What do you get when three friends bring together their entrepreneurial spirit and vision? Just ask the founders and owners of 7th and Grove, our friends and business members, who did just that. We were lucky to connect with Dr. Jamaris Glenn, Dr. Vondalyn Wright and Khalilaa McDuffie to find out more about the story behind the innovative concept they created right here in Tampa Bay.

The concept itself was inspired by travel and the desire to bring a unique experience to the area. The founders saw a need for a spot where guests could enjoy excellent food, a welcoming atmosphere, live music and local art, all at the same place. “We were traveling in different cities like Atlanta, D.C., Miami, and we would see these really great food eateries, nightclubs, lounges and things like that. We saw that void here in Tampa that mirrored our culture. We wanted to create — and be part of — a robust and thriving food atmosphere,” Glenn explained.

If you’re local to Tampa, you may recognize the 7th and Grove company motto: Eat. Vibe. Flourish. To the founders, the concept of flourishing includes respecting and supporting their local community. Philanthropy is important to them, with a passion for service being a common thread in each individual owner’s story. “I think that’s another thing that bridges us together: our passion for community, our passion for entertaining,” McDuffie shared.

The owners also maintain a commitment to supporting other small business owners in the local community. “For us, small business is the cornerstone of any community, and we’ve realized that when people know you, they want to support you,” Wright said. They use nothing but local businesses in their course of operations, for everything from AC repair to catering for their dessert buffet line to printing services for their menus.

All three founders are Tampa natives with a desire to uplift their local area, so choosing Ybor City was no accident. Dr. Glenn said, “What we wanted to bring to Tampa was our culture, and why not in the heart of where diversity is? Ybor is really known for its Cuban history, Italian history and a thriving LGBTQ atmosphere here, as well. We wanted to be part of that and introduce our culture into this melting pot.”

At the end of the day, what inspires the team at 7th and Grove really does seem to come down to one word: community. McDuffie shared, “Tampa is a strong passion of mine. Just being in my community, bringing stuff into the community that it may never have seen or gotten to experience, and being a part of this is such a blessing.” We feel blessed as well to have been able to spend time with these three incredible people. To learn more about their business and how to support them, visit 7thandgrove.com.

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