Owner and Chef Craig Barbour originally studied mechanical engineering at the University of Maryland before transitioning into the culinary field. After graduating from Johnson & Wales University in Charlotte, NC, he started his career at Carmel Country Club. Following the country club, Craig went to train under Chef Bruce Moffett, furthering his interest in pure, local foods and farms, which led him to open the ROOTS Food Truck in 2011. As a 3rd generation small business owner, in addition to catering the Charlotte community through the food truck, Craig opened ROOTS Cafe in South End just a few years later in 2017.

When Craig started his culinary career he received a gift from his parents that read, “love people, cook them tasty food,” and he has been doing that ever since.