Marietta Business Spotlight: Good Kitchen + Market
For this month’s Marietta Business Spotlight, I had the pleasure of chatting with Veronica Tompkins, co-owner, with her husband Peter Tompkins, of Good Kitchen + Market. They offer a beautiful space to enjoy their healthy, nutrient-dense meals, local brew from their son’s coffee business, beer, wine, and top-notch hospitality.
The Beginning
Veronica and Peter’s journey towards healthy eating and living began soon after they both found out they had cancer. To build their strength and maintain their health after treatment, the Tompkins learned how to cook foods that were both nutritious and delicious. Prior to this journey, Veronica and Peter spent most of their lives working in the corporate world. With Veronica’s background in branding and Peter’s in the restaurant business, the two saw the perfect opportunity to use the skills from their past careers and their newfound passion for healthy eating to start Good Kitchen + Market.
Setting the Scene
On a mission to open a restaurant and share Veronica’s delicious recipes with their community, the couple began to search fervently for a space in Marietta. One day, Veronica stumbled upon their current location, a historic home near both the Marietta Square and Kennestone Hospital. The Tompkins couldn’t believe that this house was still available and in their ideal location. With some experience in renovating homes, the couple got to work on turning the 1930s residence on Margaret Avenue into their dream restaurant. The couple was able to maintain the historical character, while simultaneously breathing new life into the once vacant home using light colors, a unique wall mural, and luscious greenery throughout the space. Let’s just say everything is very Instagrammable!
Why Marietta?
Veronica said that choosing to put their business in Marietta was an easy choice. Because they live nearby, have a vast network in the area, were already active in the community, and happened to find the perfect setting for their vision, there decision was made even easier.
Working with the City
In our conversation, Veronica had nothing but good things to say about working with the City during their project. In fact, she said that the Pre-Development Review Meeting was “the most efficient process,” as they were able to ask any questions they had and get feedback on their project from every City department at the same time. She said that from the first interaction with the City, staff was extremely helpful and supportive and made the process go smoothly.
In the Business of Community
Veronica said that their main goal is to bring people together in the community by providing a space that gives people the opportunity to build relationships over a good meal. When her son, Brooks, who was also the barista at their coffee bar that day, stopped by to say hi, he shared that his favorite part of Marietta is the community, and having lived in Savannah and Canada, he says that the sense of community that Marietta possesses is unmatched.
Good Kitchen + Market not only offers a wonderful dining experience but also a coffee bar, catering, event space for bridal and baby showers, rehearsal dinners, casual corporate events, and so much more. Be sure to visit them at 116 Margaret Avenue in Marietta! You won’t be disappointed!