Meet the Owners

Hemingway’s Underground didn’t begin with investors. It began with people willing to roll up their sleeves and build something they believed in.

For Zane, it started as a lifelong calling rooted in growing up around restaurants and a passion for creating memorable food and drink.

When he shared that vision with Courtney Hunter, she stepped into hospitality with him—bringing her background in leadership, service, and operations to help shape both the systems and the guest experience.

As the project came to life, Matt Strehle and Melanie Strehle joined, offering support during the build and contributing along the way as the space took shape.

Matt also supported hands-on construction efforts, while Melanie helped influence design details and atmosphere.

Together, the four of us set out to build the kind of place we felt had been missing—a cocktail lounge where exceptional drinks matter, thoughtful food matters, and genuine hospitality matters most.