Spirit
The Chattanooga area is home to many successful businesses that are owned and run by women and their families. Here, meet five local businesses where mothers and daughters are challenging the status quo – using their relationship and generational differences as a foundation for success. From flower preservation to charming venue experiences and more, these duos and trios do it all.
Photography by Final Flash Productions
Amanda: In my early 20s, I couldn’t shake the idea of starting a business with my mom. I had a biology degree but left the field for the restaurant industry, while my mom was already an entrepreneur with a talent for design and event planning. We once considered opening a small wedding venue but tabled it during COVID. Like many people then, I started teaching myself to cook. With no tapas restaurants and few wine bars in our area, I felt we could fill that gap. I cooked for my parents a few times (once even grilling an octopus on my mom’s Foreman grill) trying to sell them on the plan. After a full PowerPoint presentation, I think my passion won them over. We leased the building in October 2021.
Amanda: It’s such a blessing to be my most authentic self with my business partner. One minute we’re working on a gala for an organization in town, and the next we’re planning my baby shower.
Gayla: She’s not a little girl anymore. Most parents mostly talk on the phone or see their kids on holidays – I get to see both of mine every time I walk into Amada. Not a day goes by that we don’t talk. It isn’t always business, and it’s given us a closeness I will always cherish.
Amanda: We value having hobbies and interests outside of work. Closing the restaurant on Sundays and Mondays gives our staff a better work-life balance – two days to recharge or get errands done – so we can all work the same five days together.
Amanda: Becoming a first-time mom is an exciting chapter for both me and my mother. We’ve always used our business for community outreach, so I’d love to make hosting more events for moms a priority.
Nina: Bluegrass Grill was originally built by our family years ago, so this wasn’t a new idea, it was a continuation of something deeply personal. After losing our patriarch, the restaurant became more than a business. It became a legacy we weren’t ready to let go of.
Building it together again came from both grief and grit, knowing what that would take. We realized that Bluegrass wasn’t just breakfast, it was our family’s story, our community’s gathering place, and a piece of Main Street history. Choosing to step fully into it, side by side, felt like choosing each other too. We said “yes” because we believed in what it stood for and because we knew we were stronger together than apart – and that’s the way to succeed!
Joan Marie: Nina has been raised with technology and the expectation of its use in marketing a business. Her father and I were dependent on word of mouth. But the unifying experience that crosses generations is the vulnerable authenticity that comes from listening to people and their stories and making them feel not only heard but seen and appreciated – that’s the heart of Bluegrass Grill.
Nina: We definitely see the world through different lenses. Mom values tradition and staying true to what has worked for decades. I value the tradition and focus on community while also seeing the value in branding, social media, new events, and creative expansion. I am energized and excited to carry on my family’s legacy.
Our differences actually strengthen the business. One of us provides years of wisdom and an “old school” mindset. The other explores how to tell the Bluegrass story in fresh ways. It’s a balance between honoring history and embracing growth, while both protecting the soul of Bluegrass.
Joan Marie: Questioning, understanding, and offering help in whatever form the other will accept it. Most of all, expressing constant gratitude and appreciation for all the hard work and coming together as a family after it’s done.
Nina: It’s a dance. We’ve learned to give each other grace. We remind ourselves and each other that we’re on the same team, and that mindset changes everything!
Nina: Bluegrass isn’t just our workplace. It’s where our family gathers, where our memories live, and where our community connects. And we’re grateful for the chance to carry this story forward together!
Lindsey: The idea began when my husband and I bought the land and started thinking about ways to turn it into an investment. As we discussed possibilities, my parents naturally became part of the conversation. At first, we simply wanted to find a way to share the beauty of the gorge with visitors and locals. Over time, that idea evolved into creating a full wedding venue. Building this business together felt right. Running it with my parents – especially my mom – has been such a blessing. It’s given us the chance to connect in new ways and continue learning about and from one another every single day.
Nelly: When my husband and I first saw the view of the gorge and property, we immediately said “yes,” and asked, “How can we help share this beautiful space with others?”
Lindsey: By staying flexible and understanding! We recognize there are seasons when one of us may need to carry a little more, and we’re always willing to step in when that happens. We also make a point to check in with each other (multiple times a day) and keep things in perspective. Because we know each other so well, we can sense when the other needs encouragement, a listening ear, or simply
a reminder of why we started this journey together.
Nelly: We first take some deep breaths, listen to each other, and try to put everything in perspective. Listening is so important – both to one another and to our clients.
Lindsey: I hope we show other women that working with family isn’t always as difficult as people say. Working together has truly been a joy. It’s allowed me to get to know Mom in new ways and has deepened our relationship in incredibly positive ways. I’ve also been able to learn from her years of experience in family businesses, gaining generational knowledge and perspective you can’t always find elsewhere. I hope our story encourages other women and families to see the value in building something meaningful together.
Nelly: It is a privilege to work with people you respect and admire. I feel fortunate to have done this in the past and to continue doing so today.
Katie: We moved to Tennessee from California in 2019, and there was a greenhouse on the property. It was full of weeds and you couldn’t see out of the windows. Cindy, my mom, instantly had a vision to turn it into a party room since we didn’t have a green thumb. We used it for several years with our family, friends, and church groups. I lived on the property at the time and had always loved to decorate big, themed parties for my kids. So, I had an idea one day to open the greenhouse up to the public and brought the idea to Cindy. We both joined together to start The Greenhouse in Birchwood!
Cindy: We both love attention to detail and both love people. I am the caterer and do all the food and Katie decorates and plans all the parties, so we work great together as a team. Since I love the details of table setting and have been collecting bone china dishes, vintage pieces, and tableware for years, and Katie loves styling the décor and hand painting custom signage, we are stronger together.
Katie: It has been fun to work together and create beautiful parties and events. My kids also help, which is so fun for Grammy and Mom to enjoy time with them. We are excited to build this venue for our future grandchildren and kids to work when they are older. Two of them are servers now.
Cindy: To continue to expand our venue so that we can have a large gathering room and, in the future, some places to stay the night for families and bridal parties. We currently offer micro weddings and elopements!
Rachael: I started Blossom and Rhyme in 2020, preserving flowers in resin from my home. As we grew and moved into larger studios, I realized we needed a pressed floral department. My mom, Rebecca, was currently recovering from brain surgery and spending a lot of time in her garden. I saw how much life flowers gave her and asked her in 2022 to start our pressed department. She is now part owner and director! My sister, Madelyn, who has been with me since the beginning, joined her and now serves as our pressed flower manager and artist.
Rachael: We have very different personalities, which is one of our greatest strengths. Mom is Type A and detail-driven, while I’m more “big picture” and Type B.
I focus on vision, systems, and efficiency – thinking about growth, streamlining, and improving the business’s overall structure. Mom naturally zooms in on the small details that most people would overlook. She has an incredible eye for precision and craftsmanship.
Rachael: Keeping it simple. When at Blossom and Rhyme, we focus on the work and the roles we carry. When outside of the studio, we try to just be family.
That said, there are times we’ll answer a message or talk through an idea after hours. It doesn’t feel stressful because we genuinely love our customers and what we do. The business and our relationship matter to us, so we’re intentional about protecting both.
Rachael: I hope our partnership represents that hard seasons don’t get the final say. Before Blossom and Rhyme, I’d lost my job. COVID also hit, and I was dealing with chronic sickness and a newly diagnosed stomach disorder. In 2022, my mom went through a severe brain tumor surgery, and my sister Madelyn was battling long COVID. It came wave after wave.
But we’ve learned that amazing things can grow from difficult places. With Jesus involved, what was overwhelming became purposeful.
