Hidden Gems: Meet Kathryn Hubert of Chez Genese

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kathryn Hubert.

Hi Kathryn, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory. 
My love of food and cooking started at a young age, which eventually led to pursuing degrees in Culinary and Hospitality Management in college. This also opened doors to the restaurant world and ultimately to the Burgundy region of France, where I spent a year falling in love with French culture and food. I have three cousins with Autism, who have inspired and provided the initial heartbeat for Chez Genèse (translation: the place of new beginnings). I ultimately am fighting for a world where all humans belong, using my restaurant as a tangible and practical space for us to practice our mission and model, believing that good food brings people together. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not been a smooth road! I’m not sure that there are smooth roads for entrepreneurs and restaurant owners… but that’s part of what I love about innovation and my industry. The nature of it keeps me on my toes. One of the biggest hurdles was deciding to start this business and commit my time and life to it. I spent years preparing and years asking myself, “is this really what I want?” Once I made the decision and commitment to fully step in and engage, I was able to settle into what my new life and reality really were. Which has still been filled with many challenges (launching a restaurant, being broke, walking through COVID-19 as a 15-month-old restaurant, establishing a social justice model, etc.). But my commitment to myself and my business has only rooted deeper and deeper as the years have gone on. 

As you know, we’re big fans of Chez Genese. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about the brand?
We are a small, French-inspired restaurant located at 616 South Elm Street in downtown Greensboro, NC. We offer an integrated hiring model by training and employing adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, which make up over 50% of our overall team. As a team, we are on a mission to change the way our world understands neurodiversity and employs humans with disabilities. 

Our cafe is most known for our bright and airy space, our love of plants, weekend brunch (especially our Lemon Ricotta Pancakes), and an environment that encourages connection and conversation. 

How can people work with you, collaborate with you, or support you?
We have many ways for people to connect with us! If you are in Greensboro or visiting, then we would love to feed you. We are open daily from 8 am-2 pm and welcome the opportunity to meet you face to face and serve you a wonderful meal. Additionally, we host monthly workshops and are available to speak to your team or business about the Power of Disability Integration, opening up conversations around disability language, learning, and employment. 

We also have several ways for you to connect and support us virtually. Our YouTube channel is a great way to become part of our process and community and takes a deep dive into who are we are, what we do, and why we do it. It offers a unique lens into our restaurant life and model. Our Instagram is also a great way to stay current on day-to-day restaurant life and a way to virtually interact with and know our team! 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.chezgenese.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chezgenese
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chezgenese
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kehubert/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@chezgenese
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/chez-gen%C3%A8se-greensboro?osq=chez+genese

Image Credits
Barrier Photography