WHAT IS A GOODYEAR HOUSE?
In the early 1900s, when a family had a good year, they would sometimes add to their homes. The house took on new shape when the family was flush. In fallow years, the house remained untouched.
In the good years, the colors and style of growth might not match exactly. As our Goodyear House was brought to life in this 1900s mill home, the modern design reflects that historic aesthetic. The exterior color changes subtly to signify the different additions, some made during the restaurant buildout in 2019.
The Goodyear House is representative of NoDa and the Charlotte region as a whole.
We’re going through good times now, our house is expanding.
Welcome, grab a seat. We’ve added a spot at the table for you.
OUR TEAM
Eric Alessi
Partner
xEric Alessi
“Hospitality is a gift we can all give,” says General Manager Eric Alessi. His enthusiasm for memorable moments around the dinner table was heavily influenced by the Italian family culture he grew up in. Eric is thoroughly inspired by the opportunity to create pleasurable dining experiences for his guests – it’s in his DNA. His professional start began at Passion8 Bistro, a farm-to-table restaurant with global accents. It didn’t take long to recognize how naturally his passion could translate to the business. Energized by the revelation, he would eagerly join the team at Wolfgang Puck Worldwide to open a fresh concept in South Park. While at WP, he set out to test his ideas and devote himself to crafting a fantastic guest experience. Eric soon realized he was smack dab in the middle of a burgeoning food scene here in Charlotte, and capitalized on the opportunity to sharpen his skills in different concepts. He was instrumental in opening new concepts with the Bottle Cap Group – such as Ink-N-Ivy, training across the country with Topgolf, managing at Basil Thai, and operating multiple locations with the Duckworth’s group at The Cellar and Link and Pin. Humbled to partner with the gifted team at The Goodyear House, Eric is eager to do his part to see the GYH become the preferred choice when dining in Noda, by leading and developing a special group of people, who are truly excited about mastering the art of the guest experience. With the Queen City recently named among the top seven most exciting American cities for food, Eric sees The Goodyear House poised to make a greater impact on the dynamic and emergent food culture here in Charlotte. On a personal note, Eric loves playing any-and-all sports, though he equally enjoys being behind a camera lens or laptop screen. Eric’s also one of those guys who dared to consume the 7 Million Scoville unit hot sauce. Now that’s commitment!
Chris Coleman
Partner
xChris Coleman
A native Charlottean, Chef Chris Coleman first gained an appreciation for local ingredients and fostering community while spending summers on his grandparents’ farm in Mississippi. The access to fresh, locally-grown food imprinted on his budding culinary mind, as did the intimate, hands-on experience with Southern growing seasons.
Chris was never far from Southern food. He was 14 when he started his first industry job at a local fish camp, working his way up through the ranks from busser to kitchen expediter.
While a student in Central Piedmont’s culinary program, Chris took a job as a line cook at the McNinch House, one of Charlotte’s most storied fine dining restaurants. He was quickly promoted to head chef at the age of 21.
Chris followed up these early ventures by opening The Asbury, a 40-seat farm-to-fork restaurant at The Dunhill Hotel. Under his direction, the restaurant won multiple Charlotte Magazine “Best of the Best” Awards.
As director of culinary experience at Charlotte Marriott City Center, Chris helped lead the team that reinvented food and beverage for Marriott international. Stoke, Stoke Bar, and Coco and the Director are brand firsts at Marriott’s M Beta hotel, where Chris oversaw all culinary aspects.
In 2019, Chris stepped into the kitchen at The Goodyear House in Charlotte’s NoDa neighborhood. The Goodyear House is built on a shared history of community and kinship. The bar and culinary programs celebrate the best in seasonal, locally-sourced Southern ingredients. Family-friendly, community-oriented and neighborhood-driven, The Goodyear House leads by example, from innovative cuisine to philanthropic efforts.
chris.coleman@thegoodyearhouse.com
TYLER LONG
Chef De Cuisine
xTYLER LONG
Sous chef Tyler Long revels in his unicorn status: Charlotte born, Stallings raised and not afraid of hard work.
“You honestly get out of it what you put into it,” says the graduate of the culinary program at Central Piedmont Community College. “There is an endless amount of knowledge to learn and skills to build on. I enjoy putting in a hard days work and pushing to work harder than anyone around me. It also gives me the chance to feed people and help people make memories around a table.”
Building on his culinary experience at The Asbury, Stoke and Kindred, Tyler is fired up to explore what Southern food can be in the neighborhood setting of NoDa.
A long time fan of The Avett Brothers, The Carolina Panthers, UNC Tar Heels and Charlotte Hornets, Tyler has been known to run on occasion, but is always on the hunt for the best slice of pizza.
Robert Oldenburg
Assistant General Manager
xRobert Oldenburg
Hospitality has been in his life and been something his family has been involved with for generations. Robert’s Great Grandfather made a living for himself moving to the US from Switzerland and becoming a Maitre D’ for a host of restaurants in New York City. “Whether extended or immediate family, working in the restaurant industry has been in my family since I could walk, so it’s kind of second nature to me; it’s my comfort zone.”
It’s in those family gatherings where Robert developed an affinity for wine at a young age. “Every big event my family had together, there was always wine on the table, and it always was such a contributor to the joy, happiness, and overall cheerful mood in the room; so of course I was drawn to it. Wine has always come across as a great unifier to me”. Robert wound up getting into the restaurant industry at 16 as a bus boy, and has been in it ever since. Working in various charlotte restaurants such as Firebirds, Fahrenheit, and Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse, Robert has continued to pursue just exactly what it takes to give excellent service, and unforgettable memories to guest from a front of house perspective, while continuously educating himself on Wine, working his way towards becoming a Sommelier.
On the personal side Robert loves to spend his time watching and playing Basketball. Watching his Cincinnati Bengals and Louisville Cardinals. Robert also loves spending time at the lake with his family, girlfriend, and his best dog friend Saint; and of course, drinking wine.
Melissa Fay
Bar Manager
xMelissa Fay
Growing up at a fishing lodge in Alaska, Melissa got her start in the hospitality industry at a young age. After graduating college in Portland, Oregon, she continued to gain experience in the industry. She would spend her summers in Alaska working at the local Sports Bar and Grill and her winters in Oregon working at an upscale Italian restaurant.
Melissa moved to Charlotte in 2018 and immersed herself in the world of spirits & cocktails. She quickly realized her love for creating craft cocktails and leading a team.
“There is no better feeling than seeing a guest enjoy something you put your heart and soul into creating.”
Hiking and fishing has always been a big part of her life, but these days she spends her free time indoors trying to escape the heat. She enjoys painting, cuddling with her dog Saint, and when she is able to, visiting her family on the west coast and Africa.
Natalie Barwick
Marketing and Events Manager
xNatalie Barwick
Natalie is our Marketing and Events Manager. She runs our social media and helps coordinate everything from business meetings to weddings! Natalie has worked her way up through the company from starting as a bartender and a server. She has been a part of the GYH family since July 2020.
Natalie has worked in restaurants since she was 15 years old. Starting as a server assistant at a local martini bar in her hometown, Kitty Hawk, NC. She’s very passionate about good food and great service. She and her husband met working in restaurants together so you could say the service industry has a special place in her heart.
She has lived in Charlotte for 15 years and considers this city her second home. She and her husband have lived in NoDa for 7 years. They love the community of the neighborhood, the art pop ups and the delicious food scene. In her free time, Natalie enjoys cuddling up with her Blue Heeler pup, Atreyu, and reading a good book. She also enjoys going out to eat a great meal and catching a live show.
SEAN POTTER
Partner
xSEAN POTTER
Sean Potter grew up living in 5 different countries as a child, which exposed him to a number of different cultures and experiences. Sean moved to Charlotte in the late 80’s as a child, falling in love with its charm and Southern Hospitality.
Upon graduating from college, Sean dove into a hospitality career with BLT Steak, opening the restaurant with them in The Ritz Carlton in Charlotte, NC and operating the Miami Beach, FL, location. Sean then jumped onto the team of the 1 Group and STK, opening multiple restaurants with the company across the country, in locales from Florida to NYC to Las Vegas. After spending 3 years on the road with the group, Sean decided it was time to settle down, moving back home to Charlotte to join the Dineworks group, where he was tasked with overseeing 2 restaurants in Charlotte, NC and 2 in Dallas, TX.
In 2016, Sean was selected to join Marriott Hotels International as part of a team that would re-invent food & beverage for the brand at their beta hotel. Charlotte Marriott City Center. Sean was hired to oversee Stoke, Stoke Bar, and Coco + The Director. While with Marriott, Stoke was named to USA Today’s top 25 best new restaurants in America list. Sean considers himself fortunate to be a driving part of the M Beta program that conceptualized over 300 proofs of concept.
Most recently, Sean has partnered with Chris Coleman and AJ Klenk to build and develop The Goodyear House into a mainstay of the fast-growing NoDa neighborhood in Charlotte.
sean.potter@thegoodyearhouse.com
AJ KLENK
Partner
xAJ KLENK
A.J. Klenk is one of the owners of The Goodyear House. GYH has been a vision of AJ’s since 2012, when he fell in love with the NoDa community and the idea of throwing a backyard party with great food, great people and great times. The dream looked like a neighborhood gathering place known for bringing people of all walks of life together to break bread toast to good times.
Prior to ventures into the hospitality industry, A.J. founded and built three successful real estate companies and is currently Managing Partner at Capstone Apartment Partners, a multi-family investment sales brokerage, and Catalyst Capital Partners, a commercial real estate development company, both located in Charlotte, NC.
A.J. is grateful for the many irreplaceable colleagues whom he is lucky enough to work alongside. Without these trusted partners, who are now more like family, no great things would be possible.
A.J. has plans to continue growing his real estate and hospitality businesses, but only where he feels real value can be created and where a positive impact on others can be had.
A Midwestern transplant, A.J. has lived in Charlotte ever since graduating from the University of Michigan in 2007. He enjoys challenges in both life and work, sports, giving back, being outside, world travel, and spending time with his wife, Caitlin, two sons Harrison, Jackson, and the entire extended family.
aj.klenk@thegoodyearhouse.com
ADAM KLENK
Partner
xADAM KLENK
Adam Klenk is an owner at The Goodyear House. Although Adam lives in Nashville, his appreciation for the city of Charlotte and NoDa is deep rooted, having been cultivated over the many years traveling to visit his brother. Like any true Midwesterner, the thought of a local, dog friendly hangout – a place to make new friends and build on the foundations of those which already exist made perfect sense.
Adam’s career began at one of the world’s foremost construction and engineering companies, the Bechtel Group. After years of working on truly record breaking and life changing projects around the world, Adam relocated to Nashville to settle down and open the office for Capstone Apartment Partners, a multi-family sales brokerage based out of Charlotte. For Adam, spare time is never the same – he is a licensed pilot, a serial runner, ultra-runner, Boston marathon finisher, avid mountaineer, has worked with NASCAR pit crews and spent summers working on fishing boats in the Bearing Sea. He is a patented inventor and has recently found enjoyment with achievements such as marathoning across frozen lakes in Siberia to sailboat racing across the Indian Ocean. Last but certainly not least, time spent with his family and friends is his favorite pastime.
The Goodyear House wouldn’t be the community it is without the tireless work of our many faithful
employees, whom we consider to be family, and our many gracious fans. We are excited to introduce
the entire team to you, so please come by to say hello!