Today we’d like to introduce you to Kim Gros.
Kim, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Born of a desire to see people come together over craft food and drinks, SteelCraft unites local eateries within a communal dining space. Whether you come for the food, the drinks, or the people, there is a place for you at the SteelCraft table.
The concept of SteelCraft started a decade ago, with a desire to open up a space in the Bixby Knolls area (close to my house) where my friends & family could congregate and enjoy a thoughtfully crafted meal in an urban environments – where my kiddos were also welcomed. We only intended to build 1 – but as we opened Long Beach, we started receiving inquiries from other surrounding cities (and even states) asking if we would be interested in bringing a SC to their community.
SteelCraft seeks out vendor-partners who represent our three core values of: restoration, community, and craft. Each space is thoughtfully curated to boast complimentary vendors which elevate the customer’s experience and make the vendors more successful. In short, vendors want to be a part of and represent the community, be mindful of the earth and ingredients used, and serve a delightful product with excellent customer service. The overall ambiance of our space is a welcoming and diverse community space for everyone to be safe, have a good time, and indulge in great food and brews.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
This has been an exciting and wonderful process — but it, too, has come with its fair share of struggles and issues! At this point in time, with three locations, there are over 27 vendors that are part of our SteelCraft family – and that means 27 separate voices. These voices are aligned with SC values – but are still independent businesses with their own companies goals and expectations. We work to be a high-functioning organization but getting everyone on the same page is definitely one of our biggest struggles.
The build-out of each SteelCraft has been complex and intricate, with all parts of leadership highly involved. Working with different city planners & health departments and dealing with zoning and building regulations has been an ongoing obstacle – of which we’re working hard to create strong working relationships with city government (which includes the Mayor and city officials).
So, as you know, we’re impressed with SteelCraft – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
SteelCraft is an outdoor urban eatery based in Long Beach, Bellflower, and Garden Grove, CA. Built with repurposed shipping containers, SteelCraft goes beyond placing a few shipping containers on a plot of land. We strive to become part of the DNA of the community and curate small businesses to best meet the needs and desires of the communities we enter. Through outreach, live music, and community events, engaging our neighbors is how we come together to celebrate the culinary experience.
SteelCraft is a kid- and dog-friendly space where we value restoration, craft, and community.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Our number 1 priority is to grow the brand and bring even more guests to our (3) SteelCraft locations! We’re committed to safety, cleanliness, and the bringing of strong vendors and exciting programming to all of our sites!
And yes, we desire to continue growing — bringing more SteelCrafts to California (and surrounding states).
Contact Info:
- Website: www.steelcraftlb.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @steelcraft
- Facebook: steelcraft
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/steelcraft-garden-grove-garden-grove?osq=steelcraft
- Other: https://www.yelp.com/biz/steelcraft-long-beach-long-beach
Image Credit:
My colleague, Jen Le, will send photos over to you. ([email protected])
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