Jacob's Deli & Grill
Our Story
Originally from Erie, PA, Kelly moved to Knoxville with her husband Bill in 1998 (Vols National Championship) as part of a work transfer where Kelly worked full time at Asset Planning Corporation until welcoming their first child Chase. Kelly was a full-time stay-at-home mom for the next 11 years working part-time to help and support Bill with his building career.
In 2008 Kelly returned to the workforce full-time and was employed by Knox County Schools as a teacher's assistant and substitute teacher. She loved the children and loved the staff at Farragut Elementary and Farragut Middle Schools. She did not love the lunchroom duties, as you can imagine. LOL. Kelly was offered an administrative position at Turner Homes in 2015.
Kelly's time at Turner Homes was fruitful as she learned many skills that she is able to apply to her new venture here at Jacob's deli. After 5+ years at this position and many lessons learned she called Bill to have lunch one day.
Kelly and Sydney (her daughter) were shopping and decided to call Bill to see where he was having lunch one day in early June of 2022. Bill was having lunch with 2 of his business partners on the front porch of Jacob's. He invited Kelly and Sydney to join them. Kelly was fascinated with the nostalgic and warm comfortable feel as she entered Jacob's for the first time.
Bill and Sydney were aware but the other members of the group were not, Kelly had always had an interest in owning somewhere that people came into and felt welcome and recognized. Something you would see in a Hallmark movie (Kelly's favorite movie). As they all had lunch, Jacob had personally visited the table to check on food and drinks and have that intentional conversation that he was so good at engaging in with his customers/friends.
One of the business partners who had known Jacob for more than 50 years asked Jacob a question, never imagining where that question would lead. He asked Jacob what he thought about Bill considering opening a NY style deli in Maryville, TN. Jacob's response ''why would you do that when you can buy this place''. Everyone at the table was quite surprised that Jacob was selling, as there were no indications of that anywhere on the property and the fact that Jacob had been working the business for more than 48 years.
Kelly Horstman
Owner
We all proceeded to talk a little more about the opportunity and before we left and went our separate ways Jacob offered up a dollar amount for Jacob's. With much interest, the guys drove off in one vehicle and Kelly and Sydney drove off in another, as we had come separately. The guys were very positive and interested in pursuing a new joint venture. Meanwhile, in the ladies car, a similar conversation was occuring between Kelly and Sydney.
As we all arrived at our next destination Kelly exited her car with great excitement and announced she had just Bought a deli. Hypothetically of course. She was excited and ready to pursue her dreams and was all in. Bill and the guys were excited for Kelly and stood down as good men do when a determined woman enters the picture. We had a very short conversation and went on with our day.
Bill, wanting to make his wife's Dreams come true, reached out to Jacob later that afternoon to convey his interests were genuine and requested more information and a meeting. After a couple of meetings with Jacob and Rhonda, Kelly signed a contract to purchase Jacob's with the commitment to keep the business the same and honor Jacob's legacy in that location.
Kelly purchased Jacob's a few months later on Sept 30th, 2022 and without missing a day of business starting operating Jacob's on October 1st, 2022 with the help of her Husband, family and friends, and of course, with Jacob and Rhonda and the entire Jacob's staff staying on to train and support Kelly in her Dream.
The Dream is still being written...