Some people say to avoid going into business with your family. It can be messy and complicated, and it can be hard to separate your professional life from personal affairs. Claire and AJ Kiamie, owners and proprietors of Kiamie Enterprises in Oxford, Mississippi, feel differently.
“As former college athletes, we’ve always had that competitive drive to succeed and get better every day,” says AJ. “Rather than bickering, we push each other to achieve our best results in business and at home. I wouldn’t trade working with Claire for anything.”
The husband-wife duo has been inseparable since their college years, and they’ve stuck together through multiple businesses, four children, and much more thanks to their shared values and aspirations. Here are some of the steps Claire and AJ Kiamie took along their path of building a budding business empire in Oxford.
Lay a Strong Foundation
Like Claire and AJ’s relationship, Kiamie Enterprises has a long and rich history. Kiamie Enterprises is a family-owned and operated business with deep roots in the charming Southern college town of Oxford. The story of the business begins in 1952 with AJ’s grandparents, who opened a diner and a bowling alley bearing the Kiamie surname. Building on this legacy, the Kiamie family continued to make their mark on the local community.
In 1966, after the end of Prohibition in Mississippi, Alex Kiamie Sr. (AJ’s father) encountered an opportunity to purchase a liquor license and grabbed it, establishing what is now the oldest continuously operating package store in the state, Kiamie Package Store. This retail venture laid the foundation for the family’s involvement in the wine and liquor industry.
Claire and AJ first crossed paths while attending Ole Miss as SEC athletes. Following their college years, AJ took over his family’s real estate holdings and package store, while Claire pursued her passion for event planning by launching her own company. The two have always shared similar visions for working for themselves and found that their companies operated on comparable ethics too: hard work, honesty, and transparency, which inform their everyday decision-making.
Seize Exceptional Opportunities
After Claire and AJ started a family, fate intervened when AJ showcased an office property to a client. Recognizing the potential of the location themselves, the couple decided to transform it into something extraordinary—a restaurant that would bring a fresh perspective to Oxford. Combining AJ’s considerable experience in the wine and liquor industry with Claire’s event planning and design expertise, the duo embarked on their first joint business enterprise. In September 2019, after a complete remodel of the former law office, Claire and AJ proudly unveiled their inaugural establishment: The Sipp on South Lamar, a wine and tapas bar that brought a new vibe to the local dining scene.
The Sipp boasts an exceptional wine and spirits collection carefully selected by AJ, who serves as the restaurant’s Bar Director. Guests can indulge in over 60 wines and 100 whiskeys, available for tasting by the glass or the bottle. The selection also includes rare and exclusive reserve whiskeys, a real differentiator in the Oxford market.
Grow When You Can — But Remember Where You Came From
It wasn’t long before The Sipp began racking up awards. To date, it’s received four Wine Spectator Awards of Excellence, one Great Places to Work recognition, and its building contractor, Josh Samuels Construction, received the 2019 Best in Mississippi honor from the Home Builders Association of MS.
With so much success in such a short time, AJ and Claire faced a difficult decision: Should they continue growing or rein it in?
Reflecting on the past five years, Claire shares, “We decided as a team that of course we want to continue challenging ourselves and branching out when exciting opportunities arise. But at the same time, it’s very important to us to stay connected to our home base and the patrons who have been so loyal to our family. At this point, I think we trust our joint work ethic, we’re proud of our past accomplishments, and we’re just really enjoying immersing ourselves in our multiple ventures.”
Today, Kiamie Enterprises comprises Kaimie Restaurant Group, Kiamie Package Store, and Kiamie Real Estate, which AJ manages in his free time. Claire still frequently taps into her professional event planning experience when designing programming for various Kiamie projects.
By continuously striving to curate memorable experiences for the local community and fostering a sense of togetherness through their shared vision and values, AJ and Claire’s Kiamie Enterprises has become an integral part of the vibrant Oxford landscape.
