Why She’s Interesting: Kingsbury opened the Grocery in Ohio City in 2015. Stocked with farm-fresh produce, meat, milk and cheese, and artisan ingredients, the small space provides residents with healthy-eating options. In early October, Kingsbury launched her second location inside the Quarter at West 25th Street and Detroit Avenue. Triple the size of her original spot, this new market gives Kingsbury indoor seating, room to grow her ready-to-eat menu and more.
Meal Planner: Kingsbury listened to those who came into her first Grocery location and catered to their needs. Empty nesters, singles with a roommate and new families with a baby were all looking for simple, fast meal solutions. “It’s easier to just grab a couple of things here — get a sandwich, get a wrap, get a bowl and you know that it’s real food. You don’t have to dirty your dishes, and that’s what people came in for. I was like, OK, I will make you delicious food and make it healthy, and it’ll be good.”
Green Thumb: During Kingsbury’s childhood, a backyard garden provided not only food, but also a deep understanding of why fruits and vegetables were a good choice. “Throughout my life, it was just like, Understand why you do things and this is why we eat this food, this is why we have a garden, this is why we make it from scratch.”
Playing Favorites: A smoothie and to-go menu fuels Kingsbury’s creativity. She’s a fan of her hemp peanut butter smoothie. “I put blueberries and almond milk and sometimes I put spinach and flax seeds, but mostly, I just keep it simple.” When it comes to food, she often changes it up, but recently she’s loving the Grocery’s kabocha soup or the Fancy Joe sandwich with ham, Swiss, spinach, apples, red onions and Montana Girl Mustard. “If you put an over-medium egg on it, it’s like a version of a croque madame.”
Local Love: Each location carries about 70 different products. Peruse the shelves and you’ll find items from the likes of Platform Beer Co., Hartzler Family Dairy, Floressa Cafe, Chill Pop and Cleveland Kraut. “Initially, I sought people out, and then it became word-of-mouth. As long as you have quality ingredients, we will give it a go.”
Morning Glory: Since June, Kingsbury has been getting up at 6 a.m. “If I don’t get up early, there’s no quiet time.”
Fitness Frenzy: Kingsbury likes to run or take high-intensity interval training classes at Rise Nation. It’s during those moments that she either listens to music from the Killers, ’90s hip-hop or podcasts such as Bon Appetit or Mom Is In Control. “Mom Is In Control is more about self-help with lessons about controlling yourself, and if you’re in control, you’ll be able to work out the situations around you.”
Interesting Fact: After college, Kingsbury taught English in Gumi, Korea, for a year.
