Independently owned, Lilly's is named after a beloved pet dog named Lilly, and operated by a Swede and a Southerner! Nancy Tesmer (the Swede) brings a wealth of hospitality service and experience to Arkansas. She is a nationally recognized wine expert, studying under the only non-French person to be awarded the Certificate Chevalier du Taste Vin, and honing her skills as a wine consultant to many of Chicago's finest restaurants. Tesmer hosts wine tastings, wine classes and dinners, and consults with individuals on topics ranging from setting up a wine cellar to learning how to read a restaurant's wine list.  Tesmer is also a spirits consultant, and works with a number of the country's top chefs and restaurateurs.

Kathy Webb, the Southerner and native Arkansan, is also a veteran in the hospitality industry, choosing it as a second career. Prior to working in the restaurant field, Webb served as an officer for a national non-profit organization in Washington, DC. Moving next to Chicago, Webb developed a Southern barbeque concept, Hoxie's, which was one of Chicago's most acclaimed barbeque restaurants. Webb hosts monthly Dinners with the Chef and cooking classes for kids and adults, both at Lilly's and off-site. Webb has taught cooking classes at the Viking School of Culinary Arts in Memphis, TN.and at the Kitchen Co. in Little Rock.

Both Tesmer and Webb are passionate about Lilly's food, wine, non-alcoholic beverages, guest services, community involvement, and staff development. Every full-time team member at Lilly's is eligible for paid vacations, paid bereavement leave, and paid community service. 

Lilly's supports local farmers, and recycles glass, cooking oil, and cardboard. Lilly's uses no styrofoam products. Nancy and Kathy are co-founders of the Arkansas Green Restaurant Alliance (AGRA), which meets at Lilly's.