What happens when you try nine different schools and still don't know what you want to do? Vicki Freeman, co-founder of the Bowery Group, shares her winding journey from serial student to successful restaurateur. After searching for her purpose through child psychology, fashion photography, film school, and art history, she discovered her calling was right under her nose - in the restaurants where she'd been working to pay the bills. Her story is about the power of persistence, recognizing opportunities when they appear, and how sometimes the thing you're "just doing for now" becomes your life's work.
Show Notes:
Guest: Vicki Freeman – Co-founder, Bowery Group (Five Points, Cookshop, Vic's, Shukette, Hundred Acres)
Follow Bowery Group on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-bowery-group/posts/
Follow Vicki on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vicki_freeman/?hl=en
Topics Covered:
- Going to nine schools while searching for her calling
- Working in restaurants as a "means to an end" while pursuing other dreams
- The Ralph Lauren breakthrough moment at age 19
- Her "looking up at the sky" epiphany in SoHo and the phone call that changed everything
- Opening Vic's: sudden success and devastating failure after one year
- Learning the business side at Columbus Bakery with ARC
- The innovative approach to raising money for Five Points (selling shares vs. big chunks)
- Building community through restaurants: being there for neighbors after 9/11 and during COVID
- The Shukette transformation: backing chefs and shared vision
- Working with your spouse in business: the challenges and magic
- Current challenges facing the restaurant industry post-COVID
Mentioned:
- Cookshop, Vic's, Shukette (Bowery Group)
- Missy Robbins (Lilia, Misi)
- Jonathan Waxman
- Russ & Daughters
- Ralph Lauren Restaurants
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