Today we’d like to introduce you to David Jennings of Wandering Griffin. They and their team shared their story with us below:
Originally, Wandering Griffin began as just a brewery. The building itself used to be the old Quaker Steak and Lube, and the former owners did a lot of internal rehabs, turning the car rest top interior into a proper pub. The owners, Dave and Kristi, came into contact with the then-owners of Wandering Griffin through the 5th Street Brewpub Co-op as they knew that Dave was a brewer, and they didn’t have anyone to brew the beer itself yet. There was a bit of mismanagement, and Dave came to be the majority owner of Griffin.
Dave has loved craft beer since he was in college (back in the 80s) and his best friend first attempted making beer, which is what inspired him. Dave’s late son, David, also used to be a homebrewer and that lead to him getting involved that way as well.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
While the road hasn’t been smooth, it’s certainly made for a better Griffin as a whole. When Dave and Kristi first took control over Griffin, there had been some financial issues that they absorbed in tandem. In addition to not having a liquor license until 2023, the Jennings duo had quite a project on their hands. Shortly after they solved the liquor license issue, the pandemic hit, causing all restaurants to shut down indefinitely. However, this became more of a blessing than a curse as Dave got the opportunity to hard reset the business model to be more self-serve so he could comply with state regulations.
The following labor shortage put a temporary strain on Griffin, however, one of Dave’s main caveats was to pay the employees who work with him living wages. In order for the Wandering Griffin to succeed, he employs capable people and keeps them around for as long as possible, and frequently does company outings in order to show his appreciation for them.
Lastly, when Dave came to acquire the Griffin, he was already in retirement and only looking for a part-time job. While he is certainly an entrepreneur, this is his first restaurant business, and I think that there’s a learning curve in the food service/hospitality industry.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Dave is an entrepreneur through and through. Dave’s first business was an organic-based lawn and maintenance business, which found him great success. He’s most proud of the people who’ve joined him in his journey, as he’s enjoyed impacting people in a positive way and making their lives better. What sets him apart from others is that he doesn’t enjoy entrepreneurship for the profit aspect (not that that isn’t nice); he does it because he would be bored if he didn’t, and this way, other people get to share in the riches of owning a restaurant together.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
Dayton is special because it’s a hotspot for exponential growth, whether it’s personal growth, entrepreneurial growth, innovation, research, there are people in Dayton who want to be the best that they can be. Some of the most dedicated and hardworking people that Dave has met were working at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, and they came in the Griffin on their lunch break. There are a couple of mantras for Griffin, but one of them is “We serve those who serve us’.
However, the weather is less than ideal during the cold months.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://wanderinggriffin.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewanderinggriffin/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wanderingg/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/wanderinggriff1?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/wandering-griffin-brewery-and-pub-beavercreek
Image Credits
Clare Intili
