Steve Palmer: Values First
You might say Steve Palmer took along, twisting and treacherous road to wind up at The Indigo Road Group, the successful restaurant group for which he serves as managing director. For the Atlanta nati...
Edible All Star
Steve Palmer
Who: Steve Palmer
What: The Indigo Road Hospitality Group
Where: Charleston and Beyond
“Having to lay off 940 people is a day I’ll never forget,” says Steve Palmer, veteran restaurateur and managing partner of The Indigo Road Hospitality Group, which includes numerous Charleston-area establishments.
“We were completely blindsided.”
But he didn’t waste time licking his wounds. Instead, Palmer helped mobilize the Independent Restaurant Coalition, advocating for federal relief for the 16 million employees of independent restaurants. And in the darkest of days, he started dreaming of new endeavors, including Kingstide and The DIME on Daniel Island, which opened during the pandemic, and Brasserie la Banque and Bar Vauté in the iconic space at One Broad in Charleston. Despite ongoing and unexpected staffing shortages, Palmer is ever the optimist.
“Even in the best of times, restaurant people thrive under tough circumstances. We will thrive again, and will ultimately be better. We’re learning to be better employers and better humans,” Palmer says. “Amidst the most divisive times I’ve ever known, the great opportunity we have in hospitality is bringing people together. We can and will find common ground.”
More About Steve Palmer