Today we’d like to introduce you to Dean Pierose.
Hi Dean, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I had the opportunity in 2001 to buy a modestly successful neighborhood deli. Twenty years later through a lot of peaks and valleys of life and business, we operate one of the best gastronomic/wine experiences in the city.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Nothing but smooth. After 20 years, I still wake up every morning scared to fail. I have borrowed money from my wife’s 401k to make payroll, been to ex-employees weddings, and been sued by ex-employees. Multiple audits from different agencies and on and on and on…
Last year was the best volume year of our history and I stamped my passport 9 times. I have found balance…
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I love to travel and my love of food and wine with travel has created more opportunities for me than most. I have made friends all over the world and have shared gastronomic experiences in their homes and their businesses. I think that I have the ability to give my staff and managers the opportunity to be successful and also to fail and I think that is the best way to learn. I have high standards and enjoy teaching them to my staff and letting them flourish in our system. Our longevity and our ability to evolve as society has evolved and changed is probably our best strength and the skill we hang our hat on…
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
I have the best guests in the world. I love finding that common denominator with them. A favorite restaurant in Paris, or a river we have fished in Montana or a national park we have hiked in Chile… People have done amazing things and I love to talk to them about their lives and share with them the experiences that I have had. I love guests that are traveling on vacation here and share with them the secret hikes in Yellowstone or the best bar in Missoula, or a museum on the radar in Barcelona… I think everyone likes a little local course knowledge about things…
Contact Info:
- Website: Cucinawinebar.com
- Instagram: Cucinaslc
- Facebook: Cucina
- Twitter: @cucinadeli
- Yelp: Cucina Deli
