Aug. 2, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Start at GRCC and go anywhere. Every former student has a story to tell about how GRCC gave them the education and opportunity to be successful.
With the security of their Secchia Institute for Culinary Education training -- and the support from the GRCC community they found there -- Levi and Callee Knoll have embarked on a long-held dream: opening their own brewery and restaurant.
The Knolls are both GRCC alumni: Levi has degrees in Culinary Arts and Culinary Management, while Callee earned a Culinary Arts degree and certificates in Personal Chef and Baking and Pastry Arts. They then worked at various food industry jobs that included experience in craft brewing, farming, restaurants and ice cream making.
“Owning a restaurant has, for so long, been a dream of Levi’s,” Callee Knoll said. “And after working in the restaurant industry for a combined 30 years, with seven years in the craft brewing industry alongside home brewing experience, we decided it was time to start pursuing that dream and open a brewery-restaurant.
They opened Archival Brewing just last month at 6266 West River Drive in Belmont, specializing in regional cuisine and “historic-style beer.”
“We want to bring more attention to old and forgotten brewing styles, ranging from ancient Egyptian meads to pre-Prohibition beer, old English ciders and everything in between,” Callee Knoll said. “With an equal passion for good eats, we want to create rotating menus for a heightened food experience, being mindful of ingredient seasonality, while supporting local farmers.”
The Knolls say the connections they made at the Secchia Institute for Culinary Education gave them the skills and confidence to open Archival.
“We became close with so many of our peers and chef instructors, helping us navigate the food industry and create a community of creative, talented individuals,” Callee Knoll said.
Let GRCC help you start your story. The first chapter starts at grcc.edu/apply.