Jason & Edwina Hurst

Building a Legacy for Their Children on Maple Street

Story by: Jacki Donaldson

Jason Hurst had long wanted to honor his grandmother, who passed when he was in high school, by providing an avenue for people to gather and enjoy the comfort of soul food. But for a while, life got in the way, and Jason, born and raised in the west suburbs of Chicago and a graduate of Florida A&M University, instead traveled a different path. He worked on Wall Street (loved the job but hated the hours), transitioned into pharmaceutical sales, flexed his entrepreneurial spirit and opened a maintenance contracting business, and then became a real estate agent. He currently works full-time with Front Street Commercial Real Estate Group. He now also owns and operates — with his wife, Edwina Hurst — Gainesville’s two Maple Street Biscuit Company locations, one in Butler Plaza and one in the Tioga Town Center. Edwina Hurst’s bucket list never included owning and operating a restaurant, but the Augusta, Georgia, native who played four years of college basketball at the University of Montevallo in Alabama and graduated with a degree in Kinesiology, is no stranger to answering God’s call.

“ At the restaurant, I have more opportunity to ... touch and inspire people. “

In 2012, after working for five years as the video coordinator for former University of Florida Women’s Basketball coach Amanda Butler, Edwina answered a call to move into the ministry. She worked for six years with Alive Church before the invitation to enter the restaurant business arrived. “I was very content in the ministry and had no plans of stepping out,” Edwina said. “I was going to support Jason from the sidelines as I have done with all of his great ideas. I was going to pray for him and encourage him.” But after some soul searching, she accepted the idea in her heart. “I am stubborn,” Edwina said. “I had to step outside the four walls of what I considered to be a ministry. At the restaurant, I have

more opportunity to have spiritual conversations and touch and inspire people, engage in their lives, and serve comfort in the form of food and fellowship. Now, the restaurant is my ministry.” Jason and Edwina, who met at Alive Church, have been in business since summer 2018 with Maple Street Biscuit Company, a faith-based organization of community stores

that prides itself on gracious service, comfort food with a modern twist, and immaculately clean spaces. Their mission is to help people, serve others, and be a part of the community, which lines up with their life values. Maple Street and the Hursts are a perfect match. In addition to communing with each other, they also share the love of Christ. Their two restaurants are

closed on Sunday to allow employees a day of peace and comfort, they often partner with churches on area events, and they hold back part of their profits to give back to the

Their mission is to help people, serve others and be a part of the community.

community and their employees. They also make great food with quality ingredients; they craft most menu items in house and serve some of the best locally roasted coffee. Jason and Edwina, who are always thinking beyond themselves, are working to leave a legacy for their 9-year-old son, Josiah, and their 2-year-old daughter, Jaisen. Before passing their business on, though, they plan to open 10 stores in 10 years (one store per year).