Our Story at
The Local on Morford
The Local on Morford was created as a love letter to the McMinnville community. We believe in great meals, warm conversations, and familiar faces that make our town memorable long after you leave the table.
Rooted in McMinnville, Tennessee
Our story begins with the rivers, hills, and history of Warren County. From the nurseries to the Apple Brandy Trail, every piece of this town shapes how we think about food. We’re proud to serve the kind of food in McMinnville that locals crave and visitors remember long after a weekend trip.
Contemporary Food With Local Heart
In our kitchen, we pride ourselves on balancing nostalgia and creativity. Our team is inspired by the flavors and stories behind the food McMinnville has loved for generations. At the same time, we draw on global influences and techniques to create comforting meals with a modern twist. Our fresh take on contemporary food still feels like a cozy meal your neighbor might have made.
What Local Means to Us
To us, “local” is more than a word. It’s the people who walk through our doors every day. The families celebrating milestones, the regulars who order the same dish week after week, and the travelers who discover a new favorite dish while passing through. By listening to what guests love, we shape a menu that reflects the best food McMinnville Tennessee has to offer.
Our Owner:
Kara Youngblood
Where It All Began
Kara Youngblood, owner of The Local on Morford, was born and raised in Warren County. After high school, she spent several years away from her hometown for college, law school, early legal work, and extensive travel throughout the United States and Europe. When she returned to McMinnville to open her own law practice, she spent years looking out the front window of her office conference room at a long-neglected building across the street.
One day, during a break, she walked over and peered through its lone window—behind the pistachio-colored façade was what appeared to be a preserved mid-century service station, a postwar relic from the 1940s. In that moment, she vowed she would one day restore it.
Driven by a love of renovating historic structures and a belief that McMinnville was ready for an upscale dining destination, Kara set out to help extend the downtown renaissance beyond Main Street. The Local on Morford brings that vision to life—reviving a piece of the city’s history, transforming Morford Street into a destination of its own, and offering food inspired by the flavors and experiences she deeply missed from her travels at home and abroad.