Cast Iron Grill

Oh Mylanta, where to begin. This crazy journey with the CIG began in the fall of 2007. This journey was not my dream or my passion. This beautiful place began with a simple prayer, to use me to make a difference in one person's life.

For fifteen years, my ministry was my family. I have two amazing boys, Taylor and Branum, and an amazing best friend, Shelby, that I call my husband. As my children grew older, and needed my physical presence less, I felt a stirring inside me to step out of my comfort zone. Stepping out of my comfort zone is what I do every single day that I open the doors of the Cast Iron Grill. Hear me when I tell you, I had never baked a day in my life, and cooking was something I didn't enjoy.

So here is how it began... I had been praying for a year, a long year, for the Lord to give me something. On a Friday afternoon, my husband received a phone telling him about a closed restaurant in downtown Lubbock. Shelby was not very interested. I listened, never inquired but could not get the conversation out of my mind. On Saturday, I asked Shelby to take me to the closed down restaurant. The only words I can use to describe what I felt, is that I was home. Even though I knew it made me a bit crazy, the Cast Iron Grill opened her doors four weeks later.

On this amazing journey the Lord has put me on, I have changed. Of the thousands of people I call my family, I am humbled and honored that they allow the Cast Iron Grill and me to be a part of their life's journey. We are so blessed that the CIG is a part of an amazing community. In 2020, when the world turned upside down, I really did not know how we would survive. Our community stepped in and stepped up, and our Heavenly Father used this community to carry us.

A lot has happened in the 16 years since I was blessed with the grill. In 2007, we started with 55 seats, and we now seat 200. We started with 5 crew members, and we now employ 28. Whew, that is a lot of families to feed, but by the grace of God, we make it happen! Just as the grill has grown and changed, so has my precious family. My boys are grown. Shelby and I are so grateful to be able to work with our youngest son and daughter-in-law every day. We are now "Pops & Gigi" to our first grandchild, and boy is he special!

​I honestly sit in awe of God's gifts and all that He has done in my life & the life of the grill. It is not always roses; I have weathered great storms, but I have never regretted that prayer that I prayed. The Cast Iron Grill is what it is...filled with the most amazing loving staff, the most joyous sound of deep belly laughter, and how can we forget, the most amazing food!!!

This has been an incredible journey, and I have learned that ministry doesn't only happen in a church. It happens every single day at the CIG.

Thanks for stopping by! Hope to see y'all soon!!!

Teresa