Downtown Johnson City is home to the brand new Groovy Grover’s–a local, drive-thru restaurant that seeks to bring healthy, accessible options to everyone in the community.  

“Eating healthy and being able to have longevity is really important to me,” Niki Giles, owner of Groovy Grover’s, said. “It felt just like a need in the community.”

Photo of menu items served at Groovy Grover’s. (Contributed/Groovy Grover’s Facebook)

Groovy Grover’s opened its doors to the public on Aug. 22; for the three weeks it has been open for business, Giles shared that the community response has been overwhelmingly positive.

“The community support has been over the top,” Giles said. “I feel so grateful and so humble right now.”

For Giles, opening Groovy Grover’s means more than just providing the Johnson City community with a healthier alternative to fast food–it is a way to honor and remember her grandfather, Grover Giles, dubbed Groovy Grover.  

Grover was a cook in the Navy during World War II; Giles said that after returning he taught her family how to cook, can and garden. 

“Cooking was a huge part of my life growing up,” Giles said. “We were poor, and we cooked every meal…that was the biggest way we showed love.”

Groovy Grover’s is located at 426. W. Walnut St.; Giles is excited to be a part of the improvements coming to the downtown area and hopes that selecting this location for the restaurant will contribute to the community impact of the business. 

“Seeing Walnut Street and the vision that the city has…is just really inspiring for the future,” Giles said. “We just thought if we can play the long game with this and secure a spot on Walnut Street, then we can do some really good community work here for a long time.”

Giles is focusing on the bigger picture with the opening of Groovy Grover’s–mentioning that the increase in businesses in the downtown area is signaling an exciting future for Johnson City.

Photo of the Groovy Grover’s building painting. (Contributed/Groovy Grover’s Facebook)

“It’s going to pay off in the future,” Giles said. “This is going to create jobs and tourism and commerce, and that’s what any thriving city should aim for.”

Giles said that Groovy Grover’s is unique in the accessibility that it provides to the community–both through its easy, drive-thru design, as well as its ability to cater to those with specific food intolerances. 

Groovy Grover’s is equipped to serve those who are vegan and vegetarian, and is a compatible facility for those who need to eat gluten-free. 

“We pride ourselves in making this the most accessible, healthy food in Johnson City…” Giles said.

As Groovy Grover’s approaches one month of being open for business, Giles has high aspirations for where the future will take the restaurant.

“I hope there’s a Groovy Grover’s in every town,” Giles said. “I hope there is accessible, healthy food in all of our surrounding cities in three to five years.”

For more information on Groovy Grover’s or to view their menu options, visit them online at: www.groovygrovers.com, or follow them on Instagram: @groovy_grovers.