Today we’d like to introduce you to Bill Barak.
Hi Bill, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Well I started here at Rozis in 2008. Just as seasonal worker. They hired me on full time soon after. Then over time I took over the Beer Section. Doing the orders and running beer events. Then I became a manager. Was closing the store and opening when the owner would go on vacation. Then in 2018 Gary, who used to own Rozi’s, started talking to me about wanting to sell the business. But he wanted to leave it to someone he trusted. So I got together with Jim Wooley, who I met through Rozi’s and who also used to work at Rozi’s when he was a teenager, and we came up with a plan to buy the store. And since 2018, Jim and I have been owners of Rozis.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It’s definitely had its hardships. We’ve dealt with Covid, we’ve dealt with busted water pipes during the big artic freeze a few years back, and the up and down of this economy. But overall it’s been a pretty smooth ride. It’s been a lot of fun to be honest.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
With my time here I have learned first and foremost this place thrives on that close knit neighborhood/family feel. We are very close here as a workforce. We get along very well during work, and we all get together outside of work. Lots of our customers have become friends of ours as well. This place really reminds me of Cheers!
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
From an outside perspective, we have people/groups constantly asking to do things. We have quite a few events every month. It’s great to collaborate because it introduces new people to your business. So honestly, all someone has to do is ask and have a good idea of what they want to do.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.rozis.com
- Instagram: @roziswinehouse
- Facebook: @roziswinehouse
- Twitter: @roziswinehouse
