On March 12, George & Gather opened its doors in Downtown Chandler, offering scratch-made, seed oil-free food in a redeveloped 7,700-square-foot space. Founded by Chandler locals and first-time restaurateurs Amber and Mike Kovarik, George & Gather serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, along with grab-and-go meals and Arizona-sourced products in its market.
Even though the husband-wife duo are both heavily involved in the business, Amber Kovarik explains that opening a restaurant has been her dream since childhood.
“It’s something that’s been on my heart for as long as I can remember,” she continues. “My dad and I would go to restaurants with a notebook and write down what we loved or what we’d do differently. I always knew that I was going to open a restaurant someday, it was just a matter of when.”
AZRE magazine sat down with Amber Kovarik to learn more about how the couple decided on the building that became George & Gather and how she’s used her experience in the mortgage industry to launch her restaurant career.
The following responses have been edited for clarity and length.
AZRE: What attracted you to this particular structure?
Amber Kovarik: My husband always wanted to own commercial property in Downtown Chandler, and he purchased the building at the end of 2020. He said we should open a restaurant there, but the mortgage industry was so busy I couldn’t even see straight.
A few years later — on our 16th wedding anniversary — he brought up the idea again. Work was the most grueling and grindy it had ever been throughout my 20-year mortgage career, and I wasn’t happy. That time, I said yes.
Before we bought it, the building was a dilapidated auto body shop painted Pepto-Bismol pink and wrapped in barbed wire, so it was quite the project. But we worked with an incredible designer at House of Form who helped turn our vision into reality. That said, we didn’t see the space and think, “This is it!” — everything just fell into place.
READ MORE: Development done right: The importance of partnerships
AZRE: Has your experience in the mortgage industry helped you as a restaurateur?
Amber Kovarik: I love taking care of people, and that’s what a restaurant is all about. But I was also doing that every time I worked with a client on purchasing a home. Spending two decades learning what people want and need helps me a lot in running the restaurant.
I also had a team in the mortgage business for the last 13 years, and I learned the hard way about how to be an effective leader. We have 102 employees at George & Gather, so I’m glad I developed my leadership skills before opening the restaurant.
AZRE: Have you felt any trepidation as your long-time dream became reality?
Amber Kovarik: You hear all the time about the high failure rate of restaurants, which was scary going into this. That said, I fully believe in the concept of George & Gather but also know it’s important to pay attention to the numbers and run it like a business. There’s a lot to manage, but I love learning all I can about being a restaurant owner and have surrounded myself with incredible people.
AZRE: Anything else you’d like to leave readers with?
Amber Kovarik: My sister passed away about seven years ago, and that was a catalyst for me to take a chance on what could be a risky endeavor no matter what happens. Life is short, and I don’t want to have any regrets. I hope other people keep chasing their big dream too.
All photos courtesy of George & Gather.
