Ashley Brown

Founder/Co-owner, Tom Brown’s Restaurant

Ashley Brown is a businesswoman and restauranteur. For 20-plus years Ashley ran a successful embroidery and screen print company. She worked alongside several SEC colleges, The Tennessee Titans, and Ralph Lauren, just to name a few – to bring their apparel needs to life. Ashley was a true leader in the industry and often trained at seminars and at onsite locations. She and her husband Tom Brown relocated to the area in 2019 and started their journey with Tom Brown’s Restaurant. At this point, she switched gears and focused on the Tom Brown’s Restaurant brand to make their dream of owning a series of restaurants a reality. She is the heart and visionary behind the design, aesthetic, and atmosphere of Tom Brown’s. Together, Tom and Ashley have created a thriving and expanding restaurant brand. Ashley recently reentered the marketing promotional and apparel industry. Ashley is a loving and active mother to three children – Whitney 27, Kenzie 24, and Karson 15. She enjoys making memories with her family and exceeding her customers’ expectations.

When you were little, what did you dream of being when you grew up?

Growing up, I had an aunt that owned a hair salon. I always thought I wanted to be a hairdresser. She always enjoyed her career and had so much fun. I also thought it was incredibly cool that she owned her own business. Looking back, I see that I actually desired to be an entrepreneur. I loved that she designed her own schedule, she truly loved what she did from the day-to-day aspect, and she made a positive impact on her clients’ lives.

What path led you to your current career?

My path to this point in my career has been a wild ride, and I’m thankful for every moment. For one, owning my own business for 20-plus years taught me invaluable lessons. Second, I had a crazy idea to remodel a 117+ year old historic building in my hometown, and Tom made it happen. During the 90’s, the building housed a very popular restaurant. With Tom’s love for cooking, we decided this was the perfect place to house our first restaurant. Two years into that journey, it just didn’t feel like we were where we were meant to be, and we felt the nudge to move. We scoped out potential areas to put roots down, and we fell in love with the Huntsville/Madison area. Thus, Tom Brown’s Restaurant was born. Our journey and lessons learned with our first restaurant set us up for future success and gave us a desire to bring our love for delicious food and memories made around the table to life.

How did your journey as an entrepreneur prepare you for what you do presently?

Each failure and success I’ve endured has played a huge role in where I am today. Especially the failures. They have taught me a tremendous amount in life. My failures have made me into who I am today – the leader, the nurturer, the restaurateur, etc. Our journey has taught us to take what we’ve learned from our failures and make changes then come back stronger. Also, before Tom came into my life, being a single mom and entrepreneur had a huge impact on who I am as a businesswoman. You have a deep desire that is ingrained in you to survive. You push harder to navigate in life and become successful. At the end of the day, it’s not just you that is depending on your success. Your children are watching your every move – looking up to you. Looking to you to provide and succeed. This taught me a resiliency unlike any other. You just get back up and keep making gains even when it’s tough. People are always scared to ask, and I didn’t have the option to be scared. I was always willing to ask for help and excited to face a challenge head on. I’ve carried these key life lessons over into every aspect of my life.

What circumstances or people helped shape you in your career?

When I was 21, I met a man named Owen Owsley. He was the first person to truly believe in me outside of my family. He gave me not only the foundational tools to be successful in the embroidery and screen print industry but also valuable life lessons that have shaped every move I’ve made in my career.

1. Never judge a book by the cover and be true to yourself and everyone else.

2. Be vulnerable and show transparency.

3. Others view people on the road to success like they have it all together and that’s not always true. You should always keep moving forward and try to figure out the best and easiest way to make it.

Owen always had such powerful words of wisdom. He is a true example of what you see is what you get kind of guy, and I’ve always aspired to be that way as well. I stay true to myself and those around me!

What do you love most about your job?

I always say that we’re not in the restaurant industry, we’re in the people industry. Obviously, I love exceeding my customers’ expectations by going above and beyond. I love that we create a unique atmosphere where our customers can enjoy incredible recipes. BUT I love that we invest in our employees like no other in the industry. We have created a culture where we give our staff a lifestyle and not just a job. At Tom Brown’s Restaurant, we truly foster a family atmosphere. For us, it is incredibly important to create a place where our employees have a voice, are creative, feel a part of our brand, and they have a future with us.

What differentiates you from your peers or competitors?

There are numerous things that set Tom Brown’s apart from others in the industry, but I have never looked at anyone as a competitor. I truly feel that there is enough for everyone to win! Tom and I are very supportive of other businesses in the same space. I hope everyone finds success. A few things that Tom Brown’s Restaurant does exceptionally well:

1. Our concept of premium casual. You get the same level of service as white tablecloth service, but you come as you are. The atmosphere is comfortable and inviting.

2. We only serve the freshest, top quality food items.

3. Either Tom Brown or someone from our management team is on the floor. Someone from our team will touch your table to create an intimate experience and allow for seamless feedback.

What’s your favorite thing about living in the Huntsville/Madison County area?

For once in my life, I’m experiencing the expansion of a city firsthand. I love being able to watch the city expand and flourish. I also love the diversity. I truly feel like there is something for everyone in this city.

What accomplishments are you proudest of?

Tom Brown’s Restaurant as a whole. We have built something that is truly special. I’m so grateful for where we are now and excited for what’s to come in the future with our brand.

What is your mission statement?

Life motto: Don’t waste pain! Grow through what you’re going through. If you’re not uncomfortable, you will never be comfortable. You must be uncomfortable to grow. Otherwise, you aren’t challenging yourself to do new things and become the best version of yourself. You will just always exist.

How has the business community changed for women since you began your career?

The business community has changed tremendously for women! Women are finally being taken seriously.  I remember going to the bank 20-plus years ago to discuss a business plan, and they were seriously like, “What are you doing here? You’re a woman.” Women are extremely powerful. We are visionaries. We see big things, create them and then scale them out. We bring a lot of great ideas to the table, and we execute them in a beautiful way that’s beneficial for everyone. I always say that behind every man is a strong woman with a plan. Now the women are stepping up and making their dreams a reality. Women have more opportunity, voice and are taken more seriously than when I started more than 20 years ago. It’s a beautiful thing!

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