Jill Giacomino, Social Gathering Co. and co-owners of Four Man Ladder Hospitality (Grey Ghost, Basan, Second Best)
How many children do you have and what are their names and ages? Sonny (8) and Gia (5). We also have two four-legged friends, Rocket (Aussie Doodle) and Maple (Viszla puppy – send help!)
Where do your kids go to school? We go to Conant Elementary in Bloomfield Hills – we LOVE our school!
I love how you travel, what’s the best place you took your family in the past few years? Any tips for traveling with young kids? My dad grew up in England, and with much of our family still there, we’ve made it a family goal to travel overseas every few years. My son has already been to Europe three times!
Paris will always hold a special place in my heart, but this summer we explored Riomaggiore in Cinque Terre, Italy—the town that inspired the movie Luca—and it was an absolute dream.
Traveling with kids can be intense, but it’s incredibly rewarding. My biggest tip? Roll with the punches. On one trip, my then 3-year-old daughter ended up wearing my husband’s t-shirt in the airport because it was the only clean option at the time. As with life, you have to embrace the chaos.
You’re a powerhouse! Managing a social media company and co-owning a top Detroit restaurant—how do you balance it all, especially as a mom? I repeat this mantra in my head almost daily “all you can do is your best.” Working full-time with two children (and two dogs) with a husband who works most nights can be challenging. However, somehow, we find a way to make it work! I’m so proud to have a career where I can be creative, work with people and have the flexibility to be home with my kids. Having an outlet of movement is so important to me – whether it’s taking my dogs for daily walks or heading to Equinox for a yoga or barre class. I also have amazing babysitters!
Would love to learn more about Social Gathering Co? What made you start this social media, PR and marketing company?
My father is a lifelong restaurateur, so the hospitality bug has been with me my entire life. I grew up in the Chicagoland area and spent my twenties working in the marketing department for Lettuce Entertain You, the city’s largest restaurant group. It was an incredible experience that solidified my passion for this industry.
Around that time, I met my husband, Joe—also a chef—and a few years later, we took a leap of faith. After visiting Metro Detroit just once, we decided to move here and open a restaurant. In the summer of 2016, we launched Grey Ghost alongside our friends and business partners, who have since become like family. Together, we expanded our group, opening Second Best in 2018 and Basan a few years later, with plans for more growth on the horizon.
When we moved to Detroit, I naturally took on managing social media and PR for Grey Ghost and our other spots while initially planning to find a full-time position. Instead, I fell into consulting, taking on additional clients and turning it into a rewarding career. Today, I work with several local restaurants and small businesses, handling everything from social media and community relations to press outreach, copywriting, and more. It’s a career I’m deeply proud of, and I love being able to tell my client’s amazing stories.
What’s your favorite way to wind down after a day of running businesses and managing mom life? These days, I’m trying to spend a lot less time watching TV and more time reading (shout-out to my book club!) I’ve recently discovered audiobooks and enjoy getting laundry and chores done while getting lost in a story.
If your kids were to describe your job to someone, what do you think they’d say? Probably “working on her computer.”
Tell us a fun fact about you? My daughter has inherited some of my more bougie tendencies—she’s been eating raw oysters since she was 2 years old. She hasn’t quite figured out yet how expensive her palate is going to make her!
Get In Touch
- Instagram: @jill_giacomino
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 773-791-3922