Tom and Ashley Walker Brown, the new owners of DT Grinders, hope to reopen Meridian’s well-known hot spot sometime in December.

The restaurant, located at 1600 24th Avenue in Meridian, was a popular eatery before it closed several years ago. 

“This town needed something to revive it,” said Tom Brown, who hails from Los Angeles. He and Ashley Brown, owner of Stitchin Krazy LLC in Meridian, purchased the property in September. “This old building was falling apart, and it needed somebody to save it — and we decided to save it.”

According to a bio published on their Facebook page, while driving through town one evening, Ashley Brown told her husband all about DT Grinders’ success as a local restaurant and bar.

“Both being entrepreneurs, they put their heads together and came up with an idea. How about we buy the home, restore it and reopen DT Grinders? This will not only help keep the history of the home alive by restoring it, it will also provide a great place to eat, … give the town a new night life and provide a place where events venues can be held, while most importantly giving back to the community and creating new jobs,” the bio said.

So far, the plan is to be open for lunch and dinner, with a menu that focusses primarily on steak and seafood and various other combinations. With years of experience as a chef, Tom Brown says he hopes to bring a unique taste to Meridian.

“We’re using all top-of-the-line beef, nothing less than that,” said Tom Brown, who added that live music, karaoke and trivia will likely be a regular part of DT Grinders’ entertainment. “We’re talking to the former owner to see what he did.”

Tom Brown said the first floor will operate as a restaurant, the second floor a bar, and the third will be used for events. 

Born in Memphis, Tom Brown has lived in Houston and Los Angeles. His career in the restaurant business began as a dishwasher. After becoming a chef, he worked as a manager and finally became a restaurant owner. He has also worked in the hotel business.

He also owned an air-ambulance/charter business and worked in real estate buying, selling, flipping and holding properties.

Born in Meridian, Ashley Brown was raised in Enterprise and has worked in the embroidery business for more than 20 years. Along with owning her shop, she has also spent time as a home decorator.

The two have five children between them, three of them in Meridian and two in California.