Karen moved from Seattle to Carson City in 1980 with her husband, Charlie, to help his parents run their restaurant, Adele’s. A major shift from her medical career and his work in construction, they embraced the venture fully and eventually purchased the restaurant in 1994. Beyond the restaurant business, Karen expanded her career opportunities. She became an interior designer, served eight years on the Carson City Board of Supervisors where she helped advance the Downtown Beautification Project, and co‑founded the Greenhouse Project. This nonprofit, created in partnership with Carson High School, grows fresh produce for food‑insecure residents and provides valuable work‑based learning opportunities for students, perhaps her greatest community achievement.
Karen Abowd was interviewed by the Nevada Women’s History Project on December 9, 2025, in Reno, Nevada, through a grant from the Estelle J Kelsey Foundation.