Community Corner

Meet The Co-Owner of Chestnut Grill

Get to know one of the owners of the Chestnut Grill & Sidewalk Cafe.

Patch wants to get to know the owners of Chestnut Grill, a restaurant staple in Chestnut Hill. Meet one of the owners of this neighborhood restaurant below.

Name: Greg Welsh

Co-Owner of: Chestnut Grill & Sidewalk Cafe. The other owner is John Arena (also the executive chef)

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Year Established: 1997

Hometown: Philadelphia

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Origins: Believe it or not, this restaurateur started off as a sociology teacher.

Other Community Involvements: President of the Chestnut Hill Business Association and founder of the Chestnut Hill Book Festival. 

Earlier Stints: Welsh has had his fare share as a restaurateur, owning a handful of restaurants around the northwest Philadelphia area including Catfish Cafe, Ogontz Grill, Stella Notte, and Takers.

Favorite Menu Item at Chestnut Grill: "The coconut shrimp (also a signature item) but really all our entrees—they're made fresh daily and inexpensive."

How did you get into the business?

"In the mid-70s, a friend came to me about the idea of opening a restaurant up together. At the time, there wasn't anywhere to go here and hangout," said Welsh. "That's how we opened up Takers, which was a live music venue for many years. It was the first place in the northwest to offer that."

What do you like best about the job?

"Isn't it obvious? The free food and the drinks!" 

Plug: Welsh is currently working on a memoir titled "Not Wild About Food and I Like People Less—Memoirs of a Successful Restaurateur." Stay tuned for a future release date.

 


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