Meet Neil Tankersley! Neil is originally from Gainesville along with his family (who formerly owned the much loved restaurant, L&K Cafeteria); and he has spent the last two decades playing with country music bands in Nashville, including Luke Combs most recently. Neil decided to move back to his hometown this year and follow another one of his dreams: opening an interior design store and firm. Established Design Co. is located just off the downtown Gainesville square at 301 Washington St. Suite 2.
We want to thank Neil for taking time to talk with us and telling us more about his life and love of Hall County.
Question: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
Answer: “My mom’s name is Lynn, my dad is John and my brother Todd Gooch, he runs Tribe Transport.”
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your career and how long you’ve been doing it?
A: “I did interior design for 13 years on the side. And played music for 20 years as my living. I love this probably as much or more than I ever did playing music, I love the music part but I hated being on the road and gone all the time.”
Q: When did you come back home to Gainesville?
A: “I lived in Nashville for 10 years and I lived in Alpharetta for 10 years before that. I think March was when I finally like moved all my stuff back.”
Q: What inspired you or led you to your current career?
A: “My mom started Nest Feathers in Oakwood with her best friend Debbie McGee. As far as the store, there’s no way I could have done it without her. My style tends to be a little bit more modern and a little bit more masculine.”
Q: Tell us about your country music career. What’s the story behind that?
A: “When I graduated from high school, my idea was that I was gonna go to Broadway. That’s what I wanted to do and I loved it. As a matter of fact, I went to West Hall, but I had a really good relationship with Pam Ware (at Gainesville High School), she sent me and John Lancaster to audition for Webster University. We were both in high school, both of us intending to be theater majors while neither one of us ended up being in the theater and we both ended up playing piano and country music. John and I would hang out in Nashville occasionally and it just broke my heart when he passed…I got an opportunity to go on a tour with a Christian artist named Bebo Norman. I went on that tour. Funny thing on that tour was a 16 year old, Katie Perry. I was in a band called ‘Echoing Angels’ and then that kind of dissolved in 2012 and then I moved to Nashville after that. I started out my first gig with country star John Berry.”
Q: What’s on your bucket list?
A: “I would just want this to be wildly successful. I want to be able to do this and I want to help people do what they want to do in their home because for years I didn’t get to be at home very much.”
Q: Who are three of your favorite musicians?
A: “Top and No. 1 is James Taylor, John Mayer and then I would have to say, I love all things like 80s and 90s country… Ronnie Milsap, also is one of my favorites who lived here.”
Q: What’s one of your favorite restaurants in Hall County?
A: “I got three. I love Longstreet because it’s the closest thing to the L&K…And then The Collegiate, my Aunt Kathy owned The Collegiate, she was the first owner of it. Lastly, I love Avocados.”
Q: What business makes you nostalgic about Hall County?
A: “Martin Furniture, it makes me feel very nostalgic. And Collegiate for sure, because I worked there when I was a teenager for my aunt and I was the drink maker.”
Q: If you could be cast in a movie, who would you wanna play you?
A: “Matthew McConaughey. I’m a fan of him. He just seems like the most down to earth, cool, great dude.”
Q: Who’s one of the most interesting people you’ve ever met in hall County?
A: “Chad Shore. We recently reconnected to one of our mutual mutual friend named Brooks Clay. He is so talented, he’s so smart and just really good at what he does. I feel fortunate that I was at North Point Community Church forever playing music. Everything that they have ever done, they don’t do it unless it’s the best that it can be and I feel like Chad embodies that as well. And that’s kind of the same mindset I have.”
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years?
A: “I would love to sell this business in 10 years. I would love to grow it to the point where I could actually sell it, I’ll be 55 at that point. So, that would kind of be cool to sell this and retire. I also would like to see myself fully engulfed in this community because I sincerely do love it so much.”
Q: What’s unique about Hall County?
A: “I think it’s two things there. There is familiarity here, I know every road, I know everything so that that’s part of it. And then riding by some of the places that are more run down that I know are familiar to me, but then there’s also a really cool energy and vibe here. I want to be a part of the growth, the culture that’s brought here.”
Q: What is your favorite day of the year? or Favorite holiday?
A: “Favorite holiday is Christmas. Favorite time of the year is the first day of fall and then there’s not any hot days after.”
Q: What’s the most beautiful place you’ve ever been?
A: “Red Rocks is pretty amazing. I love New York City in Central Park. New York is still one of my favorite places.
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
A: “My parents. My dad recently retired from America’s Home Place and my mom is a brilliant designer. They are my best friends and they’re my heroes.”
