Catering to the Community - Kaiyo Grill & Sushi

On the walls, black-and-white photos tell the story of a small fishing village finding its rhythm. In one, couples twirl beneath a low wooden ceiling, laughter spilling across a crowded bar. In another, a weather-beaten building stands against the sand, hand-painted letters promising EAT & DRINKS to anyone passing through. Between them, fishermen hoist their big catch, faces sun-worn and proud.

Step back, and you’re inside today’s Green Turtle Inn, where those same memories echo in the present. Step back again, and you see a restaurant group that grew from the same spirit: Kaiyo Grill & Sushi, The Nest Sports Bar, and Green Turtle Catering. Step back once more, and you see the community that these restaurants have long made their mission: feeding it, celebrating it, and serving it to the very best of their ability.

And behind it all is a team whose passion turns that promise into practice every single day, their own stories captured in the picture that is still developing. An astonishing ten associates have been part of the Green Turtle family for more than a decade—a testament to a workplace where dedication is noticed, and people stay because they’re valued.

For nearly twenty years, Terry Nickels served as one of the group’s senior managers—the steady hand that guided the restaurants through hurricanes, renovations, and seasons of change. When Terry retired earlier this year, it took two people to replace her, and retirement hasn’t slowed her down. She continues to serve as Executive Administrator for the Guides Trust Foundation, helping support Florida Keys fishing guides and their families.

As another familiar face, Jodi Clinton is often found serving tables or tending bar, always meeting locals and visitors with the friendly smile that’s made her a Keys favorite for 15 years. She arrived in the Keys in 2009 from Westchester, New York, with a bachelor’s degree and a young daughter, Sofia. Before the Keys, she had been working in a group home with children with mental disabilities on Long Island—meaningful work, but exhausting for a single mother trying to balance everything. The restaurant saw her need and met it with a job offer that included flexible hours and full benefits.

Then there’s Sara Whittier, the bartender whose laugh is as recognizable as the clink of ice in a glass. Born and raised in Idaho, she says she “caught a breeze” to the Keys in 2007 and never left. She started at the Turtle in 2012, the same year she and her partner began their life together. She—and her tutu—have been in the picture ever since. “We’ve been through hurricanes, the pandemic, everything,” Sara says. “We pull together and look after one another. It’s a family here. And that extends to the people who walk through the door.”

In the dining room, you’ll likely see Gesner Celestin bussing tables with the same steady presence he’s brought to the restaurant for nearly 19 years. Originally from Haiti, he joined after a friend recommended the restaurant and never left. “We built a team where everyone respects each other,” he says. “That’s why I’ve stayed so long.”

These are the faces behind the Green Turtle name—the ones who know customers by first name and remember their “usual.” The faces that keep the community in focus.

While much stays the same at the Turtle, the Keys continue to evolve, and so does the Green Turtle group—not by abandoning what worked, but by expanding to meet the community’s changing needs. As you step back, you discover something different while maintaining that core commitment to quality and consistency.

Kaiyo Grill & Sushi has become the “edgy kid in the group,” as Jenn Weiden, the Green Turtle Group’s Sales and Marketing Manager, puts it. Kaiyo is constantly refreshing and evolving to keep every aspect of its service, décor, and cuisine current.

The Nest filled yet another community need. The building that once housed a liquor store was transformed into a family-friendly sports bar with roadside barbecue and a smoker out front. It’s the kind of place where you can catch college football with a crowd of enthusiastic fans, test your knowledge at trivia night, or enjoy ladies’ night on Thursdays. On the last weekend of the month, the Nest even transforms into a comedy club, bringing laughter alongside the usual lineup of craft beers and barbecue.

Then there’s Green Turtle Catering, which brings the full restaurant experience to wherever the community gathers. “Our entire objective is simple,” Jenn explains. “If people love one of our restaurants, they’ll love their wedding, corporate party, or birthday celebration because we bring that same food, quality and care to them.”

However, it’s when you take that last step back where you see the team really shine: in the community.

When crisis strikes—whether Hurricane Irma in 2017 or the pandemic that followed—the Green Turtle Group steps up. While other businesses close their doors, the restaurants open theirs wider, feeding first responders, providing meals to those in need, and creating supply stations stocked with essentials. No matter what happens, Green Turtle remains a constant gathering place where the community can connect, share their stories, and find comfort in familiar faces and food.

When a devastating earthquake struck Haiti, management reached out to associates like Gesner, asking how they could help their families back home. It’s the kind of gesture thatdoesn’t make headlines but defines a workplace culture.

Jenn herself serves as Event Director for the Reignite The Light Gala, a fundraiser dedicated to preserving Alligator Lighthouse. The Green Turtle has also sponsored the Swim for Alligator Lighthouse awards dinner for the past 3 years and counting.

That same generosity spills into many local events. “If something’s happening in town, we show up,” Jenn says simply.

They regularly feed, sponsor, donate to, and cater for local schools, causes, and organizations, including the Upper Keys lacrosse teams, Marrvelous Pet Rescue, and many more. This work accounts for nearly half of their annual catering, and they still strive to do more. Jeff Evans, General Manager of the restaurant group, shares, “For us, it’s all about carrying on the legacy of giving back and supporting this incredible community we’re lucky to call home.”

Now step forward once more, through the community, past the sister restaurants, and under the neon Turtle sign, back to the photo wall. From black-and-white prints to sepia shots to vivid color images, each frame reflects the same enduring mission: catering to the community throughfood, service, and giving back.