Kelcie Nollner is a creative soul, but her creative medium of choice is highly unlikely and very nutritious. A Memphis native, she moved to Manhattan for college and graduated in 2011 with a BA in Fashion Merchandising from LIM College.

“I loved it there and miss it so much! While there, I interned at Self Magazine in the fashion closet. It was such a cool experience and one that I cherish. I would run errands, and one day, they sent me to pick up salads at a restaurant in Times Square called Chop’t. I probably visited Chop’t at least 500 times after that day!”

After returning home post-graduation, she enjoyed her job in development at Church Health, but her creative voice kept calling.

“I always thought I would open a clothing boutique, but I missed my salads so much that I couldn’t live without them. So, I opened a salad store instead!”

It will be 11 years this month since Kelcie opened her salad store, Wild Beet. However, her journey has not come without challenges.

After the sale of the Carrefour Shopping Center, the location of her restaurant faced uncertainty. Her lease was in jeopardy, and the final blow came when she received notice that the whole shopping center would have to be out within a few short months.

“The news that we had to relocate was truly devastating.” The short notice eliminated the option for a new buildout. “I decided to move to a small space with a full kitchen in Cordova while I continued to look for the right space. It allowed me to keep my kitchen staff and continue catering without much time closed.” The transition has been difficult, and the new space has limited seating. However, Kelcie has remained committed to her staff and patrons.

Her location in Cordova is set up for walk-in ordering, to-go, third-party delivery services, and catering. “I have been pleasantly surprised by the number of people coming in to order. Our spot is kind of tucked away, so I’m glad that people have been able to find us.”

But owning and operating a salad shop is not her only job. As a mother of two and a stepmom to one, she also has to be creative when balancing her personal life with making time to remain fit and active.

“One of my favorite things about our new space is my neighbor, Kim, is a personal trainer. I have started going to her twice a week for 30 minutes. We are doing cardio mixed with weights. I really need that accountability to make myself do it. I love taking classes, and pilates is a favorite, but it’s tough to find class times that fit my schedule.”

She also involves the kids by taking them for walks and doing at-home workouts, which they love doing with her.

“My husband, John, has been so supportive through all these changes and my whole journey with Wild Beet.”

“As far as maintaining a healthy lifestyle, I try to be balanced and not restrict myself too much. If I’m worried about what I eat, I can only think about food. I’m trying to increase my protein intake. It’s challenging for me because I care very little for meat.”

“Lately, my go-to’s have been overnight protein oats, cottage cheese with avocado on sourdough, taco bowls, and Wild Beet salads, of course.”

Her recommendations? “My current favorite is the Cashew Crunch – arugula, avocado, purple cabbage, cherry tomatoes, corn, craisins, cashews, and Chinese noodles with our new cashew basil dressing. So good! But the Southwestern is my all-time favorite. The Chipotle ranch is just hard to beat. I know it’s weird, but I like mixing it with the Honey Peanut Butter Vinaigrette. The best. I also love carbs, so at least once a week, we do pasta with some kind of protein.”

Stop by Wild Beet at 8176 Old Dexter Rd, Cordova, TN, or visit them online at Wildbeetsalads.com.