Kari Kuelzer is the second-generation owner of Grendel’s Den Restaurant & Bar in Harvard Square. Grendel’s is an always-busy neighborhood institution that caters to Harvard Square’s students, academics, tourists and residents from late morning to late night. As manager, Kari’s duties include oversight of every aspect of the business from staffing, training, menu creation, advertising, financial management, accounts payable, facilities maintenance, social media management, event planning, product management, inventory control, quality control. Her restaurant has a staff of 30+ in front of house and kitchen employees, annual revenue of $1.8 M. Her position requires her to exemplify the spirit of hospitality to her guests, her staff and the community at large. She is capable of being friendly and nurturing, and at the same time enforce rules and procedures, and be tough with her staff or vendors to protect the viability of her business. During the COVID era, Kuelzer has been pushing the city of Cambridge and the broader restaurant community to get more testing. Recent advocacy resulted in a successful Cambridge City Hall policy order resulting in better healthcare access for local businesses. You can read more about Kari’s business here, and her advocacy here. Kari is excited to join the Cambridge Local First Board of Directors!