085 - JD Reid: Creating a Neighborhood Staple on Davis Street
For nearly 16 years, Nova has served as a second living room for Oak Cliff, a place where neighbors gather over great food, familiar drinks, and plenty of local characters. In this episode, JD Reid joins the podcast to share how he and his partners transformed a former Dairy Queen on West Davis into one of the neighborhood’s most enduring restaurants, opening with just a handful of menu items and around $1,200 left in the bank.
JD reflects on immigrating from Scotland, leaving the corporate world for the restaurant business, and what it takes to keep an independent neighborhood spot going. He also talks about Nova’s chef-driven menu, its relationship with the Kessler Theater, and the responsibility that comes with creating a place where employees and neighbors have put down roots.
Behind the Scenes With JD
