Callee Knoll shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Callee, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
I find that I need to almost dissociate from work when I’m not there. Some call it setting boundaries or compartmentalizing. But however you look at it, finding work life balance is essential, especially as an owner. Lately, I’ve been tapping into my creative juices, starting up watercolor painting again. Working on a neglected skill and letting myself create freely has sparked a lot of joy and helped me be more present at work.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am the Co-Owner and Social Media Manager of Archival Brewing. My husband and I started Archival a little over 4 years ago after years of planning and dreaming. We brew historic styles of beer, mead, and cider alongside craft cocktails, and we offer a full, from scratch food menu. Our backgrounds center mostly around the restaurant industry, having attended culinary school together, so our focus is pairing culturally diverse dishes with historical drinks. We currently distribute our beer throughout Michigan and hope to keep expanding to more states as we grow. Events are also a large part of our business, hosting everything from weddings to baby showers to dog-friendly parties. Our space is nestled in beautiful Belmont, Michigan, right outside of Grand Rapids, on what used to be a golf course and clubhouse. Out back we have a large biergarten area that overlooks a township park and disc golf course.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who taught you the most about work?
My parents were huge influences for what work ethic looks like. My dad owned his own business for over 30 years. Watching him navigate the rollercoaster of being a business owner and a father simultaneously really shaped who I’ve become as a person and professional. My mom did the heavy lifting when it came to raising my brother and me, and created a healthy, loving environment for us to grow up in, along with my dad. Together they made sure we knew how hard they worked to provide a good life for us and taught us to do the same with our own families. If my dad wasn’t working, he was fixing stuff around the house or working in the yard. My mom made every meal from scratch, crafted our Halloween costumes by hand, and helped with all our school projects. Together they built a house and started a business the same year my brother was born, and carry that work ethic to this day, helping out at the brewery whenever they can. I can’t think of 2 more hardworking people than my parents.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering is a much better teacher than success. When times get hard, it forces you to evaluate your decisions, what your priorities are, and how to better not only yourself but your situation. These last 4 years of owning Archival have been a masterclass in turning hard times into learning and growth. One of the best examples is when staff have quit or been fired, Levi and I have figured out how to maintain that area of the business until we hire someone new. It has taught us how resilient and adaptable we are. We have survived this far. What’s to say we can’t keep going?
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What’s a belief you used to hold tightly but now think was naive or wrong?
Not so much of a single belief, but we have really learned to compromise over the years. And learning that not everything is worth being stubborn about. Early on, we refused to have certain things on the menu that most restaurants offer. We wanted to be different and put our foot down on things that ultimately didn’t matter. We realized that adapting to what our customers want works better for everyone in the long run.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What are you doing today that won’t pay off for 7–10 years?
I would say almost everything I do on a daily basis has a long-term pay off. Building up a restaurant is a long process, one that you may not see flourish for 5+ years. We create systems every day that are building blocks for growth. From the employee side and with guests. Sure, we’ll see short term improvements on a regular basis, but ultimately we have to think about the future with nearly every decision we make.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://archivalbrewing.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archivalbrewing/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archivalbrewing/
Image Credits
Sabrina Brooks Photography
Aly May Photo
Clary Walker III
