timesnewsonline | What's Cooking: Groovy Grover's @timesnewsonline | Uploaded August 2024 | Updated October 2024, 20 hours ago.
When Niki Giles opened Groovy Grover’s a year ago, she was hoping to offer Johnson City food lovers a healthy, tasty, affordable option to the fast food they were used to - and still deliver it quickly at a drive-through window. Twelve months later, she’s still in business, still delighting customers and fulfilling that wish.
A veteran of the Johnson City restaurant scene, Giles was determined to do something different when she opened her own place, so she and a partner bought an empty bank building on Walnut Street and began to build it out, turning the old vault into a walk-in cooler and using the existing drive-through to take orders on the go. She commissioned some great artwork for the walls, created a laid-back mood for her employees and paid homage to her inspiration and mentor along the way.
“The initial idea with Groovy Grover’s was my grandfather, Grover Cleveland Giles,” says Niki. “He was a cook in the Navy in World War II, came home and taught us all how to can, cook, garden, you know… save for winter. I grew up eating really healthy stuff that we grew and I saw the need for that.”
Seeing that need, she created a healthy, easily-accessible restaurant serving big salads, rice and grain bowls, soups, infused waters and pacos. What is a paco, you might ask?
“Pacos are our spin on a taco,” Giles explains, “made with a pita, where you pick your dip base, protein, toppings, and dressing drizzle for an handheld delight. They’re a big favorite.”
With so many wonderful, beneficial menu items, I asked if she was hesitant to offer healthy food at first, since we are in the South and eating out is most times an unhealthy, indulgent affair.
“Our tagline is ‘Johnson City’s Grooviest Drive-Thru’ but it was formerly ‘Johnson City’s Healthiest, Grooviest Drive-Thru’ and when I took out the healthy part our sales increased by about 50%. So, I’d say don’t be afraid to come and eat because you think it’s ‘healthy food’ come and eat it because it’s delicious real food that we make with love that tastes good and just happens to be good for you.”
I’d say that’s good advice, especially after trying several items on the menu. I had no problem forgetting how healthy my food was, because it tasted like a cheat meal, bordering on decadence. By that, I mean it was very good. And still very good for me.
If you’d like the chance to try it for yourself, this weekend offers a great chance to do so. Groovy Grover’s will be holding a one-year anniversary street party on Saturday, August 10th. “We’re going to do a parking lot festival event,” says Giles, “with 18 vendors and two bands from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. so people can have a good time and still get out and enjoy their Saturday night. The community has really driven us to be successful and we appreciate that and just want to give a good day back.”
Groovy Grover’s is located at 426 West Walnut Street and is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday (closed Sunday). They offer catering and gift cards available at the restaurant or on the website (groovygrovers.com).
When Niki Giles opened Groovy Grover’s a year ago, she was hoping to offer Johnson City food lovers a healthy, tasty, affordable option to the fast food they were used to - and still deliver it quickly at a drive-through window. Twelve months later, she’s still in business, still delighting customers and fulfilling that wish.
A veteran of the Johnson City restaurant scene, Giles was determined to do something different when she opened her own place, so she and a partner bought an empty bank building on Walnut Street and began to build it out, turning the old vault into a walk-in cooler and using the existing drive-through to take orders on the go. She commissioned some great artwork for the walls, created a laid-back mood for her employees and paid homage to her inspiration and mentor along the way.
“The initial idea with Groovy Grover’s was my grandfather, Grover Cleveland Giles,” says Niki. “He was a cook in the Navy in World War II, came home and taught us all how to can, cook, garden, you know… save for winter. I grew up eating really healthy stuff that we grew and I saw the need for that.”
Seeing that need, she created a healthy, easily-accessible restaurant serving big salads, rice and grain bowls, soups, infused waters and pacos. What is a paco, you might ask?
“Pacos are our spin on a taco,” Giles explains, “made with a pita, where you pick your dip base, protein, toppings, and dressing drizzle for an handheld delight. They’re a big favorite.”
With so many wonderful, beneficial menu items, I asked if she was hesitant to offer healthy food at first, since we are in the South and eating out is most times an unhealthy, indulgent affair.
“Our tagline is ‘Johnson City’s Grooviest Drive-Thru’ but it was formerly ‘Johnson City’s Healthiest, Grooviest Drive-Thru’ and when I took out the healthy part our sales increased by about 50%. So, I’d say don’t be afraid to come and eat because you think it’s ‘healthy food’ come and eat it because it’s delicious real food that we make with love that tastes good and just happens to be good for you.”
I’d say that’s good advice, especially after trying several items on the menu. I had no problem forgetting how healthy my food was, because it tasted like a cheat meal, bordering on decadence. By that, I mean it was very good. And still very good for me.
If you’d like the chance to try it for yourself, this weekend offers a great chance to do so. Groovy Grover’s will be holding a one-year anniversary street party on Saturday, August 10th. “We’re going to do a parking lot festival event,” says Giles, “with 18 vendors and two bands from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. so people can have a good time and still get out and enjoy their Saturday night. The community has really driven us to be successful and we appreciate that and just want to give a good day back.”
Groovy Grover’s is located at 426 West Walnut Street and is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday (closed Sunday). They offer catering and gift cards available at the restaurant or on the website (groovygrovers.com).
