She’s Behind The Majestic Grille AND Cocozza American Italian
Few people champion Memphis quite like Deni Reilly, co-owner of two celebrated restaurants and a driving force for the city’s tourism scene. Say hello to our newest FACE of Memphis!
Deni Reilly is a cornerstone of the Memphis hospitality scene. As co-owner of Downtown favorite The Majestic Grille and two locations of Cocozza American Italian with her husband, chef Patrick Reilly, she’s built restaurants that are as much about community as they are about cuisine. Beyond her own dining rooms, Deni is a passionate advocate for Memphis, serving as a leader in promoting the city’s tourism industry and shining a spotlight on all it has to offer. Get to know this warm, candid, and insightful new FACE of Memphis!
Tell us about your background and what brought you to Memphis.
I grew up in Central New Jersey, between Princeton and Trenton. It is a great place to grow up — excellent schools and amazing produce, with farm stands on every corner (I never bought a tomato from a grocery store until I moved to Memphis!). We had lots of cultural and recreational options close by, and we were train rides away from NYC, Philly, the Shore, Baltimore, and DC.
After graduating from Virginia Tech, I worked in Philadelphia for DoubleTree Hotels’ corporate sales office. I came to Memphis to head up National Sales Recruiting when DoubleTree merged with Promus Hotels. I thought, “I like music; I could live in Memphis for three or four years.” And here I am over 25 years later!
What first drew you into the world of restaurant ownership?
I was already in the event world when I met my husband, Patrick, a classically trained chef. Running a restaurant is basically like executing a different event every day, so I just fell right into it! I absolutely never get bored.
Before opening your own restaurants, what experiences shaped how you approach business and hospitality?
My parents definitely instilled in me a love of hospitality. I don’t remember a holiday where there weren’t at least a few random guests at our table, just as welcome as the rest of the family. And every family event and party was always planned with purpose — well-organized, but with room for spontaneity and most definitely, fun!,
I’ve also been very lucky with mentors throughout my career. My team from Promus recently got together after 25 years, and in addition to side-splitting laughs, it had me reflecting on the amazing leaders I worked with at an early stage in my career. I learned from them that it is always about the people — your team, the people your work supports, and the guests.
The Majestic Grille has become a true Downtown Memphis institution. How did the concept come to be?
We let the building lead us to our concept. One lucky day, Mr. Warren Jordan walked in during construction and introduced himself. He was the son of the original managing director of The Majestic No. 1 Theatre, and as a kid, he played in the aisles of the theatre. He shared family stories and pictures, some of which now grace our walls, and truly brought the history of the building to life. It made sense to embrace that history.
Cocozza has such a fun, nostalgic Italian-American vibe. Tell us the story behind this gem!
We call Cocozza our little pandemic silver lining. We opened it in 2020 as a pop-up ghost restaurant to help our Majestic staff emotionally and financially through the pandemic. We call it the “red sauce joint of your dreams,” and it immediately found its way into the hearts and stomachs of Memphians. We opened a brick-and-mortar location in Harbor Town in 2022 and our second location in East Memphis this year.
Memphis diners love to eat local. What makes your restaurants such a natural fit for the city?
Like Memphis, we’re authentic. We believe in what we do, work hard to do it the best we can, and support the amazing team that shows up every day to do it by our side. That, and Patrick’s delicious food, really resonates with people.
How do you balance the demands of both businesses while also maintaining a partnership in marriage and at work?
It is hard. Luckily, people in our work lives have helped us make the necessary transition from the minutiae of running day-to-day operations to becoming visionary leaders.
It is very challenging to be married to your business partner. But we both enjoy having a partner who challenges the other. So we’re always pushing each other to be our best versions of ourselves.
What part of your role as co-owner brings you the most joy?
I love it when we see one of our staff really embrace our culture — whether it is overhearing a server telling a guest how much they enjoy working at one of our restaurants or hearing from a former employee about the lessons they learned while working for us.
We believe every employee deserves a sense of dignity, pride, and satisfaction in what we do. Because satisfying our guests depends on the united efforts of many, we are most effective when we work together cooperatively, respecting each other’s contributions and importance. Respect is at the crux of what we do and who we are: for our vendors, customers, staff, ourselves, and our city.
You’ve been a leader in promoting Memphis as a tourism destination. Why does this work feel so important to you?
I’ve always championed hospitality, particularly restaurant careers, as a noble career choice. Restaurant professionals are just that, professionals, and deserve to be treated and celebrated as such. That is why I’ve loved my work with Welcome to Memphis, where we train, support, and celebrate our guest-facing workers throughout the tourism industry.
Our Annual Pick Awards are coming up in October, where we celebrate the very people who bring Memphis to life for our tourists.
What do you think visitors are most surprised to discover about Memphis when they come here for the first time?
People always enjoy the walkability of Downtown and how authentic Memphis has remained. You can feel, live, and hear the history of the city in very unique and accessible ways. The Mississippi River always knocks people’s socks off. And our chef friends are always amazed at the depth of our culinary scene here and our camaraderie amongst owners and chefs. They’re usually quite jealous of it, in fact.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever gotten?
Dwell in possibility is a quote from Emily Dickinson that my mother gave to me for my first job.
Aside from faith, family, and friends, what are three things you can’t live without?
Great food (particularly anything my husband makes). It nourishes the soul.
A good historical mystery novel; it’s the perfect escape from my busy reality.
Travel. It opens the mind!
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For more inspiring FACES of Memphis, visit our archives HERE!
Gaye Swan
As a professional writer of over 20 years, Gaye is an avid traveler and enjoys highlighting food, culture, and attractions around the South. While Gaye is passionate about life in Memphis, she grew up in Meridian and is still a Mississippi girl at heart.