Today we’d like to introduce you to Chelsey Barringer
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Graz’n: A Story of Passion, Community, and Growth
Graz’n Tables began as a small dream and has blossomed into a beloved culinary destination in Collierville, TN. Founded by Chelsey, a passionate entrepreneur with a deep love for southern flavors, Graz’n has become a place where great food meets community spirit. What started as a catering service has grown into a vibrant restaurant known for its delicious charcuterie boards, custom sandwiches. salads, and heartwarming hospitality.
Chelsey’s vision for Graz’n has always been rooted in the idea of bringing people together around food. With a focus on fresh, locally sourced ingredients, the business quickly gained a loyal following from their commitment to providing high-quality, fresh food.
Recently, Graz’n expanded to include a local market inside the restaurant. This market hosts products that host charcuterie ingredients including boards and more made by other small businesses, creating a permanent farmers market popup for the community to enjoy all year round. It’s a space where locals can support each other by shopping for unique, locally made goods.
Graz’n isn’t just about food; it’s a community hub. Whether it’s co-events with local food trucks like Flipside Asia, or The Family Cup or even their monthly charcuterie classes, Graz’n offers unique experiences that connect people. They’ve even introduced a tea bar with carefully curated flavors, including their signature chamomile with vanilla and blueberry tea, adding a new layer of comfort to the space.
Now located at 1996 S Houston Levee Road, Graz’n continues to grow by hosting small businesses in their kitchen, expanding their offerings and supporting the local economy. From its humble beginnings to its bright future, Graz’n Tables reflects Chelsey’s passion for food, family, and fostering connections through shared meals.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
**Graz’n Tables: Overcoming Struggles in Year Two**
As Graz’n Tables enters its second year of operation, the journey has been marked by both growth and significant challenges. For Chelsey and her mother, who opened Graz’n using their own savings, managing this small business has been a labor of love and dedication. They’ve learned that growing at the right pace is key to staying relevant in a competitive market. One of the most important lessons they’ve embraced is the importance of patience—growing too quickly can be risky, and staying connected to the community is essential.
Customer support has been the lifeblood of Graz’n. Chelsey feels blessed to have a loyal customer base that consistently shows up to support the restaurant. Their investment into the community has been reciprocated in kind, as loyal patrons have helped keep the doors open by shopping and supporting Graz’n daily.
However, the path hasn’t been without obstacles. After a year in business, they were finally able to save enough to put a sign on the building. This achievement came after dealing with significant setbacks, including having to replace the A/C unit in the leased building. Graz’n had to assume the previous tenant’s lease, which led to unforeseen problems. Chelsey now cautions other small business owners against assuming leases, as it can result in costly repairs for someone else’s issues. In their first year alone, Graz’n spent nearly $45,000 on electrical problems and A/C repairs and replacement.
Despite these challenges, Chelsey is proud that Graz’n has remained debt-free. The business was started with everything from their own pockets, without relying on loans or credit. This careful, steady approach allowed them to focus on their long-term dream, even through adversity. The unwavering support from their community has kept that dream alive, and it continues to inspire Chelsey and her team to push forward, day by day.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Catering is Chelsey’s first love and remains her primary focus. She especially enjoys when clients bring her ideas from Pinterest and ask her to put her unique spin on them or bring those visions to life. “It’s art for me,” she says, “and I’m blessed I get to bring joy to my community through food.” Her approach to charcuterie is distinctive because she never repeats the same design twice, ensuring that each client experiences something fresh and new with every order.
Chelsey’s entrepreneurial journey is a story of perseverance and dedication. Alongside her mother, she launched Graz’n using their own savings, navigating the challenges of small business ownership without taking on debt. Her careful approach to growth and her strong connection to the Collierville community have been key to her success, with loyal customers playing a central role in keeping Graz’n thriving.
Beyond her work, Chelsey is a proud mother of three and is married to Bryan Barringer. Her family is at the heart of her motivation, inspiring her to continue growing Graz’n while staying rooted in her core values of family, food, and community support.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
Luck is about having the right people around you to support your dreams. It takes a village and you can’t achieve anything of real meaning alone. I’m lucky to have some incredible female business partners that I’ve gained alone the way to help me get through the difficult and stressful times. Only others that are walking the same path can sometimes be the only ones who can relate and that helps not feeling alone while also trying to keep your dream alive. So I’d say, my luck has been finding the right key players to that have helped me keep pushing daily!
Pricing:
- Boxed Catering Breakfast, lunch, charcuterie $10-15
- Breakfast Sandwiches $7
- Lunch Sandwich Combos $14
- Boars head deli cooler $11-16 per pound
- Charcuterie Boards $130-880
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.grazntables.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grazntables?igsh=MWNhcmJjYjNlcmx1Nw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/f1WT9PeiQS6nJjD5/?mibextid=LQQJ4d
