Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeremy Oliphant.
Jeremy, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My business partner Bryan sterbenz created a similar concept to Lucky Bernies. One night my other business partner William volmar and I were over at Byans when he showed us the Blue prints for the amazing concept. Will and I fell inlove with it. But the concept needed more. Then Will, Bryan and I had multiple conversations about adding a few more ideas to the concept like a fireplace, Wi-Fi, and live music and opening a better one with a different name. After a good time and a few drinks one night Bryan, will and I decided it was time to actually move forward on our new concept. Only problem with doing that was we needed more capital. I told Bryan and Will I had a person in mind. My Aunt Kathleen Leavitt and Uncle Bernie Guthier. My uncle Bernie was not doing so well at the time. He was in an out of the hospital with prostate cancer and Dr. told him he was not going to be around to much longer. He had about 6 months to live. Uncle Bernie was a very unique human. Bernie retired from the airforce at age 35. Then he built his house in Round lake beach from the ground up in 1935. He would find Bicycles and lawn mowers on the side of the road. Fix them up and give them to kids and families in the neighborhood. He saved all his money. Never spent any money unless he had to. Even would pick in the garbage for most of his food. Major companies like Aldis and Walgreens dumpsters. And believe me he would find some of the best stuff. Doughnuts, bread, cookies all stuff that was usually not ever even open. Just would be expiring in few days. A guy that could fix anything. He saved all his money all his life. And he married my aunt Kathy 6 months before he passed away. So I asked her to invest in the concept idea we had put together. My aunt Kathy said yes. So we named our concept Lucky Bernie’s due to him passing away because we were all very lucky to have known Bernie. He was one of a kind.
We built a solid team in the beginning of all family and friends. Some friends fell off and a couple are still holding strong. But our team is bigger and stronger than ever. I have learned that if you build a solid team you can do anything. Opened the first three bars in the first year. And we will have 4 more by the end of this year. And now working on a concept for a club downtown. Even working on a concept for a reality TV show for Chicago.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I like to use this as a quote. ” IT’S ALWAYS SOMETHING”. The road is never smooth. Every day it is always a new issue that you have to deal with as a business owner. When I say ITS ALWAYS SOMETHING that is my way of taking that deep breath and letting God know that with his help me and my team will truck through this problem but prepare us and make us stronger for the next.
Some of the struggles along the way
-Finding reliable employees
-Negative attitudes- Positive vibes + Positive influences = Positive futures
-Making people believe that the concept can and will work
-Tight budgets
Lucky Bernies – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Lucky Bernies is a wine/deli/ gaming lounge. We are a full bar with local craft brews and handpicked wines from all over the world. We serve Boars head deli meat and cheese sandwiches or also by the LB like a regular deli. We have 5 slot machines. We have live music every Friday. Wine and paint nights every other Saturday. Also working on a comedy night coming soon. We specialize in our Sandwiches. I think our unique selection of meats, cheeses, dressings and being a full deli is what sets up apart from other sandwich shops or bars. I am most proud of the concept we have built and ran all by family and friends.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success is in every inch and every mile. And no matter an inch or mile progress is progress as long as you are moving forward. Success for me will be when I can retire my parents and live freely and travel the world without hurting my pocket.
Pricing:
- Sandwichs $8
- Average glass of wine $8
- Wine and paint nights $25 includes half off first glass of wine
Contact Info:
- Address: 2450 U.S. 12, Spring Grove, IL 60081
11605 Catalpa Ln, Woodstock, IL 60098
9810 N. State Rt. 47, Huntley, IL 60142 - Website: https://luckybernies.com/
- Phone: (815) 581-3217, (815) 527-7251, (224)858-7323
- Email: Jeremy.oliphant@Luckybernies.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Luckybernies/notifications/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/lucky-bernies-spring-grove
Image Credit:
Jeremy Oliphant, Bryan Sterbenz, William Volkmar, Kathleen Leavitt, Michelle Oliphant, Nicholas Collori, Rachel Bowman
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.
