There’s a new chef in town

When the pandemic hit our area in March 2020, it took its toll on employment for many. Among those affected was David Dow, who was a private chef at Cornell University’s TKE fraternity house.

Finding himself unemployed was not a state that Dow took lightly, so he purchased The Burger Shack business in Locke from his friends, Wayne and Amy Morris.

By July 1, 2020, Dow had changed the name to A Burger Shack & More and built it into a very popular place to eat, until the owners of the leased building sold it in March 2021.

Things happened quickly for Dow, and within a week, he had relocated to Groton in the old Pontillo’s building on Peru Road, bringing another food option to the community from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, Monday through Saturday.

What many may not realize is that there is much more to the “& More” in the eatery’s name, primarily that Dow earned his associate degree in culinary arts from the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in 2002 and is a certified chef.

Raised in Groton by his parents, Ed Sr. and Deborah Dow, David and his older brother, Ed Dow, Jr., both graduated from Groton High School (GHS).

In school, David was on student council and a member of the National Honor Society, played baseball, basketball and football, and was one of six boys who were on the first-ever bowling team at GHS in his sophomore year, with his dad as their coach.

“I’d been bowling at the Corona Club since I was 7,” David said. “And in my senior year, our team won the IAC Championship and was just 12 pins away from going to the state championship.”

When David graduated from GHS in 1998, he went on to Tompkins Cortland Community College and earned his computer programming degree in 2000.

“I always liked to tinker with mechanical things,” David said. “So, learning about computers seemed like the thing to do at the time.”

David’s first job at age 15 was at the Country Kitchen in Summerhill, and he really enjoyed it, but he said, “I never intended food to be my career.”

While attending Tompkins Cortland, David also juggled three jobs — Toads, Stonehedges Golf Course and Heights Cafe (now The Heights Restaurant) — all involving food. He also had an internship at CBORD Group, where he said he “learned about the computer side of foodservice.”

By the time David left Tompkins Cortland, he said he was tired of looking at computer screens and didn’t want to do it anymore, so he began working full time at the Heights Cafe, which was a pivotal point for him.

David spoke highly of The Heights’ owners, James and Heidi Larounis, and how grateful he is for all James taught him about cooking and creating menu items and encouraging him to attend culinary school. After culinary school, David went on to become a chef at the Cortland Country Club for the next seven years, and then dining halls at Cornell University, Tompkins Cortland and Ithaca College before he felt he was “tired of foodservice.”

David became a certified mechanic through OCM BOCES and worked in the automotive industry for a short time before returning to foodservice when he became the chef at TKE fraternity.

“That was one of my favorite jobs ever,” David said. “But then, COVID hit, and it was all over.”

But it wasn’t “all over” for David, which brings us back to the beginning of this story.

The Cortland Country Club was where David feels he learned his management style from the late Gerry Coggi, who was his boss there.

“I try to be a real working manager like Gerry was,” David said. “You get more out of employees by asking them, not telling them, what to do. I would never ask them to do something I wouldn’t do myself, and I try to help them any way I can.”

That style clearly works well for David, as he currently has 11 employees — one of whom is his 14-year-old son, Owen, who makes milkshakes, does cleanup and can run the computerized POS — point of service — as well as his dad.

David’s fiancee, Jennifer Johnson, also contributes a great deal to the restaurant’s success. She is a CPA and does all the bookkeeping and running of the front of the house, which gives David more time to be creative in the kitchen.

“We met on Facebook Dating,” David said. “She had just moved here from Texas 10 days before we met, and we were meant to be. She is a godsend. I wouldn’t be where I am today without her.”

David’s greatest desire is to give back to the community any way he can.

“I work hard on the dinner menu to offer options to the people of Groton,” David said. “I want to give Groton something it doesn’t already have.”

A Burger Shack & More offers not only its famous two-patty monster burgers, but also a plethora of specialty burgers and milkshakes, salads, kids’ menu and dinner choices from 4 to 8 p.m. that include chicken, pork or steak, and seafood every Friday, as well as its “create your own pasta dish” option.

David also travels to Rochester every Sunday — his only day off — to purchase food so he can “cut out the middleman” to keep his prices low.

“I’m in a two-year lease-to-buy in the building,” David said. “And I’m not going anywhere. I plan on expanding the dining room, adding a Tiki bar and more.”

David gave his final thoughts on his business and his future.

“God puts people and things in our lives for a reason,” he said. “All that has brought me to where I am now, and I plan to stay right here.”

Groton on the Inside appears weekly. Submit news ideas to Linda Competillo, lmc10@cornell.edu or (607) 227-4922. 

In brief: 
 
Free backpacks

Groton Assembly of God will be giving away free hot dogs and school backpacks in front of The Clothing Closet, 160 Main St., from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 28 while supplies last. All school-aged children may take a backpack, and all are welcome to hot dogs.

American Legion Centennial 

The Carrington-Fuller Post 800 of the American Legion was formally chartered in the year 1921, making this year its 100th anniversary. All are invited to help commemorate this special occasion from 3 to 4 p.m. Aug. 27 at the Legion bandstand.

There will be guest speakers, a musical tribute to each of our military branches and some fascinating history about the origins of the American Legion and the formation of Post 800 as told by its WWI veterans. Commemorative booklets will be given to all attendees.

Go for the Gold VBS 

Heritage Baptist Church, 108 Elm St., will hold its 12th annual Vacation Bible School, “Go for the Gold,” on Aug. 30 through Sept. 3 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. for children ages 4 to 12.

Snacks, obstacle course, marshmallow cannon, games, Bible stories, singing, clowns, Dr. Klavin and his world-famous time machine, and daily prizes promise wholesome fun and Bible teaching for all who attend. If a ride is needed, call (607) 591-3494.