Just a few years before we launched Westportmoms (well four years to be exact=)) two local moms- Dana Noorily and Julie Mountain- created and launched The Granola Bar, now a regional phenomenon with it’s newest location opening right outside Grand Central Station in New York City! As we like to do every few years, we connected with them about their journey, how they are feeling today, and they shared some advice for other “mompreneurs” out there! We love you J&D; thanks for the special gem you created first in this community of ours! We are forever grateful!
Describe the journey? impossible – come hear us talk at Hayvn on May 8th
Their website says: “Like most good things in life, The Granola Bar was born out of friendship. In 2010, Connecticut locals Dana Noorily and Julie Mountain met at a child’s birthday party and bonded over everything from meal prep to a shared desire to create something cool. The vision? Beautiful, giftable granola that’s less crunchy hippy and more crunchy delicious. Before long, O.A.T.S. Granola was born. Years later, Noorily and Mountain evolved the O.A.T.S. business into a cafe and storefront. Never not hungry, the ladies collaborated on their dream menu consisting of nutrient-dense, beautiful comfort food with a cheeky nod to their signature granola.
Today, The Granola Bar in its original form is now TGB Hospitality Group, spanning eight restaurants in Connecticut and New York, a catering business and restaurant consultancy. October 2024 marked the launch of the newest location in Woodbury, Long Island offering a daytime menu, complete with full bar and elevated classics which harken back to the pillars of its original vision – easy, feel-good fare rooted in laughter, friendship and family.”
Did you ever expect this success 10 years ago? No absolutely not. We set out to work at one location; Westport and then got carried with ourselves. Once the train left the station we could not stop…and still can’t apparently.
Advice for future mompreneurs? Stay small and keep it all. Growth is not a strategy and does not imply success. Define what is success specifically to you – personally/professionally and once you find that it is ENOUGH and you can just enjoy that. If that means staying a small business, then that is perfect.
What is the best piece of advice each of you have been given?
Dana: pick your partners wisely – whether it is business partner, landlord, investor – you need to really dive deep and understand their values before you commit.
Julie: get healthy both physically and emotionally because you can’t do this kind of work and stress and risk with an unhealthy body or mind.
How old are your kids? Any advice for parents entering the college world?
Dana: My kids are 19, and twin 17 year olds
Julie: 17 and 15
Our advice for parents with older high school kids is be supportive and understand that success is not being dependent on you as parents. That means just giving more of the “I’m here if you need me” than trying to overmanage situations. Letting them fall is ok – as long as they know you’re there if they do. Our children specifically have watched us build a business where we fall and get up with scrapes all the time…but it’s best to not try and overmanage your older children.
What is your favorite thing to do in Westport? Walk the beach. Or take the car and go for a BLOOP (Beach Loop)
What is a product that you busy moms (and entrepreneurs) can’t live without?
Julie: Dyson Airwrap for sure.
Dana: Trader Joe’s microwave rice lol
What’s next for you guys? And The Granola Bar? We have a pivotal 2025 – opening 2 more locations in NYC and one more in Long Island. Personally we are sending our children off to college at the end of August so when you see Dana crying in Westport just give her a hug. Julie won’t be crying lol – she still has a rising Junior at Staples. The Granola Bar is becoming a young adult as well – and as we loosen our grip on our children, we also do so at work. We have hired a CEO to run the day to day business – so you might just see us on some more walks. ..but we will undoubtedly be together.
Do you ever fight ? What’s the secret to your friendship and business relationship? We don’t fight. The secret sauce is that we have so much fun together. We still laugh and cry and then laugh again- at everything and anything. We want the same things out of life – so like any marriage or partnership we remain aligned in the macro at all times. If that breaks – we get re-aligned.
If you weren’t doing what you are today, what do you think you may be doing?
Dana: finance sales trader making money
Julie: helping other people with branding and marketing – consulting.
What is your “go to” karaoke song?
Dana – no karaoke for me, but everyone should tune in to Sirius 105 = MOM JEANS RADIO (you’re welcome)
Julie: We’ve Got Tonight (Kenny rogers and Sheena Easton) – there was a house party once in 2011 when Julie did this karaoke duet with now NOT FAMOUS BUT KNOWN Adam Goldberg. It was iconic. I think he would still agree.