Born in BBQ. Bound for Flavor - Pure Grit Hospitality Group

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Kerry Fitzmaurice, Founder of Pure Grit Hospitality Group, located in New York, NY, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

What started as a CPG brand with BBQ essentials, including hot sauce, BBQ sauce, and rub, has grown into a BBQ restaurant in the Gramercy area of Manhattan. Our food is 100% delicious and just happens to be vegan and gluten-free. Pure Grit was created for everyone that loves food. We wanted to create a space and menu with flavors that appeal to all palates, where everyone, regardless of the food journey, can pull up a chair and join in the fun.

Tell us about yourself

The environment has always been a big part of my life, from my education at the University of Michigan and Yale University to my first job at the Environmental Protection Agency. I feel like I have come full circle by opening a vegan restaurant. Eating a plant-based diet, even some of the time makes a huge impact. I focused on BBQ because it felt like the most exclusive food category, and I wanted to celebrate BBQ ethos with plants, something that I was missing as a plant-based eater, and tapped into my nostalgic memories of a childhood filled with beach days and barbecues.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Believing in myself, creating an incredible team of like-minded people, raising the capital, and getting the doors open of our first brick-and-mortar location post covid in the toughest, most amazing city in the world.

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

That you have to wear all the hats.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

Listen to your gut. Be disciplined about time management. Stay open and receptive. Don't compare yourself to others unless it is to make yourself and your company better.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.puregritbbq.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/puregritbbq/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/puregritbbq/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/puregritbbq/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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