life, it can be summed up as an investor but I’m still deeply involved in my businesses.

Mostly I specialize in food & beverage. But I also have a new product I’m developing that I think will be my greatest idea yet! I love business, creating, building, I really love the grind. It’s fun! I like connecting the dots and connecting people. I like building teams with good people. The first person I ever hired at my first restaurant is one of my closest friends today, we have spent holidays together and traveled the world. I’m really proud of that. At the end of the day, we are all in business to make a living but for me, the greatest rewards are much deeper than that.

All of my businesses are dear to my heart. I don’t have any children but I’d like to think it’s similar to having kids. You love them all differently and they are all special in their own way. Two of the ventures in my portfolio that I invested in are dear to my heart. Drafts + Dogs & The James Room have been incredible because I am now part of someone else’s dream. I love to see everyone win, I really enjoy the celebration of friendship in that kind of supporting role.

There’s a wealth of academic research that suggests that a lack of mentors and networking opportunities for women has materially affected the number of women in leadership roles. Smart organizations and industry leaders are working to change this, but in the meantime, do you have any advice for finding a mentor and building a network?
Just ask. I always tell people that is the most valuable thing you can do. Nobody can help you if they don’t know what you need. And almost everyone that I know that has “made it” is more than eager to help, mentor, and teach someone that wants to grow. I wrote my mentor a handwritten card to formally ask him if he would be my mentor and to this day, I always run my ideas by him.

Networking is kind of a different story for me. I’m not fond of “networking” events or seeking out gains from people. I believe in organic relationships and networking happens naturally. Meet people for who they are and not for what they can do for you. Listen to their story without an angle of how they can benefit you. Entrepreneurs are always looking for talent, and if you make a lasting impression, you will never have to sell yourself.

Contact Info:

• Address: Café Casa
  151 Ellis Street
  Atlanta, Ga 30303
• Website: Cafecasacare.com
• Email: grace@cafecasacare.com
• Instagram: @gracemyjourney

Image Credit:
Jack Manning

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