Interview by Abernathy Cochran intern and Gainesville High School senior Philip Mady

Meet Hannah Jones! Hannah was born and raised in Georgia. She grew up in Forsyth County but has lived inArizona and Florida after college and then moved back to Hall County in 2012. In 2012, she began working at Mellow Mushroom and has been at the Gainesville location for the past six years. 

We want to thank Hannah for telling us more about her life and love of Hall County.

Question: Please tell us a little about your career.

Answer: “I am a manager at Mellow Mushroom. I used to bartend a lot but now I mostly manage. I love having a position where I can help the whole restaurant and meet with guests. Being on board with such a great team like John Bush, Tim Cox, Dustin, and Kacie is also such a privilege.”

Q: The restaurant industry is notorious for being a challenging industry to work in. What draws you into being in hospitality?

A: “Not to get too deep or anything, which I’m known to do, but I see hospitality and taking care of others as a very spiritual, godly thing to do. Just taking care of your fellow human, your fellow man, because in turn, I feel like if you’re taking care of others, you’re in turn taking care of yourself. And that’s really what drives me to stay in the hospitality industry is just basically serving others and making sure that people are happy.”

Q: Do you have any favorite restaurants?

A: “I really enjoy Recess, as far as a local restaurant. However, I don’t really have a favorite because I usually try to venture out when I’m not working. I usually try to go to random places. Places I have never been, I’m not really a fan of eating the same thing over and over, so it’s hard to consider myself a regular anywhere.”

Q: You have lived all over the country, what prompted you to come back to the Hall County area?

A: “I realized that Georgia is not as bad as what I thought when I was growing up here. The way that I ended up in Hall County was basically, I had friends that already lived here. I worked at this Mellow and I moved here with the intention of most likely leaving in a couple of years, but Gainesville has been the one place that I’ve stuck around the longest since I was 19. It’s because it’s such a tight knit community and it truly is a big-small town. I kind of enjoy that. It’s really nice to see people that, you know, wherever you go and it’s very friendly and welcoming.”

Q: Who is the most interesting person you have met in the community?

A: “I really can’t choose one person. Too many people are going through my mind that have had a positive impact on me.”

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would you go?

A: “Iceland, I heard it is actually very green.”

Q: What is one of your favorite movies?

A: “Might have to be ‘Taxi Driver.’ I think it depicts the duality of human nature in a very strange but interesting way.”

Q: What is a piece of advice you would give to someone?

A: “Treat others how you want to be treated. It sounds very cliche but it’s easy for us to get caught up in our own lives and forget about those around us. I think that if we were to all focus on others more than ourselves, we could be in a much better position overall.”

Q: What business makes you nostalgic about the community?

A: “Anywhere on the square, it is a place that really pulls Gainesville together.”

Q: If you could have lunch with a person whom you’re not related to, who would it be?

A: “Joan of Arc. When I was a kid I really admired her and how she led an army when she was only 19. Just how strong of a woman she was is really inspiring.”

Q: Where do you see yourself in five to 10 years?

A: “Married with lots of kids. Also working and focusing on everything that I love.”

Q: What is something on your bucket list? What is something you have been proud to check off?

A: “I want to one day have the opportunity to play with all my grandchildren. I have been blessed with the opportunity to travel and see the world.”

Q: What’s your go to band?

A: “Manchester Orchestra.”

Q: If you had a movie about your life, who would play you?

A: “Nicole Kidman.”

Q: Who inspires you to be better?

A: “Even though they are no longer with us, my parents. My older sister definitely inspires me. She has seen me through all my phases of life and really understands me. Also, my boyfriend Maddox because he knows me really well.”

Q: What three words mean home to you?

A: “Comfortable, warm, and safe.”