Love Conquers All

Tim and Emilie Love opened a tiny steakhouse in Fort Worth’s historic Stockyards district in June 2000. Before its official debut, they scraped together enough money to pay for their plumbing by selling beer at a street party. Today, the pair owns 14 restaurants in Texas and Tennessee without the backing of a corporation or investors. Such a feat requires unusual energy and a never-say-die mindset.

“Tim sees an opportunity and says, ‘Let’s do it,’” Emilie observes. “He cannot sit still—he rarely sleeps.”

Despite opening Ático, a Spanish-style bar atop the Springhill Suites by Marriott in the