In the last few years, the restaurant industry has not only had to weather a global pandemic but also take a cold, hard look at sustainability and social responsibility. In 2023, a restaurant is held responsible not just for taking care of its workers and suppliers, but also conducting business in a way that's both sustainable and responsible. As such, farm-to-table restaurants are having a moment, as these types of places exalt what's seasonal and readily available while relying on local farmers and small businesses as much as possible.

Ely's Ivy in Grand Forks, North Dakota, is one such place. The epitome of everything a "farm-to-table" restaurant should be, this locally owned dining destination in downtown Grand Forks features a cornucopia of local and specialty foods, all cooked from start to finish in-house. With a community-minded ethos that considers the local, regional, and global table, Ely's Ivy is doing great things in its little corner of the world, its owners' pillars of what small-business proprietors can and should be.

Interested to learn about other unique American small businesses? Our Small Business Spotlight series highlights the often-overlooked work of small business owners across the country, from Maine to Southern California.

Ivy-covered brick. A tea-light twinkling patio. This looks like a scene from a romantic Parisian cafe at dusk, doesn't it? It's not.

This lovely and picturesque place is Ely's Ivy, a delightful farm-to-table restaurant in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

Grand Forks is the third-largest city in North Dakota and the county seat of Grand Forks County.

Home to a robust population of over 58,000 residents, Grand Forks is an art-loving locale that celebrates community and warmly welcomes out-of-towners.

Grand Forks is the kind of city with public artworks and murals; the kind of place with both global cuisine and mom-and-pop restaurants.

It's the kind of town where a restaurant like Ely's Ivy somehow fits right in but also stands out – in all the right ways.

In 2017, a beautiful commercial restaurant space in downtown Grand Forks became available, and local couple Rachel and Scott Franz, who between them had years of experience in the industry, saw an opportunity.

"We knew the time was right for us to open our family-owned business," says Rachel, "we loved the location in our city and knew it would be the perfect spot to highlight our region's farmers, ranchers, distillers, and brewers."

This community-minded ethos for a true "farm-to-table" restaurant was and is at the heart of the couple's vision, which came to fruition at the end of 2017.

"We worked tirelessly to build connections with producers of the area to create a direct supply chain with as many ingredients as possible," explains Rachel. "[Today] it is inspiring to us to know that we are purchasing the best possible produce and meats. It feels wholesome to know where the food you serve comes from and who produced it."

Rachel says that at Ely's Ivy, "we wanted to showcase house-made, whole ingredient, foods in a family-owned restaurant." For the couple, this means tag-teaming responsibilities, dividing their time between work and home.

As small business owners, both Rachel and Scott wear multiple hats – Scott donning his "chef" hat with pride, and Rachel forging connections with local farmers. "Having conversations with the growers and producers of our food allows us to curate a dining experience," says Rachel. "We are able to request specific produce to be grown for us or specific cuts of meats made fresh for us."

Connecting with local growers and farmers makes for a dynamic dining experience at Ely's Ivy, one that changes with the seasons and harvests.

While the menu at Ely's Ivy offers elevated and modern American cuisine, those looking for a classic "North Dakota" dining experience will be pleased to find tried-and-true dishes such as meatloaf and mashed potatoes, too.

Diners at Ely's Ivy aren't just supporting a family-owned small business and regional farmers; they're also indirectly giving back to the community. Rachel says this is extremely important to her and Scott.

"Being a farm-to-table restaurant, we are able to deliberately support many other family-owned small businesses with our spending. As a community-minded small business, we happily donate prizes for many silent auctions and love that we are able to partner with nonprofits and host fundraisers in our restaurant." "Sponsoring events, such as our local street fair, is another way we have found to support our community. We are honored to be able to provide our time to participate in off-site community events, such as at the library and art museum. The ways small businesses are able to serve their communities demonstrates the reason why small businesses are so vital to their communities."

We couldn't have said it better.

Many thanks to Rachel and Scott Franz for sharing the story of Ely's Ivy. Learn more and support this incredible North Dakota restaurant by visiting Ely's Ivy's website, and be sure to follow Ely's Ivy on Facebook and Instagram, too.

Of course, Ely's Ivy is one of many amazing businesses in North Dakota that’s doing great things in the state. If you have another business you’d like to see profiled on Only In North Dakota, please nominate them for a chance to be featured. And be sure to follow Only In North Dakota on Facebook and Instagram to stay in the know on the state’s events, restaurants, local businesses, and hidden gems.