While Vandy students were home for winter break, Hillsboro welcomed a trendy and comfortable new restaurant with many healthy creations to choose from. I stopped by Greenery Co. to pick up lunch this week and spoke with co-founder Caroline Gaston (B.S ‘15) about her inspiration behind the modern restaurant, which stems from her personal experience as an undergraduate at Vanderbilt.
“This is the kind of food that we both wish we had access to when we were in college. We love the Nashville food scene and trying new things, but on a day to day basis we were both looking for food that was flavorful, fresh and quick,” Gaston said.
Gaston and Whitney Abblitt (B.S. 2011) both graduated Vanderbilt with degrees in Human and Organizational Development and minors in Corporate Strategy. Gaston credits advice from professors and several classes such as Corporate Finance, HR management and Organizational Behavior as beneficial to learning how to operate the restaurant. Though they admit they are not the first healthy, fast-casual restaurant to take on Music City, they pride themselves on the brand and community of Greenery Co.
“We believe that goodness starts from the inside out and have made investing in our team’s personal and professional development a cornerstone of the business. We set ourselves apart by focusing on the details—no decision is too small or inconsequential,” Gaston said. “That begins with the ingredients we source and includes the residential touches you see throughout our interior design to create a welcoming space for our guests.”
The menu offers a tasty variety of nutritious options including unique salad creations, warm seasonal soups and customized bowls. I opted for the custom “Greenery” which includes two bases, four toppings and two homemade dressings. Protein and premium toppings are also available to mix in. Every choice looked delicious, though my favorites were the wild rice base, cherry tomato topping, pesto dressing and both roasted chicken and baked, gluten-free crispy chicken proteins. I also tasted the roasted carrot soup, and it was a perfectly sweet appetizer to warm up with in the winter.
The design of the restaurant fits nicely into the Hillsboro scene with a homey exterior and minimalistic interior. It feels almost like an upscale coffee shop with plenty of space, large beige tables, outlets and WiFi which makes it a great candidate for a meal and studying. The mostly white and wooden decor is complemented by plants scattered around tables and plenty of natural light flowing through large windows that face 21st Avenue South.
Greenery Co. is located directly across the street from Pancake Pantry and is currently open for dine-in and pick up every day from 11am-8pm. While open for dine in, Gaston noted that the safety of the Greenery Co. team, guests and community are of the highest importance. Several precautions to help stop the spread of COVID-19 are in place, including daily temperature and wellness checks for employees, strict hand washing schedules, hand sanitizer stations throughout the space and mandatory masks for all team members and guests (unless actively eating).
There is also online ordering available on their website with the option for curbside pick up at the Hillsboro restaurant or at a drop off location at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (drop offs are currently made at 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. daily if ordered the same day and at least one hour prior to delivery).
If you have been craving a fresh and balanced meal (and a new study spot) look no further than Greenery Co.. The convenient location is walking distance from campus and offers a cozy atmosphere that adds to Hillsboro’s growing list of tasty eateries to indulge in this semester.
