We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Mallory Files a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Mallory, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

At Ozark Charcuterie and Wine Bar, my mission is to create spaces of connection—through thoughtfully sourced wine, beautifully crafted boards, and genuine hospitality. But at its heart, the mission is about more than food and drink. It’s about healing, joy, and choosing to build something meaningful after loss.

I started this business not just because I love wine and cheese (though I really do), but because I know how precious it is to gather around a table. I’ve experienced deep personal loss—my sister was murdered 10 years ago and my father passed after an accident that left him a quadriplegic for 12 years—and those experiences have shaped how I show up as an entrepreneur, a mom, a wife, and a woman. I know that life is fragile, time is sacred, and community is everything.

Ozark Charcuterie exists to slow people down in a world that moves too fast. It exists to remind people that nourishment isn’t just physical—it’s emotional and relational too. Whether it’s a quiet Tuesday evening with a glass of something special or a celebration with friends, I want people to feel cared for, seen, and celebrated here.

This isn’t just a business. It’s a living, breathing extension of my story—and an invitation for others to bring theirs to the table, too.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Hi! I’m Mallory Files—entrepreneur, wife, mom, and the heart behind Ozark Charcuterie and Wine Bar. I deeply value connection, resilience, and creating beauty in the everyday. I got into this industry by following what lit me up, but truthfully, it started from a place of survival.

Ozark Charcuterie began out of my home in 2021, during a time when I was barely hanging on. I was overwhelmed, grieving, and trying to find a way forward. My therapist encouraged me to look toward the people and things that brought me joy—and the first person who came to mind was my Mimi. She was warm, creative, and always made others feel cared for, especially through food.

At the time, I was 23 years old with zero cooking experience. But I had this instinct that maybe I could create something beautiful with my hands to quiet the noise in my head. So I started playing with flavors and textures, treating food like a canvas. What began as therapy quickly became a calling.

Today, I run a wine bar, offer custom catering, host events, and curate a monthly wine subscription. But more than that, I offer people a place to slow down and reconnect. Whether someone’s celebrating something big or simply surviving the week, I want to pour them a glass, feed them well, and remind them they’re not alone.

What sets me apart is the soul I bring to the table. I’m not just making food—I’m telling stories. My boards reflect the seasons, the wines I pour are chosen with intention, and everything I do is rooted in kindness. My approach is approachable but elevated. Cozy but elegant. There’s a sense of “home” in everything I create—even when it’s served on a gold-rimmed plate.

I’m most proud of the life I’ve built through this work. I’ve hired my first full-time employee, I’m showing up for dinner at home more often, and I’m creating with purpose again. And I’m just getting started.

If there’s one thing I hope people take away from my work, it’s this: beauty matters. Hospitality matters. And it’s possible to build something that’s both deeply personal and wildly joyful.

Can you share one of your favorite marketing or sales stories?

In the beginning, I built Ozark Charcuterie as a brand—not as Mallory Files. I hid behind the logo, the boards, the curated boxes. I wanted people to buy from Ozark Charcuterie, not from me. It felt safer that way—more professional, less vulnerable. I thought if I kept it polished and separate from my personal story, people would take it more seriously.

But over time, I realized something wasn’t landing. People liked the product, but they weren’t connecting—not really. And truthfully, neither was I. I kept thinking: Why am I doing this if I’m not showing up in it fully?

So I gave myself a challenge: What would happen if, for 30 days, I fully served my audience? I mean really showed up. I decided I would post content with substance—meaty content (pun intended)—stuff that would help people move their own needle. I started sharing what I was learning, what I was building, what was working and what wasn’t.

And on Day 21, everything changed.

I had just discovered this amazing hack I now call my BOX Method. I was rushing to get the content out before I lost momentum. My daughter was crying in the background, the lighting was off, and it was not the polished version of myself I thought people wanted. But I posted it anyway. Raw, real, messy.

That video went viral. Over 10 million views on Instagram. Another million on TikTok. Two million on Facebook.

My life changed that day.

Not just because of the numbers, but because it confirmed what I’d been feeling: people don’t want perfect—they want real. They want to learn, to laugh, to be inspired by someone who shows up, not someone who hides behind a brand.

That moment shifted everything. I realized I wasn’t just running a business—I was building a community. And ever since then, marketing has felt more like serving. When I lead with value and show up as myself, the results take care of themselves.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

One of the clearest examples of resilience in my journey happened before Ozark Charcuterie ever became a wine bar or a recognizable brand. It was 2021, and I was deep in grief. I had lost my dad and my sister within a short span of time. I was 23, a new mom, and I felt like I was just barely holding it together. Every day felt like survival—mentally, emotionally, and financially.

At that point, I had no culinary training. I didn’t know what “building a brand” really meant. I was just trying to find something—anything—that could bring me back to myself. My therapist told me to focus on something that brought me joy, and I thought of my Mimi. She was strong, nurturing, and always had something homemade on the table. Inspired by her, I started creating charcuterie boards in my kitchen. It was a small thing, but it gave my hands something to do when my heart felt too heavy.

That was the seed of Ozark Charcuterie.

But it wasn’t easy. I made deliveries with a crying baby in the back seat. I rolled up to events with ice packs taped to the bottoms of trays. I posted content no one liked, pitched myself to people who didn’t answer, and second-guessed everything. I was doing all of it while navigating the biggest emotional wounds of my life.

And yet—I kept going.

I kept showing up. I kept creating. I kept telling myself that if I could just help one person feel joy through something I made, it was worth it.

Now, a few years later, I look around and see what that grit built: a wine bar that serves my community. A team I’m proud of. A brand that people know—but more importantly, feel. And a life where I get to be present with my family and create with purpose.

My resilience isn’t just in pushing through the hard times. It’s in choosing softness in the middle of the storm. It’s in turning pain into beauty. It’s in believing that even when it’s messy, it’s meaningful.

Contact Info:

• Website: ozarkcharcuterie.com and malloryfiles.com
• Instagram: mallory.files and ozarkcharcuterieandwinebar
• Facebook: Mallory Files | Ozark Charcuterie + Ozark Charcuterie and Wine Bar

Image Credits

Mallory Files + Kali Gay Photography