Meet Kelly & Katie Elkins | Owners of Southern Vittles

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kelly & Katie Elkins and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kelly & Katie, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
For the first couple of years owning Southern Vittles, we really focused on work. Putting in the hours and always being open for our guests. We started to realize that we were not enjoying our life. We started having kids and felt like we were living separate lives. My husband running the restaurant 7 days a week and me raising the kids. The exact definition of ships passing in the night. We decided that regardless of the loss of income, we needed to close for 1 day a week. When we made that change, we really started to grow, not just in our personal life with our kids, but our business started making more money than we were before. Not that it’s about the money, but it’s definitely a part of it that we needed to recognize.

Life isn’t just about working. Life is meant to be enjoyed and experienced to the fullest. Making this change was the best decision we could have made early on.

What should our readers know about your business?
I think what sets us apart is the passion we have for this place. Southern Vittles was founded nearly 30 years ago by Paula and Leroy Davis. I remember eating here when I was a kiddo growing up in Lake City. They sold it to my parents and then we bought it. We are now the longest standing owner of Southern Vittles. With that comes a pride in what we do because we want to honor the people who have helped build the foundation that we currently stand on. Kelly and I have grown up here in a way, so the passion for this place runs deep for us and hopefully we are making the Davis’ and the Heaton’s proud.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
There are SO many amazing places here! It’s hard to name a few! To start, Lake San Cristobal is one of our most favorite places. When I am not working, you will find me on my paddle board more days than not. The moose, fish and resident Osprey are such a highlight!

Our favorite date night spot would definitely be Climb Elevated Eatery, now owned in part by my brother in law, Tyler Crump and good friend (who has also become family) Razvan Armeanca. You really can’t skip this fine dining experience! We joke that now we are friendly competitors, but really we are 2 very different types of restaurants and wish the absolute best for each other.

You will find Kelly at Chillin Coffee Shop most mornings, that is owned by my parents. And if you ask my kids, the best chocolate milk and biscuits and gravy for breakfast number one before school!
Having my kids grandparents at our back door is a blessing that I cherish. They really get to be involved with our kids as they grow.

We also absolutely LOVE San Juan Soda Fountain, owned by the Hartman/Humphreys family. They are definitely a fan favorite for the best ice cream in town! To describe the experience would do you no favors, you have to just go!

The hiking in Hinsdale county is something I unfortunately take for granted. The mountains are just beautiful and the people you meet on the way up to the summit are salt of the earth kind of folks. Definitely plan for some hiking when you come in the summer!

One of my most favorite things to do here is to be at the river with my kids. Especially when they were younger. The swimming hole is always full of laughter and adventure, trying to see who could catch a fish with their hands. Life here is slow and with that, really soaking up all the beautiful blessings in life is possible.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
We have several people who have played a significant role in supporting us over the years. My parents Jeff and Shari Heaton, they really trained us up in the knowledge of this business. We have a solid foundation to build from because of them. Also Keith Chambers, our accountant. He has taken me under his wing and taught me (Katie) so much in the financial management of our company. His dedication to our financial security has changed how we see money and the best ways to use it. I would also credit our staff who are really the cream of the crop. They are loyal and dedicated to making Southern Vittles the best it can be. A fact that some may not know, we have returning staff summer after summer, the longest running employee at the moment is 10+ years with us. We are more than colleagues, we are truly a family.

Facebook: Southern Vittles