Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Woodruff.
Hi Chris, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Born and raised in Nashville, TN. I have always been a person that wanted to have my own business. My mom (Emma Woodruff) was my first mentor. She owned her own beauty salon Emma’s House Of Beauty in Nashville.
My first business was selling clothes at the Nashville Farmers/ Flea Market, which lead to an online presence that lead to a partnership with a brick-and-mortar clothing store (Urban Trends).
Several businesses then followed from a car accessories shop (Big Boyz Customz) to a nightclub, and now an art gallery (Gallery On Main) in Memphis that my wife (Nina) decided to start at the beginning of 2022 to go along with the art gallery we also have a food truck (Delta Soul Eats & Sweets) and a frozen dessert truck (Polar Tropical Caribbean Ice).
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There is always some type of obstacles that will pop up. When you have deterrents you have to believe in your dreams and yourself to continue on through those deterrents.
When you finally get to that end result those deterrents that you overcame become part of your Entrepreneur DNA.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We have a few entities that fall under the umbrella of UWE LLC including Polar Tropical Shaved Ice & Sweet Treats, Delta Soul Eats & Sweets, and Gallery On Main.
Polar Tropical’s brand started it off followed by Delta Soul then Gallery On Main. All three brands center around the community. We feel our brands started in the community for the community. Polar Tropical Shaved Ice Sweet Treats is a frozen dessert truck that offers shaved and Italian Ice.
Delta Soul Eats & Sweets is our food truck that gives that down-home Mississippi Delta flavor with some of that Memphis Soul sprinkled in the food. Gallery On Main is the art gallery in downtown Memphis that provides a setting for some of the most talented and gifted artists in the Mid South to be seen.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
The people are what I like about the city. Memphis has some of the most hard-working people. 901 has the most talented people in the world. Memphis goes toe to toe with any city on levels of talent.
What I least like about the city is the bad rep the other parts of the US give Memphis.
I challenge anybody that’s not from Memphis to come to the city for a weekend and experience firsthand what the true essence of Bluff City is all about.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @gallery350main; @polartropice
- Facebook: facebook.com/gallery350main; facebook.com/polartropice
Image Credits:
Saniya N. Woodruff
