A lifelong dream was accomplished when Tried & True Alehouse opened Jan. 9 in the Center Grove area.
Laura Gladish said it had been her husband’s dream to own a restaurant for 30 years. John Gladish had worked at a Texas Roadhouse for 25 years before hearing that the Mucky Duck Grill & Bar location, 2800 S. State Road 135, Ste. 100, Greenwood, became available. Laura said it all happened quickly after that.
The two worked 12- and 14-hour days ahead of the restaurant’s grand opening, cleaning, painting, preparing the menu, deciding on the décor, hiring staff and more.
They traveled to other restaurants that had similar looks and ambience to what they wanted and together with a contractor they came up with what Laura described as a “rustic industrial” theme. Reclaimed wood from pallets extends a few feet up the walls. They used pipes for railing. Classic rock and contemporary country plays over the speakers.
Between 85 and 90 people are on the restaurant staff, many of them students at Center Grove High School. According to Willie Roegner, operating partner at the alehouse, three of the six employees of the month selected so far have been high school students.
Laura returned to work to help her husband achieve his dream after she spent nearly 15 years as a stay-at-home mom to their three daughters.
“It has been a blast,” she said. “I’ve loved it. Getting to know all the staff, the business has been good and successful. It’s fun to watch and be a part of my husband’s dream coming true. I think we’ve achieved what we set out to do.”
Tried & True Alehouse is open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 11 a.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays.
Originally published in Southside Times, 2017. Republished here for archival and portfolio purposes.