Today we’d like to introduce you to Katelyn Fitzgerald.
Katelyn, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I always like to tell people that I was a regular at The White Elephant Saloon for years…It just got better by getting on the payroll!
I started off by working at The Love Shack and worked my way up to Head Bartender fairly quickly. I was promoted to Bar Manager (over both the White Elephant and Love Shack) after about a year. I stayed in that position for several years before transitioning into a regional trainer position for the company. I am currently VP of Operations-Training for Chef Tim Love.
Has it been a smooth road?
I think that every person, especially when their tenure at a job is over several years will say that some times were more challenging than others. I was so scared when I transitioned into management at The White Elephant that I would fail or do poorly. It always helps to have faith in your team though, and it’s great to have a strong core group of employees who have worked here for just as long, if not longer, than I have.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the White Elephant Saloon and Love Shack story. Tell us more about the business.
The Love Shack has some of the best burgers and the best atmosphere you’ll find in Fort Worth. It’s a great place to bring out of town guests, or when you just want to have a delicious, easy meal and listen to music and people watch!
The White Elephant has so much history that stems from its past. The infamous shootout between Luke Short and Jim Courtright, being CDs Bar in Walker, Texas Ranger, and of course, the long list of famous singers and songwriters who have graced the stage over the years are just a few things that make the White Elephant Saloon so interesting. There’s something about the White Elephant, a feeling that envelops a person as soon as they step through the door an onto those old hardwood floor
Lastly, having a celebrity chef as our owner is pretty cool too! I don’t think a lot of people can turn on the TV and see their boss on a nationally televised show.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I think that the restaurant industry is always growing and evolving, but there’s something to be said for places that have already stood the test of time, like the White Elephant.
The Stockyards are poised to change quite a bit over the next few years. It will be interesting to see how that changes the dynamic of the area over the course of the next decade.
Contact Info:
- Address: White Elephant: 106 E Exchange Ave, Fort Worth, Texas 76164
Love Shack: 110 E Exchange Ave, Fort Worth, Texas 76164 - Website: www.cheftimlove.com ; www.whiteelephantsaloon.com; www.loveburgershack.com
- Phone: WE: 817-624-8273 ; LS: 817-740-8812
- Email: info@cheftimlove.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whiteelephantsaloon/ https://www.instagram.com/loveburgershack/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WhiteElephantSaloon/ https://www.facebook.com/LoveShackStockyards/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/welephantsaloon https://twitter.com/LoveShackFW
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
