Today we’d like to introduce you to Cas Thompson.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Cas. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I was born in Jamaica but raised in Westchester County, NY. I moved to Atlanta 15 years ago with my family to seek out more opportunity.
I have been entrepreneurial my entire life but with a young family, I decided to build a career in telecom.
My work in telecommunications sparked my love of gadgets which led to me starting a photography company on the side. Between my corporate job and my side hustle, I quickly received first-hand experiences dealing with direct customer service, sales, marketing, and public speaking.
As a photographer, I would get plenty of clients who would want me to shoot portraits and aerial photos but that also turned into food photography as well. My day job was doing well and my side hustle was doing well too until I lost my corporate job in May of 2018.
At this point, I had a crucial decision to make. Jump back into corporate or step out and create something new.
I went with option number two.
I wanted to create an environment where people could still experience art through photography as well as have a bite to eat that tasted like the Caribbean. Being able to give back to the community and create new jobs was something that was pretty important to us as well.
In November of 2018 we opened Kingston Grill.
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?
The road was not smooth at all. Although I did learn a lot from several years in corporate other than being a busboy in high school, I had no prior restaurant experience.
We had the vision but I also needed to put together a solid team and create a menu that would create first-time visits and repeat customers.
I also had to learn in a short period of time, the ins and outs of permits, licenses and certificates that are associated with opening up a full-service restaurant.
I was fortunate to have strong relationships with family and friends who were able to assist and encourage along the way.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Kingston Grill – what should we know?
Kingston Grill specializes in Jamaican Cuisine at an affordable price in a modern trendy atmosphere. We specialize in Jamaican favorites but we are well known for our fusion of Jamaican food with other foods from around the world.
Two of our crowd favorites are Jerk Chicken Spring rolls and Oxtail Tacos. Our spring rolls are stuffed with Jerk Chicken and cabbage and served with sweet heat dipping sauce and our Tacos are served on a bed of lettuce with salsa and sour cream topped with pulled oxtail meat.
As a company we are most proud of being able to introduce Jamaican food to those who have been afraid to try it while in an environment that’s trendy, safe and upbeat. We are also proud to serve in our community by working with local schools and participating in local events.
We are family friendly, date night ready and with an outdoor patio, always ready to give our lunch crowd great Caribbean vibes.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
The quality that is the most important to my success is tenacity. My parents have always instilled the importance of hard work and never giving up until the mission is complete. Those that know me, know that I’m not going to quit and even through struggles, I’m going to show up and figure it out.
Never has there been so much access to information that with tenacity and grit, being able to accomplish anything is possible for everyone.
I read as much as possible and I am not afraid to ask the ones that have done it before me for help. No matter how hard you work, you can not do it alone so build on your network as well.
There are going to be tough days, you will mess up, there will be setbacks but you have to be able to get back up and stick to accomplishing your vision.
Pricing:
- Entrees are below $20
- Every Second Sunday of the month we host a Caribbean Brunch Buffet for $25
Contact Info:
- Address: 1105 Main Street
Forest Park, GA 30297 - Website: www.kingstongrillatl.com
- Phone: 404-458-3968
- Email: info@kingstongrillatl.com
- Instagram: KingstonGrillATL
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kingstongrillatl
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/kingston-grill-forest-park
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
