Craft’s best advice for young entrepreneurs? “Grit and determination will get you far,” he says. Those traits have defined Craft’s two-decade run in the local food scene; his genre-defining Niche pushed area diners to rethink what “fine dining” means. Craft’s vision earned him a James Beard Award and lasting influence, but his efforts to highlight the importance of mental health for hospitality workers set him apart.
2026 QUESTIONNAIRE
What advice would you give to the next generation of St. Louis entrepreneurs or leaders? Grit and determination will get you far.
What do you do when you’re feeling stuck or uninspired? Usually, when I am stuck and uninspired, exercise is that last thing I want to do, but it often clears my head and recharges me enough to get over a hump. Failing that, I like to read to biographies of business people I admire.
Who in your company (or industry) deserves more recognition for their impact? Kate Woolverton, our COO, is always behind the scenes but is responsible for much of our success.
What’s a local organization, nonprofit, or initiative that more people should know about—and why? For Goodness Cakes, which provides birthday cakes for children in foster care. It’s bringing some normalcy and joy to kids in the middle of some of the toughest moments in their lives.
2025 QUESTIONNAIRE
PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS & OPPORTUNITIES
What has you most excited about the future of your company or industry? We have so many great leaders in our company rising up the ranks.
What’s the toughest business challenge you’ve had to overcome (excluding the pandemic) and why? Constantly having to shift with the times as it relates to the economy, weather, and social matters.
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MENTORS & PEERS
To whom or where do you go for sound business advice? I have people that I go to for all sorts of different things from personal advice to financial advice to restaurant operational advice. Mentors are a very important part of my success.
Who is the most interesting under-the-radar/emerging business leader in St. Louis and why? Loryn Nalic. She puts so much into each of her projects, and I feel like the world needs more Balkan Treat Boxes.
What is one thing you would change about the St. Louis metro area business environment and why? I would unify the city and the county, because doing business in both makes running a restaurant group so much harder with different rules, regulations, and fees to keep track of.
BACKGROUND
Where were you born? Burlington, Vermont but grew up in Washington D.C.
What was your childhood aspiration? To be a National Geographic photographer
What was your first job, and what did you learn from it? My first real job was at a one-hour photo in a grocery store developing photos. I learned a lot about developing quick color and black-and-white photos but also how service workers were often poorly treated working behind a counter.
What educational degrees do you hold, and where were they earned? No degrees—high school diploma.
HOBBIES & INTERESTS
If you were not in your current profession, what would you be doing and why? Photography because that’s what I apprenticed as.
What is your favorite St. Louis-area restaurant, and what do you typically order there? Little Fox in Fox Park, and I always order the Parmesan churros and the Little Fox Martini, but everything is amazing.
What is one book you think everyone should read (or podcast everyone should listen to) and why? Anybody in business should read Tribal Leadership. It totally changed the way I thought about being a manager.
What’s your hobby/passion? My hobby and passion is probably cooking.
What is your most prized possession? My cookbook collection. I have hundreds.
What would people be surprised to learn about you—a fun fact? I live in the middle of the woods, and I like graffiti art.
What is your go-to karaoke song? I don’t do karaoke.
