Today we’d like to introduce you to Krystal Mcgreevy.
Hi Krystal, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Oh, man where to start? I would say that my passion started way back when I was a child. I grew up with two brothers, one older and one younger– I was the middle child and only girl. We grew up being raised by a single mom. She always amazed me at her capability of being able to cook us kids a hot meal with just a few ingredients we had in the kitchen. We grew up poor, so most of the food we had came from food pantries or churches. My mom would work 2-3 jobs most of the time, and with me being the only girl this meant I had to do the cooking. My brothers always loved my food, so I think that’s where my passion really started!
Over the years, I became a young mom at the age of 15. With this meant I was no longer just cooking for my brothers but also my little family with what little we had. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always worked in the food industry. I’ve been a host, server, bartender, and cook if needed! Anything to pay the bills. I loved how I could go to work with no money but leave with some. I loved that I got to meet new people each day! I would network with customers who could help open doors for me that I couldn’t have opened alone.
When covid hit, I was working at a local restaurant. They were forced to close due to the covid restrictions. This meant that I was out of work and money to pay my bills. I had to figure something out, and I had to do it FAST. I didn’t have a clue what to do until I realized that all the restaurants were closing; this meant people had to start cooking at home because you couldn’t even go to McDonalds for a burger. I knew that anytime I cooked for friends and family that they loved my food and that I LOVED that they loved my food. At this point, I decided to start cooking at my home and making homestyle, southern food for the whole family with delivery. In the small town that I live in we don’t even have UberEats, so this was perfect! More so because you could no longer just go to a local restaurant or fast-food chain and grab food for yourself or your family.
My meals would serve a family of 4-6 at a budget-friendly price. I was shocked at how fast the word spread of my business! Everyone was placing orders, and the feedback I got was nothing but positive. I was on Cloud 9! I was getting to do what I loved on top of not missing out on things with my kids because of the flexibility I now had being my own boss. After about 3-4 solid months of business doing AMAZING, I received a call from the health department letting me know that someone local had reported me resulting in no longer being allowed to cook in my home kitchen. (I had no clue that this was not allowed) I was mad, upset, and devastated. I just needed to make money to feed my family and pay our bills.
I was told that I had to stop cooking from home and had to use a commercial kitchen. A commercial kitchen?! How was I going to do that? I definitely didn’t have one and didn’t even know how to go about using one to keep my business going. I shut my door for 2 weeks. I used that downtime to plan rather than give up! I found a commercial kitchen that I could rent out by the hour, I did all my classes to get certified, and got insurance on my business! I was legal and ready to go. Nothing was going to stop me now. Now I had something to prove! It was like fuel to my fire! It just motivated me to do what I had to do. So thank you to whoever you were!!! 😉
Here I am now 3 years later still offering homestyle family meals. (Most days, I sell out!) I also offer catering– big and small, own a food truck, and also offer healthy meal prep. I would have never dreamed that when I first got started that my business would be where it is today. That I would get to be my own boss, have the option to not miss out on things with my kids, and have the flexibility to keep growing in all aspects of life because of KK’s Kitchen.
Many have asked where my name came from… Well, truth be told… All my nieces and nephews called me Aunt KK because my name is Krystal so I decided to name my business KK’s Kitchen. Anything is possible with hard work. Dreams don’t work unless you do!!!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
We all face many obstacles and challenges in life due to it being self-inflicted or just things that happen beyond our control. Having to grow up fast as a child shaped me in many ways. The good and the bad, but if I didn’t go through the bad maybe I wouldn’t have appreciated, worked, or fought as hard as I did to keep going. I’ve learned many lessons since starting KK’s Kitchen. The hardest one has got to be that I can’t make everyone happy, so stop trying. Second, that the ones you thought would clap the loudest for you don’t. Not everyone will support you, and that’s okay because the right ones will.
There have been days throughout this journey that I’ve doubted myself. Days that I didn’t know what direction to take to get my business to the next level. I learned early in life that anything worth having takes time and work– just like a relationship. Last August is when I hit my lowest; I lost my older brother to addiction. Addiction is something that my family has struggled with my whole life, but this? This was different; it took my brother away from me. When he passed, he took a part of me with him. He was my first best friend, the one who would always call me no matter what, the one that I could always count on to protect me and my girls if needed. We were only 11 months apart, and my whole world turned upside down. It was like a bad dream I was living. I got really depressed; there were days I could stay in bed and just cry all day. 9 days after him passing and me in my funk, I woke up and decided that I had to keep going. I had kids who depended on me. I had to make my brother proud and he would of never of wanted me to just give up everything I had worked so hard for. It was at this point that I made my brother the promise to get up each day and be better than the day before. That I would keep pushing and working hard to not just make him proud but my kids also. My brother always told me he was so proud of me for making something of myself and not falling into the cycle of life that we grew up with. I know he’s looking down on me today with a big smile saying, “You’re doing the damn thing sissy!” Most importantly, I want my girls to see me and know that you’re capable of doing anything you put your mind to.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My passion and love for cooking and everyone around me. It makes me so happy when I hear, “WOW, that was an amazing dinner,” or “My kids made a ‘happy plate,’ and they never eat that!!” Something about others enjoying my food? That’s what gives me my high. The fact that I’m able to deliver a hot meal to a family that the mom or dad works nights and can’t make a homemade meal for the family makes me happy. I deliver to older customers who are too old or sick to get out of the home, to families that work then have to rush home to get kids to sports. I love that I’m able to make a difference in someone’s day.
Since starting my business, I have done an annual “Back 2 School” fundraiser. With the help of my customers, I’m able to help over 30 families each year with school supplies needs along with first day of school outfits. When ya feel good, you do good! I remember being younger, and every time the new school year started, we never had the supplies on the list. My mom would send us to school with just a pencil and a pack of paper. I can remember how embarrassed we were, so I want to be able to help as many families as I can so that the kids never feel how my brothers and I felt. So that the parents of those families don’t have to feel the guilt that my mother felt. I’m blessed with some of the best customers ever! Fully showing up, supporting me, and helping with giving back to my community.
I’ll leave y’all with this… NEVER let your past define you. Wake up each day and know your purpose, have a positive mindset, and follow your dreams. No dream is too big or too small; if I can do it anyone can!!!
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
To NEVER give up!!!
Contact Info:
