Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Gay.
Lauren, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was born and raised in Dayton, Ohio. After graduating from Ohio State University, I joined the Peace Corps and served as a Community Economic Development volunteer in a rural part of Kenya. My service ended, and I moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career with a record label. I fortunately landed a gig working for chefs Nancy Silverton, Joe Bastianich, and Mario Batali at their small Italian butcher restaurant, Chi Spacca. It was there that my interest in wine was ignited. I achieved my Court of Master Sommeliers level 1 certification in 2015. After a few years in LA, my partner and I decided to sell all our belongings, move full-time into an RV, and hit the road. We started a travel and booze blog called Rotten Journal and lived on the road. What was supposed to be a few month-long trip turned into a short career as an independent blogger, videographer, and content creator for various media outlets such as Tastemade and Rova magazine. While staying in Mexico City, I made a quick visit home to Ohio to visit family and met the owners of The Idea Collective at a party. Their passion for elevating Dayton’s bar and restaurant scene was inspiring, and I decided to move back to Dayton. I worked them to help open Tender Mercy, which was then immediately shut down due to the pandemic. I used that time as an opportunity to learn more about the wine industry by working at the Etude Cellar in Napa Valley. I got my hands dirty sorting grapes, managing fermentations, blending, and barreling. I then had a short stint of wine retail sales in San Francisco. After the world started to open up again, I returned to Dayton to help open The Idea Collective’s second concept, Sueño. I acted as the General Manager and Wine Director there for two years before finding the perfect spot to open my open business. I signed a lease for Joui Wine, a retail wine shop and bar, in October of 2022. Construction started in June of 2023, and by December of that year, we celebrated our grand opening. We are just over three months old and excited to continue to grow and expand the business. Besides drinking wine, I enjoy gardening in the backyard of my home in St. Anne’s, spending time with my boyfriend, our two dogs, and cats, cooking, film photography, collecting vinyl records, practicing yoga, and, of course, traveling the world.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Of course, it has not been a smooth road, but I wouldn’t change anything about my path. One of the biggest difficulties in my life has been just figuring out what I want to be when I grow up and where to focus my energy. I have so many passions and interests and not enough time to pursue it all. I never thought that I would end up with a career in wine and hospitality, and sometimes, I am disappointed that I didn’t really try to pursue a music industry career.
Of course, helping to open and run a bar when the pandemic hit presented many challenges. We all had to pivot in a lot of ways, but it was inspiring working with such a creative, caring team that put people first. The pandemic was a tough time for me. I went through a breakup, became essentially unemployed, and had a crisis of “what do I really want to do with my life.” I became increasingly anxious and depressed and didn’t feel like myself again until somewhat recently.
Opening Joui was difficult. Creating a business plan, designing and building the space, obtaining funding, and so on was not easy. Despite the stress, I enjoyed the challenge. One of the biggest lessons from that process was to ask for help and accept help. Joui is a reality because it was a community effort and something I could not have done by myself. I have worked every day since we’ve opened. It’s been stressful and non-stop, but I enjoy the work. I feel like I’m building something, and it helps motivate me every day to work harder, become more efficient, and be super creative.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Joui Wine is a wine retail shop and full-service bar that offers small plates. The space is highly versatile so that we can accommodate a variety of events, including happy hours, dance parties, business meetings, and so on. Our wines by the glass rotate on a weekly basis. Joui features wines from around the world, with an emphasis on environmentally friendly and female-produced options. We are located in the Fireblocks district of downtown Dayton.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
I spent 4 years looking for the perfect location for my business idea. As soon as I signed my lease, I connected with the Miami Valley Small Business Development Center. They offer so many different services, including business startup conferences, classes, and free business coaches. I was assigned a business coach that has experience in my field. Lisa was instrumental in helping to get Joui off the ground, and we still week almost every week.
Pricing:
- Retail wine: $18-$150
- Glasses of wine: $8-$17
- Small plates: $5-$17
- Cocktails: $11-21
Contact Info:
- Website: jouiwine.com
- Instagram: jouiwine
- Facebook: Joui Wine
- Yelp: https://yelp.to/2QYRIedD2y
