“‘I don’t need very much now,’ said the boy, ‘Just a quiet place to sit and rest. I am very tired.’
‘Well,’ said the tree, straightening herself up as much as she could, ‘Well, an old stump is good for sitting and resting. Come, Boy, sit down. Sit down and rest.’
And the boy did. And the tree was happy.”
– The Giving Tree, Shel Silverstein
Sunlight pours in through the large windows as the scent of paninis and bagel sandwiches fill the air. Clattering cups and spoons sound as junior Jaimie Seo and sophomore Jiah Seo make drinks for their next customers while soft piano jazz music plays from the cafe’s speakers. Their parents, Eun Seo and Danny Seo, own the brand new bistro, Grutogi Bistro, located in Parker Square, serving locals and newcomers who want a perfect place for relaxation and restoration.
Eun, the owner and designer of Grutogi’s brand, first created the idea for a cafe and its brand around a year and a half ago with her friends. She was previously a brand designer, but transitioned to working full-time at the bistro.
“The hardest thing for a designer to do is design your own brand, because you cannot satisfy yourself,” Eun said. “So it took me so long to pick the colors, name, and all the style, and all that. And after that, we found this place, and everything just flew by. It took, like, a month or a month and a half.”
Eun came up with the name of the bistro after being inspired by her Christian faith and the popular children’s book The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. “Grutogi” means “stump” in Korean and it represents the intention of Grutogi Bistro as a resting place for customers.
“I’m a Christian so I prayed a lot, and to be honest, God gave me the idea,” Eun said. “On the last page, the tree gives its stump to the boy, the old man now, and then the boy sits down and relaxes and is restored. So the key part is ‘restoration.’”
Her husband and the bistro’s owner and head chef, Danny, has a passion for cooking, so the two worked together to fill the parts of the business’s design and food.
“I did some part time jobs as a chef when I was younger before getting married,” Danny said. “I enjoyed cooking for my family at home and it was just simply a hobby, but my friends and family were saying to open a restaurant or cafe because of my cooking skills.”
Grutogi Bistro had their soft opening on May 3, 2024. Since then, the cafe has only made profit. Beginning with a very low budget, Eun and Danny have come a long way since then. From early mornings to late nights, the two spent almost all of their time in the bistro, building their business.
“Everybody was saying, ‘You need at least a year of money to feed yourselves without any income,’” Eun said. “But I was like, ‘I have to do this.’ There was so much to do, but every time I prayed, I was like, ‘Don’t worry about money, I’m in charge.’”
The furniture inside the bistro’s interior contributes a large part to the atmosphere and image of Grutogi, most of the pieces being thrifted or self-constructed by Danny and Eun.
“I love vintage. Most of the furniture and everything, even the lighting, is thrifted,” Eun said. “The reason I love thrifted items is because they come with time and a story. Brand new items cannot give off that feeling, [that] vibe. It’s fun watching pieces finding their spot and working.”
Adding to the bistro’s overall vibe are the excellent food and drinks that are served. Their menu, created completely by Danny, includes the popular Golden Garlic Chicken Panini, breakfast sandwiches, innovative salads, and refreshing “Chiller” drinks.
“A lot of homemade ingredients are used,” Danny said. “Most sandwiches were hard to learn at first because all of them had different recipes.”
Eun and Danny have also incorporated parts of their Korean culture into the bistro including the interior design, like the walls that look like Asian brush paintings, and the food, especially in the spicy flavors. In addition to the Korean influences, styles from all around the world are also incorporated.
“Some parts feel Korean, some people say it feels like California, some people say it feels like France,” Eun said. “I’ve never been to those places, but people are getting different feelings from this place. It’s fun watching and hearing their feedback.”
The Flower Mound community also played a large role in Grutogi’s growing success. Nearby businesses also located in Parker’s Square promoted Eun and Danny’s cafe, inviting many new customers.
“All of our neighbors and [the] Flower Mound community have poured us with love by posting us, opening campaigns, and giving us opportunities,” Danny said. “We didn’t expect such good reviews and people’s love and attention from so early on.”
As Grutogi Bistro continues to grow in popularity and success, Eun and Danny’s goals are set: Danny’s priority is to open a second location and Eun wants Grutogi to be the most loved brand in the world.
Owning a bistro has been a new experience for Eun and Danny, but it has also given them more opportunities and freedom to express their personal creativity.
“I love running my own business because you’re the boss,” Eun said. “But you have a lot of responsibilities. You have to try to [take] the burden. It’s definitely a lot more work, but much more fulfilling.”
Two of their daughters, Jaimie and Jiah work part-time at the bistro, and their youngest, Jenna, is still in seventh grade.
“We spend a lot more of our time here more than our home now,” Jaimie said. “[Eating after school and work] would be the only time that all five of us are together, eating and talking to each other.”
Eun, Danny, and their daughters have also found themselves growing along with the bistro, fighting challenges that are inevitable, but also beneficial to their relationships with each other.
“I think we are growing as a family, not just as a business,” Eun said. “The girls are doing their part, and they’re doing a great job. Sometimes we fight a lot, but it’s part of growth.”
Within the entire creation process and kick-starting the business, the bistro has served not only the customers, but also the Seo family themselves, mostly through food, finding their way in strengthening their bonds.
“Food is a way to connect our family enjoying yummy dishes together,” Danny said. “Food is love. It brings us closer together because we enjoy happiness with each other and food is happiness.”
