Today we’d like to introduce you to Trez Pugh.
Trez, is the Founder & CEO of Sip and Savor, Inc., a company that owns and runs high-end coffee houses on the Southside of Chicago. In addition to being the Chief Executive Officer, he works a full-time job for the U.S. Government. He prides himself on being a mentor volunteering with at-risk kids through the Becoming a Better Man Project (BAM).
With a Bachelor of Science in Information and Decision Sciences, and a minor in Economics from the University of Illinois at Chicago, he began his career in 1982 working for the Social Security Administration as a Claims Clerk. After spending a year in this position, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. After a four-year tour of duty in California, North Carolina, Japan, and Korea, Trez briefly returned to the Social Security Administration and was then hired by the United States Postal Service. He rose through the ranks of postal management fairly quickly holding positions in transportation, finance, quality control, operations, and strategic planning all while enrolled at the University of Illinois at Chicago as a full-time student.
His passion has always been to contribute to the community by creating jobs, mentoring the youth and inspiring others to believe in themselves and to work hard to achieve their dreams. When his schedule permits he gives speeches and mentors young business students who are interested in opening their own businesses. Trez’s love of community and his success in real estate lead to the birth of his coffee houses. Over a decade ago, a childhood friend convinced him to venture into that industry. His love affair with coffee and teas intensified with his first launch, the Bronzeville Coffee House on 43rd street which later re-opened as Sip and Savor.
Walk into either Sip and Savor and you’re likely to see a familiar face. It’s common for media personalities, entrepreneurs, and elected officials to be sipping coffee along with retirees, college students, and other hard-working Chicagoans in for a break and a good cup of coffee and great community-focused conversations. Known for its exceptional quality and flavor, Sip & Savor coffees are certified fair trade, and in some cases, certified organic and shade grown. This means that the products you buy maintain biodiversity, provide shelter for migratory birds and help reduce global warming.
He is driven to make a difference in his coffee shops. Bringing the community together is at the forefront of his brand and business ventures. He is committed to showing our youth that rising to the challenge of making a change is far more rewarding than simply going into business solely to make money. With this focus, drive and determination, the Sip & Savor brand is a daily testament to the idea that when you put good behind intentions, you will flourish. Soon there will be four Sip and Savors on Chicago’s south side with more to come.
Trez is now a veteran coffee man at a time when so many positive things are happening on Chicago’s south side. His goal at Sip and Savor is to create a home away from home for the community. To create a space that captures the positive energy and excitement that exists in Chicago neighborhoods and to add to the burgeoning revitalization.
After almost 3 years, Sip and Savor have positioned itself as a key player in the “spread positivity” movement. Not only do they serve coffee and teas, Sip and Savor is “globally local”. It supports other local business by carrying pastries and small bites from local bakers and bakeries. Sip and Savor also carries a plethora of breakfast items on its menu. Trez and his Sip and Savor brand are striving to become major game changers. With rapid growth and a solid commitment to the community, Sip and Savor have become the neighborhood’s coffee shop of choice.”
Trez has appeared on WVON and WBEZ radio stations as a guest speaker on their business roundtable segments, he has also been interviewed by Metro-Mix, Sun-Times, Tribune, Indigo, Time Out, DNA Info and Fresh Cup on topics ranging from business start-up costs, employee empowerment, challenges facing entrepreneurs’ and Micro Lending.
Great, 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?
Some of the struggles along the way for me consists of time constraints, lack of help with capital, and trying to find a workforce with the skill set needed to provide the level of quality customer service along with interpersonal skills, decision-making, problem-solving, conflict resolution, etc. Couple this with the fact that I still work a full-time job.
Sip & Savor Coffee House – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
My company is a high-end coffee house which specializes in a variety of mochas, lattes, exotic teas, and a host of delicious pastries. We are known in the neighborhood as the meeting place. Our tagline is “Where Coffee and Community Meet.” I am most proud of our coffee house because we bring all walks of life, all races, all backgrounds, and a ton of diversity to our shop. We are a virtual community office. Everyone from the Mayor of Chicago, school teachers, contractors, students, housewives, police officers, and the list goes on and on the meet and enjoy great coffee over stimulating conversation daily.
What sets us apart from other coffee shops is our decor…We have faux finish custom wall paint, water features, hardwood floors, flat screen TV’s, extremely comfortable furniture that you would find in an expensive home. Our coffee house is an extension of one’s home complete with class, elegance, and warmth. Once you enter our coffee house it literally wraps its arms around you and encourages you to stay a while and partake of the Crisp, Clean, Classy, Consistent, Customer Service…what I commonly refer to the 5 C’s.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
The proudest moment of my career to date has been changing communities wherever I open up coffee houses and employing the youth in those neighborhoods.
Contact Info:
- Address: 528 E. 43rd Street
Chicago, IL . 60653 - Website: www.sipandsavorchicago.com
- Phone: 7738552125
- Email: info@sipandsavorchicago.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sipandsavorchicago/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sipandsavorchicago/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/SipSavorChi
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
