The popular Lubbock home style restaurant in the depot district, Cast Iron Grill, is known for breaking away from the norm in their hiring tactics. Owner, Teresa Stephens said it was ten years ago when she transitioned from being a stay at home mom to owning one of The Hub City’s favorite food joints.
“I just knew that this is what I was supposed to be doing. I can’t describe it, ” Stephens said.
Growing up in a conservative family, Stephens said at first she was very set in her ways when it came to tattoos.
“I was very black and white about it, ‘no tattoos on the Cast Iron Floor, we don’t want to offend anyone.'”
But things changed one afternoon when she had an interview with a potential employee that completely altered her mindset. A young woman she thinks was sent to her by God, to teach her a lesson.
“She was everything I wanted for the Cast Iron Grill, and when she pulled off her cardigan, she was covered in tattoos and I was like ‘wow I almost missed out on this incredible young woman because of the way she looked,'” Stephens said.
And now, just about every employee that works there has at least one tattoo, and they show them without shame. Waitress, Monica Yett has worked there for three years and said it’s a workplace that encourages confidence for oneself, and kindness for others.
“The owners of this restaurant are the most Godly people you will ever meet, they have driven me in my spiritual life, my mental life, my emotional life and being the best I can be,” Yett said.
Waitress, Freedom Downs said it can be hard for people with tattoos to find jobs, and people who will look past the outward appearance.
“At my last job I had to cover them all up, even when it was 100 degrees,” Downs said. “It feels nice to feel free and express yourself.”
