Page 9 - Ohio Restaurant Association Industry Awards

Ohio ProStart Student of the Year
GRACEN JAMES BOOR
PIONEER CAREER & TECHNOLOGY CENTER
Industry Innovators
ANNIE WILLIAMS
PIERCE & LUKE PIERCE
LAW BIRD
Annie & Luke Pierce met in early 2013, shortly after each had moved back to Columbus after living in larger cities out of state. Their passion for food & drink fueled their relationship as well as their ambition for business. They launched their first pop-up, Four Thieves Thirst Parlour, in 2014 and started gaining a following for creating unique experiences and left brained flavor combinations. After marrying in 2016, Annie continued competing in national cocktail competitions, and the two laid the groundwork for their first brick & mortar business.
Annie won Bombay Sapphire's Most Imaginative Bartender competition in 2017, capping off her cocktail competition career. Following that, the two spent the better part of two years, planning and working towards opening Law Bird bar in 2019. Law Bird is their first brick & mortar concept, and it quickly attracted a loyal following and prestige after being named one of Esquire's best bars in America 2020. Sadly, on March 15th, 2020, the pandemic put a screeching halt to the momentum the two had created. Or so they thought.
Following the legalization of to-go cocktails, the two dreamed up a new concept for Law Bird. A Japanese 7-11 meets natural wine and cocktail grab-n-go. The interior of the bar was shrunk down to a third of the size to make room for their production and bottling line, and false walls were erected to create a cozy retail space up front. In addition to the grab-n-go pivot, the two approached chef and friend Tyler Minnis to create a new concept that would operate out of the Law Bird kitchen on the weekends to help offset rent and other expenses Law Bird had. Boxwood Biscuit Co. was launched in August of 2020, and helped Law Bird to weather the pandemic storm. Boxwood gained steam all the while, and in March of 2021, opened its first dedicated location on Russell St. in the Short North.
While the pandemic helped force their creative hand, the two plan to continue to innovate, and work with Tyler to bring more concepts to Columbus, and really hoping they don't have to put "Global Pandemic" in any of their upcoming business plans.
Gracen is a 17-year-old junior in Culinary Arts at Pioneer Career and Technology Center. At his partner school, he has been awarded All A's / Honor Roll three years in a row. In his free time, he enjoys participating in Marching Band and the arts, including painting, sewing, music, and other art forms. His favorite thing to cook is any dessert or pastry, mostly cakes and cupcakes. When he graduates, he hopes to open a cafe and bake shop named after his grandfather, a wedding caterer who continues to inspire him after passing.
2021
INDUSTRY AWARD WINNERS