Dana Noorily and Julie Mountain met in Westport, CT in 2010 at a birthday party that both were attending with their daughters. They immediately struck up a conversation about how to get their kids to eat in a more balanced way, and a friendship was born. Upon meeting, Julie shared her idea with Dana to start a granola company — to make a beautiful, handmade, giftable granola. Dana was on board and O.A.T.S. Granola was born and sold at Whole Foods and many other stores along the east coast. Operations began in their home kitchens until they quickly grew to need a co-manufacturing facility in New Jersey.

Years into their granola business, a colleague recommended that they consider cooking O.A.T.S. in their hometown, which would give them an opportunity to create a cafe experience in the front. The always-hungry ladies got together and wrote a menu of their dreams. They knew that in addition to delicious, modern, beautiful food, they would want a space where their community in Westport could feel happy and comfortable and have an experience beyond the food. The Granola Bar flagship opened its doors in December 2013.

While Dana and Julie had no experience in the restaurant business, their love of food, combined with their backgrounds in finance and marketing respectively, helped to fuel their success. However, the most important ingredient is the friendship that has been born from working together. Their collaborative style trickles into everything they do from empowering their corporate staff to the customers feeling like a regular after their first visit.

As the business evolved and expanded, TGB Hospitality Group was formed and now includes 7 restaurants, a catering business, The Granola Bar food truck and a restaurant consultancy.

As Dana and Julie enter 10 years in the restaurant business, more expansion and additional restaurant concepts are on the horizon.

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