While she is originally from Illinois, Nicole Kempker’s heart beats for Gainesville and all that Hall County has to offer outdoors.
Hiking, boating and kayaking are just a few of her favorite things to do in addition to being a wife and mother of twin girls.
Cooking also is something Nicole adores which inspired her career and opening her local to-go restaurant, Neat Eats, in 2013. Neat Eats “provides oven ready, to-go meals for busy people who don’t have time to make them themselves, but still want a fresh, home cooked meal,” Nicole said.
We’d like to thank Nicole for taking a break from making her delicious meals and desserts to tell us a little about herself and her life in Gainesville.
Question: What inspired you or led you to your current career?
Answer: “I’ve always been in customer service and I love to cook and feed people so it was nice to be able to fill a need in the community for to-go food.”
Q: What is your favorite restaurant in Hall County, and what do you love there?
A: “2 Dog, I love their salmon and salads. I also love the people there — it’s like a little family.”
Q: How long have you lived or worked in Hall County?
A: “2003 is when I moved here to start a family and settle down.”
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met in Hall County?
A: “Dean Adams, he is an anomaly, he loves everyone and he goes out of his way to help those around him. He’s also a very dear friend of mine.”
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be? And why?
A: “I’d pack up an RV and go out West with my family. I want to show my daughters that part of the country.”
Q: What is your favorite movie OR what is the first movie you remember seeing in a theater?
A: “’ET.’”
Q: What advice would you give a crowd of people?
A: “Don’t sweat the small stuff; it’s all small stuff.”
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
A: “To see a concert at Red Rocks.”
Q: What is your favorite music/ three bands you would like to see (dead or alive)?
A: “Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead, Willie Nelson and John Prine.”
Q: What local business makes you the most nostalgic about Hall County?
A: “Inman Perk, it’s a unique local hang out and it’s unique to Gainesville.”
Q: Choosing anyone alive and a non-relative: with whom would you love to have lunch? Where in Hall County would you go?
A: “My friend Jill. She lives too far away from me and catching up would be nice and is long overdue. We’d go to Avocados — they’ve got a stellar lunch menu.”
Q: What is your favorite thing about Hall County?
A: “I love the lake, the Brenau University area, the close proximity to the mountains. There are so many things at your fingertips to enjoy outdoors.”
Q: Where do you see yourself in five or 10 years?
A: “Furthering my business and opening more locations, being a mom, raising my children, travelling and enjoying my life.”
Q: What is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
A: “I used to be a massage therapist.”
Neat Eats is located at:
Gainesville, GA 30501
Interview by: Meredith Pannek
The Faces of Hall County is a project to showcase the amazing people that live or work in our community. If you would like to nominate an interesting person to be featured please email babernathy@gonorton.com.
