Join us on this episode of the Black Bridge Mindset Podcast, where culture, entrepreneurship, and business intersect to fuel inspiration. Co-hosts CJ, Ken, and Mike introduce special guest George E. Ross Jr., the mastermind behind the House of Ross Coffee Bar and Cigar Lounge in Paducah, Kentucky. Discover George's journey of turning a long-held dream into reality, the challenges faced during the process, and the importance of community and collaboration. Learn about the unique blend of coffee and cigars that creates a relaxing atmosphere for meaningful conversations. Plus, get insights on writing a business plan, the value of networking, and continual learning. Don’t miss out on George's inspiring story and practical advice for aspiring entrepreneurs!
Website: The House of Ross Coffee Bar and Cigar Lounge
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FB: The House of Ross Coffee Bar
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
CJ (00:00):
Hello and welcome to the Black Bridge Mindset Podcast
where culture, entrepreneurship,and business intersect to fuel
inspiration.
This podcast celebrates thepower of diverse voices shaping
the future of business.
So whether you're building abusiness, breaking barriers,
we're just looking for someserious inspiration here in the
right place.
(00:21):
The Black Bridge mindset whereculture and entrepreneurship
collide.
Hello.
Hello.
Hello.
Good morning.
Good afternoon.
Good night.
and wherever you're listening,you found us.
This is the black bridge mindsetpodcast.
We want to thank and welcomeeveryone for entering in my name
is C.
J.
I'm 1 of your co host.
(00:53):
live all the way from Columbus,Ohio.
I'm sitting here with two of mybest friends, mr.
Ken and fellas.
If you'd like to introduceyourself, please feel free.
Ken (01:03):
Hey, everybody.
This is Ken, coming to you fromAtlanta, suffering a little bit
from allergies, please, overlookmy voice right now.
You might see me hop off camera,but all good.
It's a good start to the week.
It's a little cold here, butit's gonna warm up.
Excited today for our guests,looking forward to a great
conversation.
CJ (01:23):
out of curiosity.
Did you get the the same stormsand stuff that we got?
Cause they were saying you allwas supposed to get tornadoes.
Ken (01:29):
We did, it was really bad hail.
the electricity was out for abit.
Tons of trees down, across likeroads and highways.
Yeah, it was crazy.
It was crazy.
So yeah, so the temperaturedropped by 20 degrees from one
day to the next.
CJ (01:44):
How it did here.
Ken (01:45):
yeah, even today, it was cold today.
I walked in the house and thetemperature said it was like 64
degrees So I had to kick theheat back on and what's crazy is
that tomorrow it'll be like 75
CJ (01:56):
Wait.
you said it was 64 degrees, butyou had to turn the heat back
on.
Ken (02:01):
'cause it was 64 degrees in the house.
CJ (02:04):
Okay.
Okay.
I thought you meant outside.
I was about to
Ken (02:06):
only 64 degrees
CJ (02:08):
the what Midwest or Northeast, whatever you want to
call Pittsburgh that long.
Ken (02:12):
Listen, I become a baby now that I don't live where it's
cold anymore, the winters hereare short.
We do get some cold days, mostof the time, the weather's mild
it's NICE's gonna start gettinghot here soon.
Anyway, yeah when we listenwhenever we were home Whenever
we were back in pittsburgh formy birthday in january I was
losing it,'cause it was way toocold.
Nobody should have to live likethat.
CJ (02:34):
You did it for you, but you did it long enough.
Ken (02:36):
Mike, you wanna introduce yourself?
Mike (02:38):
Yeah.
I don't know if y'all noticed,but I was gone for about or
three minutes.
I don't know what happened overhere, but I'm happy y'all just
kept on rolling without me.
CJ (02:46):
Yeah,
Mike (02:48):
y'all professionals.
I love it.
Ken (02:50):
I
Mike (02:51):
Yeah, my name is Mike Lovett.
I'm over in, Chicago, one ofyour co-hosts of Black Bridge
Mindset.
And, I.
yeah this week, today is onlyMonday, and it feels like it's a
Wednesday.
I am exhausted, but I said, youknow what, I'm gonna show up,
and I'm gonna bring the energy,and I'm gonna do my thing,
because that's what Georgedeserves, and that's what y'all
deserve.
So yeah, I hope you guys enjoythis.
I'm gonna make it.
(03:11):
I'm gonna make it.
But I'm definitely gonna bedearly tonight.
and we'll see how that lookstomorrow morning.
Start all over.
CJ (03:18):
On that note, I guess we can go ahead and bring in our guests
and our illustrious guests.
Today we're sitting down at theintersection of culture and
entrepreneurship with one of thecoolest gentlemen, from Paducah,
Kentucky, Mr.
George Ross, Jr.
George is the mastermind behindthe house of Ross coffee bar and
cigar lounge.
His passion lies in providing arelaxing utopia where you can
(03:38):
slow down, unwind and converseover a flavorful cup of coffee
and easing cocktail or soothingcigar.
tap into Georgia's inspirationfor opening his coffee shop,
what steps he took to open hisbusiness, his future plans for
the shop, and other excitingtopics as well.
And with that, and a nice drumroll, we want to bring in the
(03:58):
Mr.
George E.
Ross Jr.
Mike (04:01):
go.
CJ (04:04):
Good evening.
George Ross (04:06):
Chris, man is wonderful, man, seeing you do
your thing.
It really is.
An attitude.
even better to know as youmentioned in the beginning
couple of your friends and anyjourney like this those troops
that brotherhood is somethingthat's must needed.
the support it is.
You can't put a dollar amount toit.
CJ (04:23):
And that's what your shop's built on, isn't it?
George Ross (04:26):
Yeah, it is truly is.
Long time family history, beinghere at the corner of 13th of
Monroe in Paducah, Kentucky 2 27North 13th Street.
North side representing Paducah.
CJ (04:40):
Yes, sir.
That remind me, you mentionedyour location.
where Weightless Cats used tobe, isn't it?
George Ross (04:49):
ELAs is across the street.
CJ (04:51):
Okay.
All right.
I got you.
George Ross (04:53):
Yep.
Yeah.
Is across the street.
Yeah.
Mike (04:55):
Listen,
CJ (04:55):
in the neighborhood in the good old days in my past.
George Ross (04:58):
Yes.
Mike (05:00):
I feel like
CJ (05:00):
Mike.
Mike (05:01):
this goes out, people gonna listen.
Like Paducah.
Where the hell is the Paducah?
George Ross (05:06):
Yeah, that's what everyone says and then, they,
next thing you know, they'revisiting, hey, I've got a, yeah.
I need that experience.
Yes.
CJ (05:14):
I'm just going to share.
And anybody from home that'slistening to this, not going to
mention any names, but somepeople like to tell me, and not
I'm from Paducah, but fromPadonkadon, so if you hear that
term, that's it's a long historyof that, but they're going to
learn tonight,
Mike (05:28):
Yeah.
and after that, that intro, Ifeel like I need to hurry up and
get on down there and, have somecoffee a cigar.
I don't even smoke cigars, butI've smoked a couple with some
friends at like weddings andthings like that.
So, um, I'm excited to hearabout, you, your business and
your journey.
So if you want to get usstarted.
Tell us a little bit aboutyourself and how you, came up
with the House of Ross CoffeeBar and Cigar Cigar Lounge.
George Ross (05:51):
I'm gonna tell you, I've owned and operated several
different businesses over theyears.
The coffee shop for me was thevery first plan I ever wrote.
My brother Gerald I'm the oldestof seven.
My brother Gerald, he actuallyopened the first black owned
shop here in Paducah.
it's called
CJ (06:09):
I didn't know that.
George Ross (06:10):
in the day.
Just, I, helping him at thattime, and it was one of those
kind of things where really, hewas he was beyond his years,
meaning his idea and the,actually, the idea and the
concept for him with GrooveTheory was one of my favorite
movies is Love Jones.
So he wanted to just steal that,just that entire.
aura of that movie being thatthat true vibe there.
(06:34):
So then just took my ideas andthen too, just you gotta think
when, when I wrote that businessplan, it's back in, 91, and.
Putting it on the shelf andpicking it back up, but, over
the years in time, justconstantly my thing was to hone
my craft, And whatever I do, Iwanted to be, do it with
excellence.
So I really wanted to, really.
And then at the same time, thecigar portion of it started to
(06:57):
evolve with me.
Then and then I and then moreand more, I studied just the
coffee bean itself the origin ofthe coffee bean.
Then I started to, the same timeI'm looking at my Dominican
brothers and sisters and howthey really paired.
I.
Coffee and cigars together.
where the concept for the Houseof Ross Coffee Bar and Cigar
Lounge came about.
(07:18):
is just appreciating and lovingour culture to enjoying those
two experiences together it'sjust meshing them together.
And then the, the whole thing ofreally having the, what we call
the Ross experience.
It's one thing to talk aboutblack excellence.
It's another thing to walk inblack excellence.
So
CJ (07:36):
Silence.
George Ross (07:50):
also put it in my neighborhood.
My parents still live across thestreet from the shop.
My dad the location of the Houseof Ross.
My dad and granddad, they ownedand operated automotive and
cleanup shop right here.
And so with my constructionbackground and, owning a
construction company, what wedid is we transformed the
(08:11):
location To be what we calltoday, the house of Ross.
And that's what kind of alsogave us its name.
My dad and granddad were here.
The building itself is a, is astaple, within the community
wanted to maintain and keep ithere.
So, you know is we bridge thecommunity.
One cup at a time.
(08:31):
Oftentimes we think of the southbeing divided, but those that
coffee and that conversation wehad with our neighbors, that the
people in our community justbeing able to just to to bend
and not break And at times whenyour conversation is safe.
matter what your political,whether you blue or red, To also
(08:51):
to understanding that thecomfort in being able to do that
in a way that is not judged.
is respected.
also we look at so manydifferent ways we divide
ourselves, within our, com.
CJ (09:04):
Silence.
George Ross (09:16):
It's just, really, I wanted to create an
atmosphere.
where those barriers was takendown and, meaning you felt
comfortable in your skin.
I've come to truly understandingliving my truth, living there's
things that I like and don'tlike on both sides.
But two, to be able to havethose conversations that are
well respected, appreciated,and, yes, they're judged, but
(09:38):
they're judged in such a waywhen we leave.
It is still the the utmost andrespect at the end of the day,
we wanna provide for our familythe same way you wanna provide
for your family.
We wanna love who we wanna love.
We wanna appreciate whom wewanna appreciate.
We have family members who wedon't like.
And then if there's ones that welove to death and at the end of
the day, we still God'schildren, and
CJ (09:57):
very much.
George Ross (09:58):
just placed that on my heart.
And then for me, it's also
CJ (10:01):
Silence.
Silence.
Silence.
Mike (10:13):
I love the community that you're building in the coffee
shop.
It reminds me of just almostlike going to a barber shop,
right where everybody getstogether.
You can commune and you're ableto shoot the shit and talk about
any and everything.
But at the end of the day,everybody.
They leave with knowledge andeverything else, and you don't
leave, pissed off or bitterbecause you're red, you're blue,
you believe in this, you believein that.
So, think you creating somethinglike that is, is awesome.
(10:36):
One of the pillars of BlackBridge Mindset is to provide
some insight, knowledge, andconsultation to young
entrepreneurs out there who arelooking to build their own
business.
And one of the things that youmentioned is that you wrote a
business plan for your business.
Can you speak on like howimportant that was for you to
have that business plan in orderfor you to get to where you are
(10:59):
today?
George Ross (10:59):
Yes.
And two, with the, with thatbusiness plan one of the things
that we do here at the House ofBra we have small Business
Mondays.
With Small business Mondays isentrepreneurs oftentimes that
place event, but and two just.
To also get some insight andsome knowledge on some simple
things.
So going to the business planpart of it, knowing that
business plan will change and itwill evolve.
(11:20):
As I mentioned, the, that, thatbusiness plan was in 91, In 91,
we doesn't we didn't see theinternet as we do today, you
know, what I Media isn't the waythat it is, there was no social
media, so to speak, of, Ourbiggest thing then when actually
was never forget taking abusiness communications class
and it was over email, you knowwhat I mean?
So now we're zooming, we'rehaving, these literally these
teleconferences, so just the wayin which it has evolved and it
(11:44):
has changed in so many waves.
And with that, my business planhad to change and evolve as
well.
When I first wrote it, some ofthe.
Places that I was looking at tobe able to purchase teas and
coffees.
They don't even exist anymore.
A lot of the machines andequipment, but they had two.
I never let go of that dream andthey had two.
I also wanted to hone in onbeing a.
(12:08):
Great barista, And that's theperson curating that those
coffee drinks.
I wanted to do
CJ (12:14):
Okay.
George Ross (12:27):
Within your business plan, the way in which
you market within that businessplan, the way in which, you
know, even I'd I changedlocations, then at the time, I
wasn't put thinking of puttingit here because my dad and
granddad was here.
I was looking at otherlocations.
I was looking at thinking moreof a mall style location then,
but we don't visit malls the waythat we did in 91.
(12:47):
So you have to be willing to,and be prepared for change with
that business plan,
CJ (12:53):
Nice.
along those same lines, youmentioned you wrote your
business plan in 91, which youwere well ahead of the curve,
clearly.
You had that already in place.
What was some of your biggest ofthe construction and all that
stuff, but what types of thingschallenges that you face with
(13:14):
the city of Paducah, yourcertificate of occupancy and
things like that.
George Ross (13:19):
That, that was very challenging.
It was because what you're doingis you're selling an idea to a
community then to, the buildinghad been occupied a certain kind
of way for a very long timebefore my dad and granddad owned
the building they tookownership.
It was actually a old bar.
And, so the building itselfdates back to pre-flood, what we
(13:42):
call pre-flood.
here in Paducah.
There was 1937 flood thatflooded the entire city.
So the building dates backpre-flood.
So it was built in 1932.
So when you think about that,the way in which structurally
and the things had to change,but also we, I, I tell people
that this, it's like Noahcreating the arc.
(14:02):
In biblical terms, you took avery long time in building, it
took him over 80 years to buildthat arc.
And then you think of even thearc, we had never seen rain
before.
In that, in those challenges.
You're trying to tell someonehow in which you're going to
create I can visualize what Iwant to do, it's difficult for
me to articulate that vision, Isee it, but then to be able to
(14:26):
you is something else.
I have to just do it.
And but in this type, in thiscase, you literally have to sell
this idea.
When you understand your, you'replanning your purpose, there is
no quit, There is no turningback.
You're gonna get discouraged.
There's gonna be some daysyou're gonna throw in the tab
like, what you all are doingright here right now.
You're gonna need the strengthand encouragement.
(14:48):
Of other friends, family memberswho truly believe in what you're
doing and you can't even and Itell people even baby steps or
steps moving forward.
Notice some days, hey, you're ata good job and then there's some
days.
You're literally making babysteps, but when you prepare
yourself and knowing what it isthat you, are, what you want to
do, and and there too I justcan't ever imagine having a
(15:11):
business and not having God init.
CJ (15:14):
Silence.
George Ross (15:24):
what I mean?
You know, I can get coffee atthe gas station.
I can make coffee at home.
You know what I mean?
Why am I gonna come to a coffeeshop?
You know what I mean?
And then we're black folk.
We just drink Folgers.
You know what I mean?
A cigar we don't do that.
You know, what I mean, like,you, we have celebratory cigars.
We don't, we don't casuallydrink, smoke a cigar, but the
(15:44):
pairing of the two just gives usan outlet and a place to be able
to just, if nothing else, justto appreciate the finer things
in life.
We also do One of our events,weekly is Ross at the Dark.
So, every Friday, our mixcollege, will introduce us to a
different cocktail, to adifferent drink.
Something that, you know, mean,that's out of the norm.
(16:06):
But again, it's to, for us, Ifeel like, to change our palate.
You don't know that there's somethings that you enjoy until you
have the opportunity to try it.
CJ (16:15):
All
George Ross (16:40):
a beautiful bourbon right here at the House of Ross,
we're beyond and yes, I enjoy agood crown with the fellows.
You know, what I mean, I enjoy anice Hennessy with the brothers.
Too if you've never had theopportunity to, have a weller
bourbon, if you have a, thosedifferent things, if you haven't
had the opportunity to try, akazu.
(17:01):
here, and and we appreciate thatand and those are the things
that, you know, just to splurgeon yourself a little bit.
To know, that those things thatwe do appreciate and and I want
to more so just encourage itwith our young people, To know
that, don't feel ashamed orintimidated by some of the
things that you really enjoydoing.
Ken (17:21):
You had mentioned earlier that you wanted to become an
expert barista.
Can you tell us a little bitabout, that journey?
Did you have to go out and learnabout not just how to make
coffee, but also, what beans,right?
What machines work best?
All of that.
Can you talk about, that portionof the business?
George Ross (17:38):
Yes, for with that we had tried one of the things
that I have is I have a West LCoffee, coffee.
bean again, it's by a wonderfulgentleman a black owned, that
creates the coffee right here inKentucky in West Louisville,
which is the name.
West L has family tie right hereto Paducah, but he roast the, he
(17:59):
roast some our beans.
And that's another thing too, isjust also incorporating.
Other minority owned businessesour business.
So we purposely incorporate thatThat's that isn't that is by
design.
I'll be honest.
Because oftentimes we don't getthose opportunities.
So if
CJ (18:18):
All right.
All right.
George Ross (18:19):
taste a West Lew coffee, which is a black owned
Coffee roaster.
from right here in Kentucky,Right here at the House of Ross.
Then by the time I chop andscrew that coffee and turn it
into a latte, Now you get theexcellence that comes behind Mr.
Raw in the House of raw.
It's, that's the beauty of it,you know what I mean?
All the way down to, the way inwhich, you know we triple filter
(18:42):
our water.
The company in which, we get ourour espresso machine comes from.
Those things they are, it isdumped.
It is purposely if if it's notblack owned, it was a black
salesman that that introduced meto it.
He's getting a commission.
You know what I mean?
If it's, I don't care if I'mgetting a ice maker or a
freezer, We may not own thatcompany, but the salesman that
sold it to me looks like me.
(19:03):
And
CJ (19:03):
Okay.
Okay.
George Ross (19:21):
we were closed for a, month.
Within that month.
I had a, black cabinet makercome in and he did a lot of the
restructuring.
It was a black electrician thatcame in and did, our electrical,
It's so again, to show, and toreally Illustrate to our
community again, it's one thingto say it.
let's, put it to action.
(19:41):
Let's really do it.
You know what I mean?
And that's, let's not just comein and we're going to say that
we're gonna make this changejust because of A-A-D-E-I or
because of Al Sharpton told youto.
No, let's be intentional by theway before then.
You know what I mean?
Let's live it.
you know what I mean?
Our t-shirts that are made righthere.
That are sold in the house ofRoss.
(20:02):
They're, that, that created froma great friend of mine, Mr.
Tony Burton.
You know what I mean?
I use our cigar bags, we usethere's a young lady that
creates those bags for us.
Again we're very intentional.
Our coffee cups.
Was designed by ProsperousPieces.
She does a lot of our, a lot ofour designing my flyers are made
(20:25):
by Miss Valencia.
You know what I mean?
At some point in time, we haveto love us enough.
to say, this is what I'm gonnado.
Mike (20:32):
I love that.
CJ (20:33):
I'm, I was just curious.
I know Ken touched on it and youtouched on it a little bit too.
Did you take a like a classsomewhere on,
George Ross (20:39):
Yes.
CJ (20:39):
or whatever you call it
George Ross (20:41):
yeah, the barista.
so, what I did is I took severalclasses over the years, so
several classes over the yearsin barista and bartender.
so,
CJ (20:50):
West Kentucky.
George Ross (20:51):
yes, I wanted to be able to as far as bartending,
because we do sell alcohol.
So, those I wanted to be able toperfect that that craft, even
still I use I'm gonna tell you Alocal, young lady, Ms.
Avis.
She comes up with the, somebeautiful creation, a true mixed
colleges.
I'm not there yet, on thecocktails, but before, you had
(21:14):
to go sit in the classroom.
Now, there are actually YouTubeschools, And that, that's, that
makes it.
even better.
So you are able to travelaround.
I attended several differentCoffee shows on coffees and
pastries, Just knowing what itis that we wanted.
Right here at the House of Rossa young lady I used my grandma's
(21:34):
hands.
Miss Ika Donaldson, she makesall of our pastries.
So it's I can't explain itenough of how important that
part is because now, I give herbusiness that extra life that it
needs throughout the week.
You know what I mean?
She's a full-time schoolteacher, but also, owns great
(21:56):
treat business Ms.
Brittany Freeman that ownsSouthern Spread.
Truly helped me in designing ourmenu and setting up
CJ (22:04):
Mhm.
George Ross (22:09):
Within our community we're not far from
downtown Paducah, so in ourbusiness district, now you have
a place that you can come, atrue brick And mortar.
You come have lunch, enjoy anice coffee a a excellent tea.
And then too trying toincorporate a lot of, I do a lot
of herbal type things, with ourgingers, what we call a feel
good piece.
So those those things is where Ihave to constantly evolve in
(22:33):
creating and then and reachingout to other businesses that,
hey, what it is that, what is itthat you're doing?
and then too to, to thatcontinuing education.
That's really real important.
Mike (22:45):
and I don't, and I don't want people to overlook what
you're saying on this.
'cause I think it's reallyimportant, especially for
entrepreneurs to understand thatthe common thread that you've
been speaking on in the lastcouple of minutes is I.
Networking, building teams andcollaboration, right?
'cause somebody may come in andsay, hey, I wanna start a coffee
shop and think they have to doeverything on their own.
(23:06):
I have to be the barista.
I have to make the menu, I haveto do this, I have to do that,
whatever.
But it looks like you've had thewherewithal to say, I need you
to be the barista and teach mehow to do this.
I need you to be the mixologistand do this.
I need t-shirts.
So I know this guy who makest-shirts.
And you're able to bring allthese people together as a team
to help you create House of Rossand do your business.
(23:29):
So
CJ (23:29):
think they call that community.
Mike (23:30):
that.
George Ross (23:32):
Yes, and then too, that's where also you go from
turning you go from being anentrepreneur.
So you're no longer a hustler.
Now you're a businessman.
You're a businesswoman.
Now you're, evolving.
You're only as good as the otherpeople around you.
do it all.
Yes.
All the way down to when youcome into the house, overall,
(23:52):
some things are intentional,very intentional in the sense of
when I, when you come in, as youcan see in the background, Black
chairs.
I.
That's not for no reason.
I want you to see a excellentblack chair so that you don't,
when you see black.
you see something that'sbeautiful when you come in and
you see the brown, see my brownthat, that color.
(24:17):
I literally had them to scan myskin color to get the color you
see.
when you look at you was able tolook around the entire building.
Those are my nieces, my nephews.
So yes, I have whitesister-in-laws, so I have mixed
nieces and nephews.
I needed them to be able to seethemselves when they come here.
(24:38):
but aunt too, that's my black.
you say You are black.
I need you.
And then too, I need you to seethat black in a excellent way.
I need you to see that black ina such a positive manner.
that now when you go back toyour office at the bank,
intimidated by my skin color.
you go back and you're downtownyou're the judge, you don't see
(25:03):
my black as being intimidated.
When you go and then I'm at thedoctor's office, when the doctor
sees me, just sees anindividual.
He doesn't see my color.
He doesn't see an into No oneUnderstand that I have this
appreciation for who I amunapologetically, and and I
(25:23):
respect who you are.
Unapologetically And with thatcommunity like that, we're
bridging so many different gapsand individuals, just blending
us together.
But I under, truly understandthat if I want change, I have to
be the change.
I have to be, the change thatI'm looking for If I'm looking
(25:44):
for somebody to collaborate withme and to to support me, I have
to let me be the one to extendthat hand first.
And that's where.
we really just, that's my truefocus and wanting to see us to
grow in that manner.
Mike (25:58):
Nice.
CJ (26:10):
there any key mentors or role models that guided way?
George Ross (26:15):
Oh, yes, it was s several my I can't say this
enough, but for one, my faithit.
it is a unwavering faith.
Then I had then as a man, Ithink every man needs three
different types of men withinhis life.
who is pouring into him, someonehe sees at his equal, And then
(26:39):
also someone that you can pourinto.
So within this journey.
That I'm talking about, I hadsome brothers and then too,
those brothers that are my, whomI consider my mentors, they
become friends, but they're notintentionally friends.
What they are is they're
CJ (26:57):
Hello, everyone.
George Ross (27:23):
there's always somebody else that I'm looking
to, that I'm able to pull up,that I'm able to, be to extend
this blessing that God is givingme into that next individual.
So that then in turn, that'sthe, that's how we continue to
live.
You know what I mean?
We're looking for this this longlife.
(27:45):
But that life is in this circleof life of the people that, and
then I had to have, and then,when it can, when it comes to,
the coffee game itself, you knowwhat I mean?
I'm looking in the cigar game.
Yes, I'm looking at the David s.
Know what I mean?
And their family and their longhistory and legacy, so, yes,
when they come in with style andgrace with that cigar.
(28:05):
Hey, that's how we wanna come.
We come in different.
You know, what I mean, I'mlooking at the Rocky Patels and
the way in which, He has brandedhimself and what he's doing,
When I look at so it's nothingfor us to, to go to EOR City and
to down to Tampa.
know what I mean that's wherethe, that's where it really is.
Little Havana, that's where theSegar game is.
CJ (28:27):
Right.
George Ross (28:27):
down there.
I'm down there like a student.
I'm pen in paper.
Yes, I'm recording conversations'cause I wanna be.
Yes, I wanna I, if I'm gonna sayI'm a cigar aficionado, I need
to that's what I need to be.
Keep myself as such.
If I say I'm a barista, I needto know everything about the
game because you're gonna bequestioned.
You know what I mean?
So, and, you want to be able toknow what it is that you're
(28:48):
looking for.
You know what I mean?
I need to truly identifydifferent flavor profiles.
I need to be able to identifyYou know, what I mean the, the
brewing process, all the way tohow hot the coffee needs to be.
if the milk is too hot, I canhear and tell if it's steamed
too long, you know, what I mean,I can smell a coffee from a
distance and know whether it'sburnt but that takes time That
takes a, there was a lot oftime, like I said, in that 35
(29:09):
years, it took me to, to theHouse of Ross coming to
fruition.
That was a lot of practicing athome and abroad, you know what I
mean?
So you spending yes.
it, wasn't a vacation.
when I was married, it wasn't avacation that we went on that I
didn't visit the coffee shop.
didn't go to a cigar lounge,that was, it.
it just wasn't, and, but that'sjust how passionate that I am
(29:32):
about it and then too theability to be able to bridge
that community, our communitytogether and and do it in such a
way that is truly respected andadored within our community.
CJ (29:43):
Just.
your passion and what you do,think when we actually air this
episode, the intro, I know weprobably can't do it because
it's copyright issues, but weshould play of talking like I
walk it plan.
Does that loop that identifieswho you are?
100%.
I have 1 question You is thereanything that you wish that you
(30:06):
knew before you started thebusiness?
I know that, you said youstarted your plan a long time
before, but that you've comeacross since opening and,
getting things running that youwish you had known prior?
George Ross (30:18):
What I wish I had known.
One of, the things that I wantedto do as I mentioned, I had
owned and operated severaldifferent businesses all the way
from real estate which we stillhold some real estate.
We still so we have Rossproperties we have R and D
roofing and Remodeling, which isour remodeling, side of
Business.
And then and with that, of thethings I would've done is, I
(30:38):
come from a era with my dad henever wanted to borrow any
money.
He never wanted to on afinancially, So you think that
you're financially secureenough, and then two, it was
with the house of, Ross.
because it is such a passion.
It was difficult to startbecause it was a true leap of
faith.
(30:58):
So of the things that I would'vedone for sure is not use my own
money.
I would not have done that.
I would have leveraged my money,but I would not have used my own
money, but we used our ownmoney, our own time.
And we it took the remodel ofthe building itself was a three
(31:19):
year process, but that wasbecause too, at the time still
on the corporate side.
I was still working a full-timejob, I.
still, like I said, operatingthese other two businesses, and
then creating this one, and thenthis one comes.
in the, On the heels of COVID.
So that's another thing.
You talking about a leap offaith.
(31:41):
I mean, it was, Truly a leap offaith and, and then, for me,
there was no PPP money.
The business wasn't created ofyet, we were still in the
remodel.
We was at the end of the remodelstage, I
CJ (31:52):
And then For the work that
George Ross (32:05):
there was supply
CJ (32:07):
done.
George Ross (32:09):
made it extremely difficult.
So I was not.
CJ (32:13):
Silence.
Silence.
Silence.
George Ross (32:33):
par, partially my my retirement plan, to be able
to uh, from corporate America.
This was easing into that towhere, but at the same time, I
would have most definitelyleveraged that.
if there had been anything I'ddone differently, I'd have done
that.
Mike (32:48):
Nice.
Ken (32:50):
You've mentioned a couple times, you were the oldest of
seven children.
You have come from a largefamily.
Are there members of your familywho are also very involved in
the business?
George Ross (33:01):
It's a yes and no.
Ken (33:02):
Okay.
George Ross (33:03):
It's I say yes because gonna tell you, man, my
brothers are my greatestsupporters.
and that alone is enough.
There's times when, you know, meif it's nothing more than
sharing a post planting a seed.
know what I mean?
They have truly supported me.
(33:24):
My parents have, in a way.
Oftentimes people talk about, ohman this one doesn't support me.
That one doesn't support me,that you know this and that.
I can't say that I have abeautiful, wonderful family.
You know, what I mean?
That truly support, the House ofRoss.
My mom, she comes in just aboutevery day, like I said, my dad.
(33:44):
stepmom, they live across thestreet, just being able just to
see them and they had too, theydo it without taking, they're
expecting any kind of accoladesof glory from it, you know what
I mean?
My brother, Greg, he's alwayssupporting and sharing.
My brother, Josh, he's aherbalist, he's always sending
me, he lives in Tampa,Clearwater, always sending me
different stuff.
(34:05):
My brother, Gerald, he's in SoulKorea.
He creates all different typesof videos to for us to use for
advertisement.
So, everybody's doing differentthings to, to really and truly
just to help me.
You know what I mean?
There's times that they justshow up and and to have that
kind of support.
It does that that means a lot.
Mike (34:25):
That's awesome.
George Ross (34:26):
Yeah.
Mike (34:26):
we are getting close to time but there are a couple of
things that we'd like to dobefore we, we hop off, off here.
Not sure if, CJ told you or not,but at the end, we like to do
this little thing where,
CJ (34:38):
I did not
Mike (34:40):
You're
CJ (34:41):
as a surprise.
Mike (34:41):
Yeah.
CJ (34:42):
Surprise.
Right?
Mike (34:43):
But we like to do this little thing that we do with
everyone that we interview andat the end we call it the
lightning round questions wherewe're just gonna ask you five
questions just off the cuffcrazy questions may deal with
the business may not deal withthe business I'm gonna put up a
timer.
you're the lucky person who getsthis timer for the first time.
(35:03):
But I'm gonna put up a timerbecause we want
CJ (35:05):
pressure
Mike (35:06):
All of the questions to be, quick and short.
And we tried this in the past.
And when we started askingpeople questions, they went into
a deep dive it.
And we're like, no, that's notthe point of the question.
We just, we, we just, we don'twant you to think too hard about
it.
Don't think too much about it.
First thing that pops in yourmind is what We want to hear
Does that work for you
George Ross (35:27):
That'll work.
Mike (35:29):
All right.
so I'm putting up one minute andat the end of one minute, we'll
be done.
I'm not gonna cut you off.
If you wanna keep going.
But, the fun of this, That'swhat we're gonna do.
as I've done every time, wedon't have a soundboard.
So, I'm the soundboard.
Lightning round questions, Allright.
So, I'm gonna start the timer,after I read the first question,
(35:51):
and then, whatever comes off thetop of your head, and then I'll
just go onto the next one.
First question is one that weask everybody.
So, what is your book, or whatbook are you currently reading?
George Ross (36:03):
Oh, my favorite book would be and I'm not gonna
say one of my, the bible first.
Then my second would be that'scalled the Solomon Syndrome.
The the third is Tinder Warriorby Stu Weber.
Mike (36:16):
Okay.
George Ross (36:17):
then fourth would be, the psychology of the black
experience yeah.
Mike (36:23):
Nice.
George Ross (36:24):
Alright.
Mike (36:24):
All right.
I got 1, 2, 3, 4 more for you.
So if you could have asuperpower, what would it be?
George Ross (36:30):
My superpower would be ability to, read minds.
Mike (36:37):
All right.
You're a coffee man.
What's your favorite coffeebean?
George Ross (36:40):
My favorite coffee bean would be an be considered a
African beam.
A true, what would be a, it'svery acid based, so it's very
floral.
It's dried so it's not more soof a, like a Colombian bean, But
it has more flavor to it as faras a more like a fruit,
Mike (37:01):
Okay.
Your favorite holiday andcomfort food?
George Ross (37:05):
Comfort Food is pizza
Mike (37:08):
Same
George Ross (37:10):
Favorite,
Mike (37:11):
all day, every day.
I could eat pizza
George Ross (37:13):
wow.
Favorite holiday isThanksgiving.
Mike (37:17):
Nice.
And then last one for you.
What is something that you'relooking forward to in the near
future?
George Ross (37:24):
the the near future, the, to be able to Not
only I want to, I wanna livethis God-given purpose out.
To, I don't wanna just say it.
I want to live this purpose.
I want to engulfed thisGod-given purpose.
Mike (37:43):
Nice.
love it.
CJ (37:45):
With that nothing.
The other question that I haveleft is, can you please share
with our audience?
think you've already listedbefore, but where they can find
you your shop.
you on social media.
George Ross (37:57):
The House of Ross is in Paducah, Kentucky, 2 27
North 13th Street.
the House of Ross on Facebook,and Instagram.
The house of ross.org is ourwebsite.
and yeah, and more importantly.
You have to come and enjoy theRoss experience.
So we call the Ross experience.
(38:17):
It's nothing like that I trulydo is I come in morning and I
welcome the Holy Spirit in and Iwant the people, minute.
you come through those doors tobe able to a lot of those
preconceptions that hurt thatpain, that anger, that
frustration that you feel fromthe world, You are able to walk
in those doors and you're ableto experience.
(38:39):
that God, that peace that onlythat God can give and to know if
nothing else that you can comehere.
With true safety, security male,female, black, white, veteran,
non veteran.
Pet lover, non-PE lover, LGBTQ.
It doesn't, I want you to trulyknow and then, and have that
(39:00):
love and peace.
If nothing else, we oftentimes,we say it at church, but this
isn't church.
This is something that's outsideof those church walls.
That I want you to be able tocome here and experience God's
perfect peace right here withinthe house of Ross and know that,
hey, there's something differentwhen I left and I don't care if
it was a cup of coffee or a ginand tonic.
CJ (39:21):
look, I, next time I come home, I will partake in both of
those.
George Ross (39:26):
Yeah.
Mike (39:28):
George, there's this thing that at the end of every episode
I have people do before weleave.
I know you're like, damn, theyjust throwing stuff in left and
right.
But this is
CJ (39:37):
here,
Mike (39:38):
we have all of our guests do at the end of the show.
I call it the Wakanda peacepause.
And it is just us doing this andsmiling for about three seconds
and then that's it and what wedo with it is at the end, I'm
gonna take a picture of it.
use that on social media when wetalk about the show coming out.
(40:00):
I'm gonna count to three and wejust gonna go like this.
pause, and then that's it.
George Ross (40:07):
Gotcha.
Mike (40:07):
it?
You gonna do it with us
George Ross (40:10):
Practice.
Is enough?
Mike (40:12):
good.
Yeah.
Yeah.
smile, You lean in, you smile.
you do your interpretation theAll right.
All right, let's give it a go.
All right.
1, 2, 3.
And there it is.
I love it.
Thank
Ken (40:32):
was good.
Mike (40:33):
so much for coming onto our
CJ (40:35):
Absolutely.
Mike (40:36):
This is what, episode four.
CJ (40:37):
Yeah.
Ken (40:38):
Four.
Yeah.
CJ (40:39):
so forth.
Dude, I just wanna let you allknow this was going to the first
persons that I reached out toand he immediately accepted and
was ready to roll, and Iappreciate you for that.
Ken (40:48):
Yeah.
George, thank you very much.
This was fantastic.
CJ (40:52):
Absolutely.
Hello and welcome to the Black Bridge Mindset Podcast
where culture, entrepreneurship,and business intersect to fuel
inspiration.
This podcast celebrates thepower of diverse voices shaping
the future of business.
So whether you're building abusiness, breaking barriers,
we're just looking for someserious inspiration here in the
right place.
(00:21):
The Black Bridge mindset whereculture and entrepreneurship
collide.
Hello.
Hello.
Hello.
Good morning.
Good afternoon.
Good night.
and wherever you're listening,you found us.
This is the black bridge mindsetpodcast.
We want to thank and welcomeeveryone for entering in my name
is C.
J.
I'm 1 of your co host.
(00:53):
live all the way from Columbus,Ohio.
I'm sitting here with two of mybest friends, mr.
Ken and fellas.
If you'd like to introduceyourself, please feel free.
Ken (01:03):
Hey, everybody.
This is Ken, coming to you fromAtlanta, suffering a little bit
from allergies, please, overlookmy voice right now.
You might see me hop off camera,but all good.
It's a good start to the week.
It's a little cold here, butit's gonna warm up.
Excited today for our guests,looking forward to a great
conversation.
CJ (01:23):
out of curiosity.
Did you get the the same stormsand stuff that we got?
Cause they were saying you allwas supposed to get tornadoes.
Ken (01:29):
We did, it was really bad hail.
the electricity was out for abit.
Tons of trees down, across likeroads and highways.
Yeah, it was crazy.
It was crazy.
So yeah, so the temperaturedropped by 20 degrees from one
day to the next.
CJ (01:44):
How it did here.
Ken (01:45):
yeah, even today, it was cold today.
I walked in the house and thetemperature said it was like 64
degrees So I had to kick theheat back on and what's crazy is
that tomorrow it'll be like 75
CJ (01:56):
Wait.
you said it was 64 degrees, butyou had to turn the heat back
on.
Ken (02:01):
'cause it was 64 degrees in the house.
CJ (02:04):
Okay.
Okay.
I thought you meant outside.
I was about to
Ken (02:06):
only 64 degrees
CJ (02:08):
the what Midwest or Northeast, whatever you want to
call Pittsburgh that long.
Ken (02:12):
Listen, I become a baby now that I don't live where it's
cold anymore, the winters hereare short.
We do get some cold days, mostof the time, the weather's mild
it's NICE's gonna start gettinghot here soon.
Anyway, yeah when we listenwhenever we were home Whenever
we were back in pittsburgh formy birthday in january I was
losing it,'cause it was way toocold.
Nobody should have to live likethat.
CJ (02:34):
You did it for you, but you did it long enough.
Ken (02:36):
Mike, you wanna introduce yourself?
Mike (02:38):
Yeah.
I don't know if y'all noticed,but I was gone for about or
three minutes.
I don't know what happened overhere, but I'm happy y'all just
kept on rolling without me.
CJ (02:46):
Yeah,
Mike (02:48):
y'all professionals.
I love it.
Ken (02:50):
I
Mike (02:51):
Yeah, my name is Mike Lovett.
I'm over in, Chicago, one ofyour co-hosts of Black Bridge
Mindset.
And, I.
yeah this week, today is onlyMonday, and it feels like it's a
Wednesday.
I am exhausted, but I said, youknow what, I'm gonna show up,
and I'm gonna bring the energy,and I'm gonna do my thing,
because that's what Georgedeserves, and that's what y'all
deserve.
So yeah, I hope you guys enjoythis.
I'm gonna make it.
(03:11):
I'm gonna make it.
But I'm definitely gonna bedearly tonight.
and we'll see how that lookstomorrow morning.
Start all over.
CJ (03:18):
On that note, I guess we can go ahead and bring in our guests
and our illustrious guests.
Today we're sitting down at theintersection of culture and
entrepreneurship with one of thecoolest gentlemen, from Paducah,
Kentucky, Mr.
George Ross, Jr.
George is the mastermind behindthe house of Ross coffee bar and
cigar lounge.
His passion lies in providing arelaxing utopia where you can
(03:38):
slow down, unwind and converseover a flavorful cup of coffee
and easing cocktail or soothingcigar.
tap into Georgia's inspirationfor opening his coffee shop,
what steps he took to open hisbusiness, his future plans for
the shop, and other excitingtopics as well.
And with that, and a nice drumroll, we want to bring in the
(03:58):
Mr.
George E.
Ross Jr.
Mike (04:01):
go.
CJ (04:04):
Good evening.
George Ross (04:06):
Chris, man is wonderful, man, seeing you do
your thing.
It really is.
An attitude.
even better to know as youmentioned in the beginning
couple of your friends and anyjourney like this those troops
that brotherhood is somethingthat's must needed.
the support it is.
You can't put a dollar amount toit.
CJ (04:23):
And that's what your shop's built on, isn't it?
George Ross (04:26):
Yeah, it is truly is.
Long time family history, beinghere at the corner of 13th of
Monroe in Paducah, Kentucky 2 27North 13th Street.
North side representing Paducah.
CJ (04:40):
Yes, sir.
That remind me, you mentionedyour location.
where Weightless Cats used tobe, isn't it?
George Ross (04:49):
ELAs is across the street.
CJ (04:51):
Okay.
All right.
I got you.
George Ross (04:53):
Yep.
Yeah.
Is across the street.
Yeah.
Mike (04:55):
Listen,
CJ (04:55):
in the neighborhood in the good old days in my past.
George Ross (04:58):
Yes.
Mike (05:00):
I feel like
CJ (05:00):
Mike.
Mike (05:01):
this goes out, people gonna listen.
Like Paducah.
Where the hell is the Paducah?
George Ross (05:06):
Yeah, that's what everyone says and then, they,
next thing you know, they'revisiting, hey, I've got a, yeah.
I need that experience.
Yes.
CJ (05:14):
I'm just going to share.
And anybody from home that'slistening to this, not going to
mention any names, but somepeople like to tell me, and not
I'm from Paducah, but fromPadonkadon, so if you hear that
term, that's it's a long historyof that, but they're going to
learn tonight,
Mike (05:28):
Yeah.
and after that, that intro, Ifeel like I need to hurry up and
get on down there and, have somecoffee a cigar.
I don't even smoke cigars, butI've smoked a couple with some
friends at like weddings andthings like that.
So, um, I'm excited to hearabout, you, your business and
your journey.
So if you want to get usstarted.
Tell us a little bit aboutyourself and how you, came up
with the House of Ross CoffeeBar and Cigar Cigar Lounge.
George Ross (05:51):
I'm gonna tell you, I've owned and operated several
different businesses over theyears.
The coffee shop for me was thevery first plan I ever wrote.
My brother Gerald I'm the oldestof seven.
My brother Gerald, he actuallyopened the first black owned
shop here in Paducah.
it's called
CJ (06:09):
I didn't know that.
George Ross (06:10):
in the day.
Just, I, helping him at thattime, and it was one of those
kind of things where really, hewas he was beyond his years,
meaning his idea and the,actually, the idea and the
concept for him with GrooveTheory was one of my favorite
movies is Love Jones.
So he wanted to just steal that,just that entire.
aura of that movie being thatthat true vibe there.
(06:34):
So then just took my ideas andthen too, just you gotta think
when, when I wrote that businessplan, it's back in, 91, and.
Putting it on the shelf andpicking it back up, but, over
the years in time, justconstantly my thing was to hone
my craft, And whatever I do, Iwanted to be, do it with
excellence.
So I really wanted to, really.
And then at the same time, thecigar portion of it started to
(06:57):
evolve with me.
Then and then I and then moreand more, I studied just the
coffee bean itself the origin ofthe coffee bean.
Then I started to, the same timeI'm looking at my Dominican
brothers and sisters and howthey really paired.
I.
Coffee and cigars together.
where the concept for the Houseof Ross Coffee Bar and Cigar
Lounge came about.
(07:18):
is just appreciating and lovingour culture to enjoying those
two experiences together it'sjust meshing them together.
And then the, the whole thing ofreally having the, what we call
the Ross experience.
It's one thing to talk aboutblack excellence.
It's another thing to walk inblack excellence.
So
CJ (07:36):
Silence.
George Ross (07:50):
also put it in my neighborhood.
My parents still live across thestreet from the shop.
My dad the location of the Houseof Ross.
My dad and granddad, they ownedand operated automotive and
cleanup shop right here.
And so with my constructionbackground and, owning a
construction company, what wedid is we transformed the
(08:11):
location To be what we calltoday, the house of Ross.
And that's what kind of alsogave us its name.
My dad and granddad were here.
The building itself is a, is astaple, within the community
wanted to maintain and keep ithere.
So, you know is we bridge thecommunity.
One cup at a time.
(08:31):
Oftentimes we think of the southbeing divided, but those that
coffee and that conversation wehad with our neighbors, that the
people in our community justbeing able to just to to bend
and not break And at times whenyour conversation is safe.
matter what your political,whether you blue or red, To also
(08:51):
to understanding that thecomfort in being able to do that
in a way that is not judged.
is respected.
also we look at so manydifferent ways we divide
ourselves, within our, com.
CJ (09:04):
Silence.
George Ross (09:16):
It's just, really, I wanted to create an
atmosphere.
where those barriers was takendown and, meaning you felt
comfortable in your skin.
I've come to truly understandingliving my truth, living there's
things that I like and don'tlike on both sides.
But two, to be able to havethose conversations that are
well respected, appreciated,and, yes, they're judged, but
(09:38):
they're judged in such a waywhen we leave.
It is still the the utmost andrespect at the end of the day,
we wanna provide for our familythe same way you wanna provide
for your family.
We wanna love who we wanna love.
We wanna appreciate whom wewanna appreciate.
We have family members who wedon't like.
And then if there's ones that welove to death and at the end of
the day, we still God'schildren, and
CJ (09:57):
very much.
George Ross (09:58):
just placed that on my heart.
And then for me, it's also
CJ (10:01):
Silence.
Silence.
Silence.
Mike (10:13):
I love the community that you're building in the coffee
shop.
It reminds me of just almostlike going to a barber shop,
right where everybody getstogether.
You can commune and you're ableto shoot the shit and talk about
any and everything.
But at the end of the day,everybody.
They leave with knowledge andeverything else, and you don't
leave, pissed off or bitterbecause you're red, you're blue,
you believe in this, you believein that.
So, think you creating somethinglike that is, is awesome.
(10:36):
One of the pillars of BlackBridge Mindset is to provide
some insight, knowledge, andconsultation to young
entrepreneurs out there who arelooking to build their own
business.
And one of the things that youmentioned is that you wrote a
business plan for your business.
Can you speak on like howimportant that was for you to
have that business plan in orderfor you to get to where you are
(10:59):
today?
George Ross (10:59):
Yes.
And two, with the, with thatbusiness plan one of the things
that we do here at the House ofBra we have small Business
Mondays.
With Small business Mondays isentrepreneurs oftentimes that
place event, but and two just.
To also get some insight andsome knowledge on some simple
things.
So going to the business planpart of it, knowing that
business plan will change and itwill evolve.
(11:20):
As I mentioned, the, that, thatbusiness plan was in 91, In 91,
we doesn't we didn't see theinternet as we do today, you
know, what I Media isn't the waythat it is, there was no social
media, so to speak, of, Ourbiggest thing then when actually
was never forget taking abusiness communications class
and it was over email, you knowwhat I mean?
So now we're zooming, we'rehaving, these literally these
teleconferences, so just the wayin which it has evolved and it
(11:44):
has changed in so many waves.
And with that, my business planhad to change and evolve as
well.
When I first wrote it, some ofthe.
Places that I was looking at tobe able to purchase teas and
coffees.
They don't even exist anymore.
A lot of the machines andequipment, but they had two.
I never let go of that dream andthey had two.
I also wanted to hone in onbeing a.
(12:08):
Great barista, And that's theperson curating that those
coffee drinks.
I wanted to do
CJ (12:14):
Okay.
George Ross (12:27):
Within your business plan, the way in which
you market within that businessplan, the way in which, you
know, even I'd I changedlocations, then at the time, I
wasn't put thinking of puttingit here because my dad and
granddad was here.
I was looking at otherlocations.
I was looking at thinking moreof a mall style location then,
but we don't visit malls the waythat we did in 91.
(12:47):
So you have to be willing to,and be prepared for change with
that business plan,
CJ (12:53):
Nice.
along those same lines, youmentioned you wrote your
business plan in 91, which youwere well ahead of the curve,
clearly.
You had that already in place.
What was some of your biggest ofthe construction and all that
stuff, but what types of thingschallenges that you face with
(13:14):
the city of Paducah, yourcertificate of occupancy and
things like that.
George Ross (13:19):
That, that was very challenging.
It was because what you're doingis you're selling an idea to a
community then to, the buildinghad been occupied a certain kind
of way for a very long timebefore my dad and granddad owned
the building they tookownership.
It was actually a old bar.
And, so the building itselfdates back to pre-flood, what we
(13:42):
call pre-flood.
here in Paducah.
There was 1937 flood thatflooded the entire city.
So the building dates backpre-flood.
So it was built in 1932.
So when you think about that,the way in which structurally
and the things had to change,but also we, I, I tell people
that this, it's like Noahcreating the arc.
(14:02):
In biblical terms, you took avery long time in building, it
took him over 80 years to buildthat arc.
And then you think of even thearc, we had never seen rain
before.
In that, in those challenges.
You're trying to tell someonehow in which you're going to
create I can visualize what Iwant to do, it's difficult for
me to articulate that vision, Isee it, but then to be able to
(14:26):
you is something else.
I have to just do it.
And but in this type, in thiscase, you literally have to sell
this idea.
When you understand your, you'replanning your purpose, there is
no quit, There is no turningback.
You're gonna get discouraged.
There's gonna be some daysyou're gonna throw in the tab
like, what you all are doingright here right now.
You're gonna need the strengthand encouragement.
(14:48):
Of other friends, family memberswho truly believe in what you're
doing and you can't even and Itell people even baby steps or
steps moving forward.
Notice some days, hey, you're ata good job and then there's some
days.
You're literally making babysteps, but when you prepare
yourself and knowing what it isthat you, are, what you want to
do, and and there too I justcan't ever imagine having a
(15:11):
business and not having God init.
CJ (15:14):
Silence.
George Ross (15:24):
what I mean?
You know, I can get coffee atthe gas station.
I can make coffee at home.
You know what I mean?
Why am I gonna come to a coffeeshop?
You know what I mean?
And then we're black folk.
We just drink Folgers.
You know what I mean?
A cigar we don't do that.
You know, what I mean, like,you, we have celebratory cigars.
We don't, we don't casuallydrink, smoke a cigar, but the
(15:44):
pairing of the two just gives usan outlet and a place to be able
to just, if nothing else, justto appreciate the finer things
in life.
We also do One of our events,weekly is Ross at the Dark.
So, every Friday, our mixcollege, will introduce us to a
different cocktail, to adifferent drink.
Something that, you know, mean,that's out of the norm.
(16:06):
But again, it's to, for us, Ifeel like, to change our palate.
You don't know that there's somethings that you enjoy until you
have the opportunity to try it.
CJ (16:15):
All
George Ross (16:40):
a beautiful bourbon right here at the House of Ross,
we're beyond and yes, I enjoy agood crown with the fellows.
You know, what I mean, I enjoy anice Hennessy with the brothers.
Too if you've never had theopportunity to, have a weller
bourbon, if you have a, thosedifferent things, if you haven't
had the opportunity to try, akazu.
(17:01):
here, and and we appreciate thatand and those are the things
that, you know, just to splurgeon yourself a little bit.
To know, that those things thatwe do appreciate and and I want
to more so just encourage itwith our young people, To know
that, don't feel ashamed orintimidated by some of the
things that you really enjoydoing.
Ken (17:21):
You had mentioned earlier that you wanted to become an
expert barista.
Can you tell us a little bitabout, that journey?
Did you have to go out and learnabout not just how to make
coffee, but also, what beans,right?
What machines work best?
All of that.
Can you talk about, that portionof the business?
George Ross (17:38):
Yes, for with that we had tried one of the things
that I have is I have a West LCoffee, coffee.
bean again, it's by a wonderfulgentleman a black owned, that
creates the coffee right here inKentucky in West Louisville,
which is the name.
West L has family tie right hereto Paducah, but he roast the, he
(17:59):
roast some our beans.
And that's another thing too, isjust also incorporating.
Other minority owned businessesour business.
So we purposely incorporate thatThat's that isn't that is by
design.
I'll be honest.
Because oftentimes we don't getthose opportunities.
So if
CJ (18:18):
All right.
All right.
George Ross (18:19):
taste a West Lew coffee, which is a black owned
Coffee roaster.
from right here in Kentucky,Right here at the House of Ross.
Then by the time I chop andscrew that coffee and turn it
into a latte, Now you get theexcellence that comes behind Mr.
Raw in the House of raw.
It's, that's the beauty of it,you know what I mean?
All the way down to, the way inwhich, you know we triple filter
(18:42):
our water.
The company in which, we get ourour espresso machine comes from.
Those things they are, it isdumped.
It is purposely if if it's notblack owned, it was a black
salesman that that introduced meto it.
He's getting a commission.
You know what I mean?
If it's, I don't care if I'mgetting a ice maker or a
freezer, We may not own thatcompany, but the salesman that
sold it to me looks like me.
(19:03):
And
CJ (19:03):
Okay.
Okay.
George Ross (19:21):
we were closed for a, month.
Within that month.
I had a, black cabinet makercome in and he did a lot of the
restructuring.
It was a black electrician thatcame in and did, our electrical,
It's so again, to show, and toreally Illustrate to our
community again, it's one thingto say it.
let's, put it to action.
(19:41):
Let's really do it.
You know what I mean?
And that's, let's not just comein and we're going to say that
we're gonna make this changejust because of A-A-D-E-I or
because of Al Sharpton told youto.
No, let's be intentional by theway before then.
You know what I mean?
Let's live it.
you know what I mean?
Our t-shirts that are made righthere.
That are sold in the house ofRoss.
(20:02):
They're, that, that created froma great friend of mine, Mr.
Tony Burton.
You know what I mean?
I use our cigar bags, we usethere's a young lady that
creates those bags for us.
Again we're very intentional.
Our coffee cups.
Was designed by ProsperousPieces.
She does a lot of our, a lot ofour designing my flyers are made
(20:25):
by Miss Valencia.
You know what I mean?
At some point in time, we haveto love us enough.
to say, this is what I'm gonnado.
Mike (20:32):
I love that.
CJ (20:33):
I'm, I was just curious.
I know Ken touched on it and youtouched on it a little bit too.
Did you take a like a classsomewhere on,
George Ross (20:39):
Yes.
CJ (20:39):
or whatever you call it
George Ross (20:41):
yeah, the barista.
so, what I did is I took severalclasses over the years, so
several classes over the yearsin barista and bartender.
so,
CJ (20:50):
West Kentucky.
George Ross (20:51):
yes, I wanted to be able to as far as bartending,
because we do sell alcohol.
So, those I wanted to be able toperfect that that craft, even
still I use I'm gonna tell you Alocal, young lady, Ms.
Avis.
She comes up with the, somebeautiful creation, a true mixed
colleges.
I'm not there yet, on thecocktails, but before, you had
(21:14):
to go sit in the classroom.
Now, there are actually YouTubeschools, And that, that's, that
makes it.
even better.
So you are able to travelaround.
I attended several differentCoffee shows on coffees and
pastries, Just knowing what itis that we wanted.
Right here at the House of Rossa young lady I used my grandma's
(21:34):
hands.
Miss Ika Donaldson, she makesall of our pastries.
So it's I can't explain itenough of how important that
part is because now, I give herbusiness that extra life that it
needs throughout the week.
You know what I mean?
She's a full-time schoolteacher, but also, owns great
(21:56):
treat business Ms.
Brittany Freeman that ownsSouthern Spread.
Truly helped me in designing ourmenu and setting up
CJ (22:04):
Mhm.
George Ross (22:09):
Within our community we're not far from
downtown Paducah, so in ourbusiness district, now you have
a place that you can come, atrue brick And mortar.
You come have lunch, enjoy anice coffee a a excellent tea.
And then too trying toincorporate a lot of, I do a lot
of herbal type things, with ourgingers, what we call a feel
good piece.
So those those things is where Ihave to constantly evolve in
(22:33):
creating and then and reachingout to other businesses that,
hey, what it is that, what is itthat you're doing?
and then too to, to thatcontinuing education.
That's really real important.
Mike (22:45):
and I don't, and I don't want people to overlook what
you're saying on this.
'cause I think it's reallyimportant, especially for
entrepreneurs to understand thatthe common thread that you've
been speaking on in the lastcouple of minutes is I.
Networking, building teams andcollaboration, right?
'cause somebody may come in andsay, hey, I wanna start a coffee
shop and think they have to doeverything on their own.
(23:06):
I have to be the barista.
I have to make the menu, I haveto do this, I have to do that,
whatever.
But it looks like you've had thewherewithal to say, I need you
to be the barista and teach mehow to do this.
I need you to be the mixologistand do this.
I need t-shirts.
So I know this guy who makest-shirts.
And you're able to bring allthese people together as a team
to help you create House of Rossand do your business.
(23:29):
So
CJ (23:29):
think they call that community.
Mike (23:30):
that.
George Ross (23:32):
Yes, and then too, that's where also you go from
turning you go from being anentrepreneur.
So you're no longer a hustler.
Now you're a businessman.
You're a businesswoman.
Now you're, evolving.
You're only as good as the otherpeople around you.
do it all.
Yes.
All the way down to when youcome into the house, overall,
(23:52):
some things are intentional,very intentional in the sense of
when I, when you come in, as youcan see in the background, Black
chairs.
I.
That's not for no reason.
I want you to see a excellentblack chair so that you don't,
when you see black.
you see something that'sbeautiful when you come in and
you see the brown, see my brownthat, that color.
(24:17):
I literally had them to scan myskin color to get the color you
see.
when you look at you was able tolook around the entire building.
Those are my nieces, my nephews.
So yes, I have whitesister-in-laws, so I have mixed
nieces and nephews.
I needed them to be able to seethemselves when they come here.
(24:38):
but aunt too, that's my black.
you say You are black.
I need you.
And then too, I need you to seethat black in a excellent way.
I need you to see that black ina such a positive manner.
that now when you go back toyour office at the bank,
intimidated by my skin color.
you go back and you're downtownyou're the judge, you don't see
(25:03):
my black as being intimidated.
When you go and then I'm at thedoctor's office, when the doctor
sees me, just sees anindividual.
He doesn't see my color.
He doesn't see an into No oneUnderstand that I have this
appreciation for who I amunapologetically, and and I
(25:23):
respect who you are.
Unapologetically And with thatcommunity like that, we're
bridging so many different gapsand individuals, just blending
us together.
But I under, truly understandthat if I want change, I have to
be the change.
I have to be, the change thatI'm looking for If I'm looking
(25:44):
for somebody to collaborate withme and to to support me, I have
to let me be the one to extendthat hand first.
And that's where.
we really just, that's my truefocus and wanting to see us to
grow in that manner.
Mike (25:58):
Nice.
CJ (26:10):
there any key mentors or role models that guided way?
George Ross (26:15):
Oh, yes, it was s several my I can't say this
enough, but for one, my faithit.
it is a unwavering faith.
Then I had then as a man, Ithink every man needs three
different types of men withinhis life.
who is pouring into him, someonehe sees at his equal, And then
(26:39):
also someone that you can pourinto.
So within this journey.
That I'm talking about, I hadsome brothers and then too,
those brothers that are my, whomI consider my mentors, they
become friends, but they're notintentionally friends.
What they are is they're
CJ (26:57):
Hello, everyone.
George Ross (27:23):
there's always somebody else that I'm looking
to, that I'm able to pull up,that I'm able to, be to extend
this blessing that God is givingme into that next individual.
So that then in turn, that'sthe, that's how we continue to
live.
You know what I mean?
We're looking for this this longlife.
(27:45):
But that life is in this circleof life of the people that, and
then I had to have, and then,when it can, when it comes to,
the coffee game itself, you knowwhat I mean?
I'm looking in the cigar game.
Yes, I'm looking at the David s.
Know what I mean?
And their family and their longhistory and legacy, so, yes,
when they come in with style andgrace with that cigar.
(28:05):
Hey, that's how we wanna come.
We come in different.
You know, what I mean, I'mlooking at the Rocky Patels and
the way in which, He has brandedhimself and what he's doing,
When I look at so it's nothingfor us to, to go to EOR City and
to down to Tampa.
know what I mean that's wherethe, that's where it really is.
Little Havana, that's where theSegar game is.
CJ (28:27):
Right.
George Ross (28:27):
down there.
I'm down there like a student.
I'm pen in paper.
Yes, I'm recording conversations'cause I wanna be.
Yes, I wanna I, if I'm gonna sayI'm a cigar aficionado, I need
to that's what I need to be.
Keep myself as such.
If I say I'm a barista, I needto know everything about the
game because you're gonna bequestioned.
You know what I mean?
So, and, you want to be able toknow what it is that you're
(28:48):
looking for.
You know what I mean?
I need to truly identifydifferent flavor profiles.
I need to be able to identifyYou know, what I mean the, the
brewing process, all the way tohow hot the coffee needs to be.
if the milk is too hot, I canhear and tell if it's steamed
too long, you know, what I mean,I can smell a coffee from a
distance and know whether it'sburnt but that takes time That
takes a, there was a lot oftime, like I said, in that 35
(29:09):
years, it took me to, to theHouse of Ross coming to
fruition.
That was a lot of practicing athome and abroad, you know what I
mean?
So you spending yes.
it, wasn't a vacation.
when I was married, it wasn't avacation that we went on that I
didn't visit the coffee shop.
didn't go to a cigar lounge,that was, it.
it just wasn't, and, but that'sjust how passionate that I am
(29:32):
about it and then too theability to be able to bridge
that community, our communitytogether and and do it in such a
way that is truly respected andadored within our community.
CJ (29:43):
Just.
your passion and what you do,think when we actually air this
episode, the intro, I know weprobably can't do it because
it's copyright issues, but weshould play of talking like I
walk it plan.
Does that loop that identifieswho you are?
100%.
I have 1 question You is thereanything that you wish that you
(30:06):
knew before you started thebusiness?
I know that, you said youstarted your plan a long time
before, but that you've comeacross since opening and,
getting things running that youwish you had known prior?
George Ross (30:18):
What I wish I had known.
One of, the things that I wantedto do as I mentioned, I had
owned and operated severaldifferent businesses all the way
from real estate which we stillhold some real estate.
We still so we have Rossproperties we have R and D
roofing and Remodeling, which isour remodeling, side of
Business.
And then and with that, of thethings I would've done is, I
(30:38):
come from a era with my dad henever wanted to borrow any
money.
He never wanted to on afinancially, So you think that
you're financially secureenough, and then two, it was
with the house of, Ross.
because it is such a passion.
It was difficult to startbecause it was a true leap of
faith.
(30:58):
So of the things that I would'vedone for sure is not use my own
money.
I would not have done that.
I would have leveraged my money,but I would not have used my own
money, but we used our ownmoney, our own time.
And we it took the remodel ofthe building itself was a three
(31:19):
year process, but that wasbecause too, at the time still
on the corporate side.
I was still working a full-timejob, I.
still, like I said, operatingthese other two businesses, and
then creating this one, and thenthis one comes.
in the, On the heels of COVID.
So that's another thing.
You talking about a leap offaith.
(31:41):
I mean, it was, Truly a leap offaith and, and then, for me,
there was no PPP money.
The business wasn't created ofyet, we were still in the
remodel.
We was at the end of the remodelstage, I
CJ (31:52):
And then For the work that
George Ross (32:05):
there was supply
CJ (32:07):
done.
George Ross (32:09):
made it extremely difficult.
So I was not.
CJ (32:13):
Silence.
Silence.
Silence.
George Ross (32:33):
par, partially my my retirement plan, to be able
to uh, from corporate America.
This was easing into that towhere, but at the same time, I
would have most definitelyleveraged that.
if there had been anything I'ddone differently, I'd have done
that.
Mike (32:48):
Nice.
Ken (32:50):
You've mentioned a couple times, you were the oldest of
seven children.
You have come from a largefamily.
Are there members of your familywho are also very involved in
the business?
George Ross (33:01):
It's a yes and no.
Ken (33:02):
Okay.
George Ross (33:03):
It's I say yes because gonna tell you, man, my
brothers are my greatestsupporters.
and that alone is enough.
There's times when, you know, meif it's nothing more than
sharing a post planting a seed.
know what I mean?
They have truly supported me.
(33:24):
My parents have, in a way.
Oftentimes people talk about, ohman this one doesn't support me.
That one doesn't support me,that you know this and that.
I can't say that I have abeautiful, wonderful family.
You know, what I mean?
That truly support, the House ofRoss.
My mom, she comes in just aboutevery day, like I said, my dad.
(33:44):
stepmom, they live across thestreet, just being able just to
see them and they had too, theydo it without taking, they're
expecting any kind of accoladesof glory from it, you know what
I mean?
My brother, Greg, he's alwayssupporting and sharing.
My brother, Josh, he's aherbalist, he's always sending
me, he lives in Tampa,Clearwater, always sending me
different stuff.
(34:05):
My brother, Gerald, he's in SoulKorea.
He creates all different typesof videos to for us to use for
advertisement.
So, everybody's doing differentthings to, to really and truly
just to help me.
You know what I mean?
There's times that they justshow up and and to have that
kind of support.
It does that that means a lot.
Mike (34:25):
That's awesome.
George Ross (34:26):
Yeah.
Mike (34:26):
we are getting close to time but there are a couple of
things that we'd like to dobefore we, we hop off, off here.
Not sure if, CJ told you or not,but at the end, we like to do
this little thing where,
CJ (34:38):
I did not
Mike (34:40):
You're
CJ (34:41):
as a surprise.
Mike (34:41):
Yeah.
CJ (34:42):
Surprise.
Right?
Mike (34:43):
But we like to do this little thing that we do with
everyone that we interview andat the end we call it the
lightning round questions wherewe're just gonna ask you five
questions just off the cuffcrazy questions may deal with
the business may not deal withthe business I'm gonna put up a
timer.
you're the lucky person who getsthis timer for the first time.
(35:03):
But I'm gonna put up a timerbecause we want
CJ (35:05):
pressure
Mike (35:06):
All of the questions to be, quick and short.
And we tried this in the past.
And when we started askingpeople questions, they went into
a deep dive it.
And we're like, no, that's notthe point of the question.
We just, we, we just, we don'twant you to think too hard about
it.
Don't think too much about it.
First thing that pops in yourmind is what We want to hear
Does that work for you
George Ross (35:27):
That'll work.
Mike (35:29):
All right.
so I'm putting up one minute andat the end of one minute, we'll
be done.
I'm not gonna cut you off.
If you wanna keep going.
But, the fun of this, That'swhat we're gonna do.
as I've done every time, wedon't have a soundboard.
So, I'm the soundboard.
Lightning round questions, Allright.
So, I'm gonna start the timer,after I read the first question,
(35:51):
and then, whatever comes off thetop of your head, and then I'll
just go onto the next one.
First question is one that weask everybody.
So, what is your book, or whatbook are you currently reading?
George Ross (36:03):
Oh, my favorite book would be and I'm not gonna
say one of my, the bible first.
Then my second would be that'scalled the Solomon Syndrome.
The the third is Tinder Warriorby Stu Weber.
Mike (36:16):
Okay.
George Ross (36:17):
then fourth would be, the psychology of the black
experience yeah.
Mike (36:23):
Nice.
George Ross (36:24):
Alright.
Mike (36:24):
All right.
I got 1, 2, 3, 4 more for you.
So if you could have asuperpower, what would it be?
George Ross (36:30):
My superpower would be ability to, read minds.
Mike (36:37):
All right.
You're a coffee man.
What's your favorite coffeebean?
George Ross (36:40):
My favorite coffee bean would be an be considered a
African beam.
A true, what would be a, it'svery acid based, so it's very
floral.
It's dried so it's not more soof a, like a Colombian bean, But
it has more flavor to it as faras a more like a fruit,
Mike (37:01):
Okay.
Your favorite holiday andcomfort food?
George Ross (37:05):
Comfort Food is pizza
Mike (37:08):
Same
George Ross (37:10):
Favorite,
Mike (37:11):
all day, every day.
I could eat pizza
George Ross (37:13):
wow.
Favorite holiday isThanksgiving.
Mike (37:17):
Nice.
And then last one for you.
What is something that you'relooking forward to in the near
future?
George Ross (37:24):
the the near future, the, to be able to Not
only I want to, I wanna livethis God-given purpose out.
To, I don't wanna just say it.
I want to live this purpose.
I want to engulfed thisGod-given purpose.
Mike (37:43):
Nice.
love it.
CJ (37:45):
With that nothing.
The other question that I haveleft is, can you please share
with our audience?
think you've already listedbefore, but where they can find
you your shop.
you on social media.
George Ross (37:57):
The House of Ross is in Paducah, Kentucky, 2 27
North 13th Street.
the House of Ross on Facebook,and Instagram.
The house of ross.org is ourwebsite.
and yeah, and more importantly.
You have to come and enjoy theRoss experience.
So we call the Ross experience.
(38:17):
It's nothing like that I trulydo is I come in morning and I
welcome the Holy Spirit in and Iwant the people, minute.
you come through those doors tobe able to a lot of those
preconceptions that hurt thatpain, that anger, that
frustration that you feel fromthe world, You are able to walk
in those doors and you're ableto experience.
(38:39):
that God, that peace that onlythat God can give and to know if
nothing else that you can comehere.
With true safety, security male,female, black, white, veteran,
non veteran.
Pet lover, non-PE lover, LGBTQ.
It doesn't, I want you to trulyknow and then, and have that
(39:00):
love and peace.
If nothing else, we oftentimes,we say it at church, but this
isn't church.
This is something that's outsideof those church walls.
That I want you to be able tocome here and experience God's
perfect peace right here withinthe house of Ross and know that,
hey, there's something differentwhen I left and I don't care if
it was a cup of coffee or a ginand tonic.
CJ (39:21):
look, I, next time I come home, I will partake in both of
those.
George Ross (39:26):
Yeah.
Mike (39:28):
George, there's this thing that at the end of every episode
I have people do before weleave.
I know you're like, damn, theyjust throwing stuff in left and
right.
But this is
CJ (39:37):
here,
Mike (39:38):
we have all of our guests do at the end of the show.
I call it the Wakanda peacepause.
And it is just us doing this andsmiling for about three seconds
and then that's it and what wedo with it is at the end, I'm
gonna take a picture of it.
use that on social media when wetalk about the show coming out.
(40:00):
I'm gonna count to three and wejust gonna go like this.
pause, and then that's it.
George Ross (40:07):
Gotcha.
Mike (40:07):
it?
You gonna do it with us
George Ross (40:10):
Practice.
Is enough?
Mike (40:12):
good.
Yeah.
Yeah.
smile, You lean in, you smile.
you do your interpretation theAll right.
All right, let's give it a go.
All right.
1, 2, 3.
And there it is.
I love it.
Thank
Ken (40:32):
was good.
Mike (40:33):
so much for coming onto our
CJ (40:35):
Absolutely.
Mike (40:36):
This is what, episode four.
CJ (40:37):
Yeah.
Ken (40:38):
Four.
Yeah.
CJ (40:39):
so forth.
Dude, I just wanna let you allknow this was going to the first
persons that I reached out toand he immediately accepted and
was ready to roll, and Iappreciate you for that.
Ken (40:48):
Yeah.
George, thank you very much.
This was fantastic.
CJ (40:52):
Absolutely.
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