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“ I’ ve always loved business,” Oldham said.“ And I’ ve always known how to put together a good team. It’ s all about the people around you, and giving them credit for what we have accomplished together. They are an integral part of our success. It’ s all about good marketing and good products that focus on the customer. That sounds like a cliche, but I don’ t know what to attribute it to other than the fact that I love business, and I love being here. Obviously, we can’ t be successful unless people come in the door, and when they come in the door, they’ ve got to be taken care of. They have to receive good service, fair pricing, and great quality food and beverages. And that comes back to your own people. And if our people can’ t deliver that, then people aren’ t going to come in the door.”
real estate website, and it was for Dancing Bear. We couldn’ t believe it when we saw it. I said,‘ Look, this is in Townsend.’ I had gone to school in Knoxville, and that’ s where we had met!”
It’ s hardly surprising that when they went to view the property, they were immediately smitten.
“ We put a contract on it the next day and closed within 60 days,” Oldham recalls.“ And then one thing led to another. A month after we got here and closed on Dancing Bear, this guy, the owner of Apple Valley, knocked on the door and asked if we wanted to buy that property. I didn’ t know anything about retail. I still really don’ t. There were two retail stores and a little cafe. We initially declined because we had our hands full at Dancing Bear. At the time, it had 16 cabins and no restaurant, so our focus was to get it back up and running as a restaurant.”
The Oldhams already had an idea of what they wanted. They envisioned an Appalachian bistro, but at the same time, the idea of buying the shops at Apple Valley eventually proved too good to resist.
Before he knew it, the couple owned Dancing Bear and Apple Valley.
With the advent of the pandemic in 2020, the new owners were naturally concerned that their plans might, at best, be delayed, and at worst, fall through entirely. Fortunately, they were able to ride out the storm, and when their son, Houston, mentioned he was interested in joining the business, the final element was in place. Houston now serves as Vice President of Operations for OldhamHospitality. com. In 2021, he was instrumental in establishing the gathering destination aptly known as Peaceful Side Social in Townsend and, more recently, the company’ s newest acquisition, Peaceful Side Brewery in Maryville.
“ We now have 250 great team members, and an outstanding executive management team of twelve dedicated individuals,” Oldham said.“ And we couldn’ t do any of this without them. We’ re very dedicated to nursing our team, giving them opportunities and trying to take care of them as much as any employer can do. So it’ s very, very gratifying that all this has happened.”
Appalachian Bistro was recently named a top 25 fine dining establishment by the highly respected travel publication
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TripAdvisor. Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro has also contributed to relief and recovery efforts due to nearby natural disasters by holding fundraising dinners and contributing their resources when the need proved necessary.
Oldham’ s commitment to that task extends beyond the Oldhams’ extended empire. He’ s become intrinsically involved in the Townsend community and currently serves on the board of the Great Smoky Mountain Heritage Center and Townsend / Cades Cove Gateway Alliance.
“ I really help try to focus whatever time I have to give back, mostly in Townsend,” Oldham said.
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