This food and hospitality couple gambled on Memphis—and won
“When we first told our friends we were moving to Memphis, we often heard, ‘Why did you choose Memphis?’ In a strange way, I feel like Memphis chose us,” says Jessica Hennsler. She and husband, Nate, moved here in 2022 after a decade in Chicago’s food and hospitality scene. They were ready to explore other cities with emerging culinary landscapes, and Memphis developer Chance Carlisle serendipitously reached out to Nate to see if he was interested in opening Amelia Gene’s downtown.
Jessica says that when they visited, they fell in love with the city’s genuine charm and authenticity. “Memphis reminded me of what I loved about Chicago when I first moved there in 2010,” she says. “In reality, timing is everything. I was finishing my MBA, Nate was ready for a new challenge, and we both knew this was the right moment to take a chance.”…