Real Life Investing With Jason & Rachel Wagner
“Real Life Investing” with Jason and Rachel Wagner is a multifaceted podcast that blends insights from real estate, entrepreneurship, family life, and political discussions. Known for their candid and engaging style, the Wagner’s explore how their conservative values shape their approach to both business and life. They often discuss their personal journeys in real estate, offering practical tips on topics like how to buy a house or investment property while navigating a challenging housing market.
In addition to real estate, the show frequently delves into entrepreneurial lessons, highlighting the importance of mindset, perseverance, and staying focused on long-term goals. They are open about the challenges they’ve faced and provide valuable advice for anyone looking to head into entrepreneurship or seek the best version of themselves.
Dinner table conversations are central to the podcast. The Wagner’s discuss their experiences balancing various topics that families face, while often featuring guests who share similar journeys. Political conversations are explored from a conservative perspective, particularly when they touch on how these beliefs influence their business decisions and personal growth.
With a blend of relatable stories and expert advice, “Real Life Investing” is a show that appeals to a wide audience, from aspiring entrepreneurs and real estate investors, to those seeking inspiration in their personal lives.
Real Life Investing With Jason & Rachel Wagner
68. Berry Yo & the Heart of Arlington Heights: A Story of Grit, Frozen Yogurt, and Community with Sheila Henneman
In this heartwarming episode of The Real Life Investing Podcast, Jason and Rachel Wagner sit down with Sheila Henneman, the beloved owner of Berry Yo Frozen Yogurt in downtown Arlington Heights, IL.
Sheila shares her remarkable journey from being a stay-at-home mom to becoming a thriving entrepreneur with one of the most cherished local businesses in the community. You'll hear how she:
- Started a frozen yogurt business with no prior experience
- Survived the brutal impact of COVID with the help of her community
- Built a business that hires and mentors local teens
- Chose to not franchise, keeping Berry Yo a true community gem
- Is now experimenting with high-protein frozen yogurt using First Phorm products
- Raised her kids with work ethic, integrity, and heart (including 75 Hard champion Paige!)
Whether you're a small business owner, a parent, a dreamer, or just love a good underdog story—this episode will inspire you to follow your gut, serve your community, and persevere through anything.
Connect with Berry Yo or Book an Event
Visit: https://www.berry-yo.com
Email: sheilahenn9@sbcglobal.net
Call: 224-735-3112
Like, comment, and share this episode with someone who needs a dose of entrepreneurial inspiration!
Subscribe for more real-life stories of grit, growth, and getting it done.
Welcome back to another episode of the Real Life Investing Podcast with Jason and Rachel Wagner. We got a great one today because we actually have one of our favorite local business owners joining us. Sheila Henneman is the owner of Barry Yo Downtown Arlington Heights, and it is a frozen yogurt shop that we love going to. We probably go to at least weekly with our girls and actually, sheila, we have a chant in our house.
Speaker 3:I don't know if any anybody else has this, but it's very possible but it goes like barry yo barry, yo barry, yo barry, yo yeah that's very true, and so the girls just start chanting this and like we just we have to go, yeah, I actually in their Easter basket got tokens from the Easter bunny of different things they get to do and we there were a few burial trip to burial tokens.
Speaker 1:So you, sheila, you have like such an impact on the community, just being a business owner and being the place where people go for treats and memories and good times owner and be in the place where people go for treats and memories and good times. And we've even done some like, some cool, like private events at your place too, where we had a New Year's countdown for the kids that started at noon on New Year's Day or New Year's Eve and, like you know, it's just so cool all the things that you do. So thank you for coming on.
Speaker 2:Thank you for having me, both of you.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and we're just excited to kind of hear where did Barry O start and you know, what did you do before Barry O, and just kind of give us the backstory.
Speaker 2:Okay, and it was about 15 years ago, me and my brother. My brother is a business owner in St Louis and I've always wanted to go into business with him because he was an entrepreneur and he always was so successful Didn't know what I wanted to do. I was a mom and I'm like Jim, let's do something. Well, he was the owner of Midwest Equipment in St Louis that does the Taylor machines. He was a distributor for them. The Taylor machines are our machines. That does the yogurt. He came to me and said Sheila, I think you need to do a yogurt store. And I said I know nothing about yogurt. And so he.
Speaker 2:I went for about a year. I went everywhere, looking everywhere, looking for a spot. I kept coming back to 50 Northvale and Arlington Heights and my brother was like Sheila, the rent's really high. It's higher than all the other places we looked at. And I said I don't, I'll make it work. I said because I just feel like home there. And so 13 years ago, right, well, st Patrick's day is when we gutted the whole place, everything but the two green pillars that are sitting in our store. Everything was gutted. We opened 13 years ago, may 25th, wow.
Speaker 3:So you're coming up on the anniversary. Yes, yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, may 25th 2012 is when we opened our doors and it's been a delight. You know there's ups and downs, of course. You know owning your own business and I love when people tell me oh, sheila, you have no overhead. There's so much overhead that you know it's like it's like you wouldn't even understand how much overhead there really is. I'm grateful for, like families like yours, you guys are young, you're having another baby, you have children that love burial. They come in smiling. That's what keeps me going. That's why I won't sell it, because the kids just love it and I love kids. I have four kids of my own. They're all grown now, but I'm where I'm supposed to be.
Speaker 2:Arlington Heights is phenomenal. The downtown area is so it's just home and you know the business owners are so nice and everyone has been so nice in 13 years and I've met families, including you and rachel, that I'll have for a lifetime. You know, when barrio's gone, I'll still have all you guys and it's just. It's, it's great, it's a of fun. I'm glad I did it. There are struggles all the time, like COVID almost. We almost lost it. For COVID, holly Connors actually came to and got us that fundraiser that got us through. But without you, you guys, we wouldn't be there, because I'm not a franchise, I'm family owned and it's Dave and I's savings account that puts it in in the winter when everyone forgets about us. But it's thriving, it's doing great because of all you guys, and I'm very, very grateful for that I'll talk about.
Speaker 1:actually, if you don't mind, talk about some of the stuff that you experienced during COVID and how you almost lost it. Did you think that it was going to? Did you think you were going to make it through? Did you have doubt? Oh, I didn't think so Really.
Speaker 2:The health department was going to every restaurant, you know, because we had to do the curbside. He said I don't know what I'm going to do with you guys, because you guys are self-serve, right, I have to shut you down for at least two weeks to see. We'll come up with something, sheila, I promise you. But it was, what are we going to do with her? Because the whole theme is the people walk in and do it themselves. They don't want somebody else making it for them. And so he did come up with somebody at the cups, somebody at the machines, somebody at the topping bar and somebody at the register and I said I can't pull that much payroll. Oh, he wanted a worker. Each place, each place, each set.
Speaker 3:Yes, oh, I was thinking social distancing, like the station, but he wanted some working Right, oh gosh.
Speaker 2:And so I pulled in all my. He wanted some working Right, oh gosh. And so I pulled in all my kids and my husband. Wow, and I said, guys, we either have to try this and see what happens.
Speaker 3:This was probably super, super early, like March, april 2020.
Speaker 2:Yeah, this was like right the beginning, yeah, the beginning of the nightmare, and so it didn't really work, because then there was people that were telling me I would be at the cups doing their yogurt and only two. It was only two, but they were telling me that I was ripping them off and I told them to tell me to stop when they wanted to stop. But that was an issue and I said I'm not dealing with people. You know, right now I don't even know if we're going to be able to stay open. And then people are accusing me of ripping them off. I'm like this is the only way we can do this, you know, and I'm not ripping you off. Just tell me to stop and I'll pull the lever back.
Speaker 3:Right Cause it's all based on weight. So, like that's the beauty of the self-service you choose how much you take of the frozen yogurt and then the toppings and everything correct yeah and so it was truly a nightmare.
Speaker 2:And then holly connor's called me it had to be beginning of april and just checking in and she owns get burbed. And she said, sheila, how are you doing? Because she heard about another one in Palatine, spunky Dunkers, that was having trouble too. And so she said, and I told her and I was bawling cause I didn't know what was going to happen we you know I'm like I we can't put any more money into it and rent she goes. Okay, thanks bye. The next day she had people working their butts off to do a fundraiser, she had media there, she had everybody there to save burial. I went through 3,200 cups in less than a week of yogurt.
Speaker 2:There was lines out the door to save burial. And it was all people like you guys, all families, all. And if I truly I give Holly the credit, because all I did that whole week was cry because I was able to pay the rent, all I did that whole week was cry because I was able to pay the rent without saying I can't pay. And you know, I was like I called the landlord, I'm like I can't pay rent, I'm like I don't know what I'm going to do. And they were fine, but you know they worked with me, but I'm like I don't know what's going to happen. I think they probably thought I robbed a bank because I had all the rent back and I it was. It was like a breath of fresh air. And then things lightened up and summer came and alfresco came and we were okay and but I do truly it was amazing how the community came forward.
Speaker 1:For me, oh, that's incredible.
Speaker 2:What an amazing story that.
Speaker 1:I actually wasn't aware of any of that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it was truly amazing how the community just it was all the people on Vail were there for Barry. I would just say yeah, wow.
Speaker 3:So Arlington Heights was pretty quick to do the all fresco thing because we were still in the city at that time. So like for us like a lot of things were still like shut down. But out here. They were quick to find a solution and get people outside so business could continue. It sounds like it was phenomenal.
Speaker 2:The alfresco thing was a blessing for all of us. That was the best thing they could have thought of. Yeah, and other towns have tried to do it and it just isn't like Arlington's. So, yeah, alfresco saved a lot of businesses down there.
Speaker 3:Was that, like, controversial at all among the businesses or among the community? Or how did they like, did they come around and talk to each of you to get that going?
Speaker 2:They did. They sent out. We had meetings and then they sent out like e-blasts and stuff. I think everyone was for it at that point, you know, because everyone was grasping for straws and nobody knew what. You know, nobody knew what the future was going to hold for us. I think the parking was the main problem down there and I think that, as far as I know, I think that was the only negative, and it comes back every year.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 2:With a vengeance. I mean, it's awesome.
Speaker 3:It's so awesome, it's so awesome, it's so awesome.
Speaker 2:I love when they shut that street down because all the kids, all the little ones, are safe, they can run and they can do, you know, and no cars, no nothing. Yeah, yeah. So it is a blessing and I hope they keep it up, yeah.
Speaker 1:When does that start again? April 20th they start.
Speaker 2:They close the streets April 28th.
Speaker 1:Oh, coming up next week.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I think the first day is the first.
Speaker 3:Okay, cool, I was thinking May, yeah, may 1st.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so, yeah. So everyone's getting ready and gearing up and it'll be a good summer, I hope.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, it's a great vibe if anybody hasn't been to downtown Arlington Heights for a summertime in the evening, just to kind of see everybody's out eating at all the restaurants. They play music out there and yeah, it's just a lot of great fun. There's a lot of families that just go down and bring their kids in the strollers and yeah it's awesome Just hang out.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's a lot of fun. It's very community oriented.
Speaker 1:So yeah, come out. The thing I love about you, sheila, is that you work in the business. You're there, yes, you are not somebody that sits at home. You are there working very regularly. What's your schedule like for you personally?
Speaker 2:I try to get out of there at night. I put enough staff on. I train the staff to be able to go home at night. I'm there every day, yeah. So Saturday Sundays Saturday Sundays are big days. We're busy. I don't want the teenage kids being by themselves. I'm very hands-on, even when I'm not there. They can call me 24-7, anything they need. I can be there in 30 minutes and I have had to do that in 30 minutes. But I wish I lived in Arlington, but when we were buying our home and growing our family we couldn't afford it out here. So we're in Algonquin and it doesn't take me long. It takes me 30 minutes to get here, and so I'm definitely there in the summer at least seven days a week. I mean there's only seven days in a week, but I'm there seven days a week to make sure, even if it's for three, four hours, just to make sure everything's up and running. Yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, what are kind of like the common now that we're past COVID, right, and now you're going into the probably the busy I mean obviously the busy season, right, so your business is very seasonal, I'm assuming. So how do you kind of like prepare for the influx and the ebbs and flows?
Speaker 2:When I first opened, we opened obviously the Memorial Day weekend.
Speaker 3:And it was like lines lines, lines.
Speaker 2:And then August came and all the kids were going back to school and it was like deserted and I called my brother. I'm like what is going on and where are the customers? He's like Sheila, when school starts you go down. I'm like, oh, I didn't know that it took me four years to be able to regulate winter and summer. You know bank accounts, spending, payroll, because I had never done it before.
Speaker 2:Yeah, our season goes from about May 15th to August 30th and we have to make it or break it in those months. Yeah, birthday parties are a huge success for us and that held us last winter through the winter, because a lot of people booked during the wintertime and, like you said, the events that you guys were at that helped us too. You know, because that was Christmas time. Yeah, because nobody thinks of us. They really don't. I pulled in coffee, I've pulled in lattes. In the winter no one thinks about ice cream. You know, we have our regulars, like you guys, but the regulars aren't going to be able to pay the rent and so we've got to figure out something and I've tried to pull in different things for the winner to get us through. But the birthday parties seem to be doing well for us, yeah.
Speaker 1:So the coffee thing. So did that end up working or sticking?
Speaker 2:No, no it did not stick Because you've got so many, you've got Starbucks and you've got the bigger names, but I still have it if people want it. But it didn't really go. So hopefully I was going to do soup, but then I'd have to get a stove and that would cause me to have a $5,000. Vent out the building yeah.
Speaker 2:How much soup are you going to sell to pay for all of that labor? You know so, right, I'm trying different things and hopefully you know, we just keep adding to the menu and everyone loves it.
Speaker 1:So yeah, and you have a lot of. I mean, you hire teenagers in the community, right? Yes, I hire from.
Speaker 2:I try to grab from every high school. Wow, like right now. I have Meadows, prospect Viator, hersey and Palatine.
Speaker 3:Oh nice.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's a lot of fun. Yeah, and it's usually 99% of it's. Usually their first job, yeah, so I am their first boss and so I try my hardest to teach them responsibility and when they're ready, when I can see they're ready, they get a key. Not until then, that's responsibility, and some have to be let go and some have stuck with me forever. I've got Mallory's coming back and she's 22 and goes to the University of Nashville and she texted me two weeks ago. I'm coming back May 3rd. Can I have shifts? Sure, you can, mel, wow, yeah, so that's I mean Berrio's doing something right if the college kids want to come back, yeah, that is awesome. Yeah, that's I mean Berrio's doing something right if the college kids want to come back.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that is awesome yeah that's really cool. Because my first impression was like, okay, you're hiring the local teens and then they go off to college and then you know life happens and they probably go on. You know, I stuck with my first job for maybe a year or something.
Speaker 2:You know what I mean.
Speaker 1:It's just like you're hiring people that are going to be turned over.
Speaker 2:Yes, you know, I have a big turnover rate.
Speaker 1:yeah, yeah, and you know, and sometimes I kind of think about that as, like I, I just give you actually so much more credit because you just care about the community. Like you want to hire the local kids. And yes, what from what you just said, from all the different high schools, it's's like from you know, sometimes if I were to think about this, I would want, like you know, people that, hey, you're going to be with us for a long time, but you, truly, what you said from the beginning was like I care about the families and the families keep me going, and so you hire their kids.
Speaker 2:Yes, that's like oh my gosh. It's just an amazing thing that what you do Well I try, uh huh. It's not just amazing thing that what you do well I try. And yeah, I, I do try, but yeah, it's fun, it it's interesting yeah, and so how many, how many?
Speaker 1:how many kids do you currently have on staff or right now?
Speaker 2:I have 16, 16, yes, because they're all so busy yeah they're all doing sports and I try to do the fall sports and then the spring sports so that it doesn't screw up the burial schedule, but right now I've got a lot of soccer players out there. I'm like oh, boy.
Speaker 3:What's the minimum age in Illinois? Is it 16?
Speaker 2:It's 15 and a half with a work permit. 15 and a half with a work permit. Okay, that's a little different everywhere.
Speaker 3:I grew up in Iowa and you could start at 14 for some jobs.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's 15 and a half with a work permit Okay.
Speaker 3:And what's the work permit? Do their parents have, to like, sign off on it or something?
Speaker 2:Yeah, they get it through the school, through the school, yeah, okay, it's very, very strict on the employers aspect. I don't like them because they can only work like two hours, right. Two hours Two hours during the school day, school week, oh, during the school day, school week, oh, during the school week. Okay, and then you can't really train anybody in two hours. No, it takes forever. So I tell everybody 16, and then they have their license too.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And mom and dad. They don't have to rely on mom and dad.
Speaker 3:Oh, that makes sense too. Yeah, then they can get there Right, exactly.
Speaker 2:So there are some that I do 15 and a half. There was one girl I had her probably eight years ago and her name was Jasmine and she was phenomenal and I hired her at 15 and a half and I was so sad to see her go. In this group now there's eight seniors. Wow, I'm very sad to see them go because I molded them into what I wanted them and now they're all going to college they're running into me telling me what college they committed to.
Speaker 1:I'm like no, I'm happy for you, but don't you want to stay home with mom and dad for one more year? Can't you just go to?
Speaker 2:Harper or something why, do you have to?
Speaker 1:go to take a break here so I love all my kids.
Speaker 2:I treat them like my own children and they would definitely say that if they were sitting with you today. I'm I'm strict with them, but I I also want them to have fun and learn responsibility. Yeah.
Speaker 1:So then, how do you do it? So then are you going to go on a new hiring spree, just you know when. When are you going to go on a new hiring spree? When are you kind of doing your hiring? Right now.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I've hired six to replace the ones that I have going in August. So we'll see those six. There could be three that make it. It's all depends on I want them when I interview them, I want them outgoing, I want them to like children, I want them to be smiling, and when the customer walks in the door, I tell them you greet them. There's lots of dessert places. I want them to feel comfortable at burial. So that's my MO, you know. You know with them some get it and some don't, and they're shy too. So hopefully they'll break out of their shell and we'll have a good season.
Speaker 3:Yeah, yeah, I appreciate that from a customer perspective because there are a lot of places you go to now where there there are people behind the counter who just don't say anything at all and you're kind of like are you ready for me to order or are you not? Are you taking orders? You know it's like the onus is kind of on the customer to be like are you open, exactly?
Speaker 1:And I appreciate that yeah.
Speaker 2:When. I see that, or you know, when I'm a customer, I'm like there ain't no way Berrio is going to be like this, because this is too awkward. Yeah, there ain't no way Barry O is going to be like this, because this is too awkward, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3:Well, I'll share a story with you. I do not know his name, but we got our daughter's birthday cakes from Barry O last August and I came to pick them up and they were two and I was very capable of walking out with them on my own. But one of your workers, a young man, he's like no, I'll take it to your car for you. And I'm like I'm like three blocks over, like I'm not close, I am not right. He's like it's fine, I'll just walk with you all the way there. And I kept telling him like are you sure it's really okay? He's like no, I'll carry them all the way to your car. And he did. It was so sweet.
Speaker 1:I mean, it was hot in august, you know he helped me all the way the car was really impressed I don't know if I heard that story. That's awesome, yeah, you got some gentlemen, that work for you.
Speaker 3:Yes, yeah, I don't know his name, unfortunately, but he was very, very respectful and kind and helpful. Good yeah.
Speaker 2:That's what I want to hear, yeah.
Speaker 1:So, but the frozen yogurt, okay, why didn't you choose regular ice cream? Or I know you said like the distribution thing, but if you have you thought about you know just kind of like, well, why isn't it regular ice cream or why? You know what I mean, or?
Speaker 3:well, yeah, and I kind of want to ask about, like your learning curve too, as you were starting up, like, what did you know about frozen yogurt?
Speaker 1:at that point, and how did?
Speaker 3:you figure it out because you're not a franchise, right, yeah, exactly. So what was that curve like?
Speaker 2:the. That was kind of confusing and, you know, didn't know what we were doing. My brother is very, very smart and knew what he was doing and we went to. He sent me to school in st louis. It was yo amazing, and they told us that was the name of it and it was a farm and they showed us every aspect of their products and how to like there's three flavors to each machine. I had no idea until they told us that middle is the twist and it has. Those two on the sides have to meet or the twist is no good Right.
Speaker 2:And mixing everything. And you know, there are pre-made yogurts that we do buy, but 90% of our yogurts are we make them with flavoring. And that was, you know, a learning curve too, because you don't, you know, we didn't know anything. I was like, oh, my goodness, two weeks of school was not enough for me. I was nervous and my brother was like Sheila, you're going to be fine, you're going to be fine. And we figured it out, but it was.
Speaker 2:We were learning and, as I tell my staff when I hire them, I was you 13 years ago. I knew nothing. I'm like we built this place but I knew nothing, guys. So no question is stupid. Yeah it, it was very, very confusing, very, you know. And then we had to hire a company to come in. They come in every monday night and clean all the machines and sanitize them. It has to be done once a week or the machine shut down until it's cleaned. So in the summer it either comes on Sunday nights or Monday nights, and then that's when we will switch out our flavors every couple weeks. But yeah, the school was amazing and it taught you everything you needed to know. But going back and putting that all into action was like am I doing this right? And you know second-guessing myself, my brother's like I have to get back to work, I'm like you're not going anywhere, you're staying here. But yeah, so it truly was hands-on learning. You know, besides, the school truly was hands-on learning. And you know, besides the school, it was hands-on learning.
Speaker 1:So so what kind of gave you the confidence, you know, when you first opened the doors and then maybe that first week, like I'm sure you had all kinds of emotions that were happening, but like what gave you the confidence, like to keep going, even though you were like I don't know what I'm doing type thing?
Speaker 2:It was my brother. Yeah, my brother was there saying, julie, you can do this, yeah, and we took out a loan and he said you have to pay it back in five years. It was our build out loan and I'm like, oh okay, no problem, oh, that was kind of a disaster to say that I'm like okay.
Speaker 3:Because our build out was over eight hundred thousand dollars.
Speaker 2:Wow, yes, and it was funny because yogurt land was building the same time we were and we investigated to see how much it was for them. Well, it was 250 000 for their, their, to get their business and I'm looking at my brother going.
Speaker 3:Why is it?
Speaker 2:so different. Well, they didn't accidentally get italian tile that she picked out and they didn't get corian countertops and jim's, like you, were really like high end when you were building this. She loved. I'm like, oh, I didn't know. Yeah, it all worked out, but it was. It was very that first five years they say the first year the first five was hard for me because, even though I'm not a franchise and not giving the franchisee the money, you know the 23 percent that money had to go to the bank every month. Yeah, and I was like in the winter I didn't know, you know how am I gonna pay this loan? It was a five thousand dollar a month payment besides the rent.
Speaker 2:Yeah, but wow yeah, it was a lot of money, wow, yeah, and we gutted everything.
Speaker 1:I mean the whole thing yeah, well, you have a beautiful, you have a beautiful store. Thank you, I love it, I love the, I love the beautiful story.
Speaker 2:Thank you really do. Yeah, I love it. I love the. I love the way it turned out and the wave I call it the wave on the ceiling. Yeah, nobody's ever gonna have that because they're not gonna be dumb enough to pay for it like I was. But I had to have it. I had to have it but yeah, it was stressful and yeah, you know it's. It may. Like I said earlier, it's funny because people would be like, oh, there's no overhead, but there is, there's a lot of overhead, oh for sure.
Speaker 3:I'm surprised people think there's no overhead. Well, because the customer serves themselves. Well, sure Right.
Speaker 2:And that's why they think in their brain that there's no overhead.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 2:But what about the electricity you know, and in the summer with all of those machines. Last year my lowest electric bill in the summer was 5500 a month.
Speaker 3:Yeah, yeah, just for electric. I mean you can't, you don't really turn them off, no right, they're on until you clean them.
Speaker 2:But they go to sleep, but that's the still yeah the electric.
Speaker 1:Wow, I would have never thought the electric bill would be that much.
Speaker 3:Yes, but yeah I guess when all that all the lights all the refrigeration yeah, the refrigeration I mean even the table with all the toppings right because there's refrigeration under there too.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and our, our air conditioning and heat is electric oh okay, it's, not gas. So yeah, it's it's crazy when people say that and it's like no, I'm just a regular restaurant, I'm just.
Speaker 1:They just self-serve themselves and have you in terms of your rent? I mean considering, I'm a, I'm a property owner and I'm assuming that you you signed longer term leases with your current owner that owns the building.
Speaker 2:Yes, I had. The first two leases I had were two five-year leases, then the last one, I went to three and I just, literally last week, signed another three. Oh, okay, yeah, it's going up.
Speaker 1:And you're seeing rent go up. Of course, that's just how it works, right.
Speaker 2:And we have the real estate taxes in there too, and our patio. We have to rent the patio.
Speaker 3:Well, you have to rent that patio, so it's not a part of your store. No, it's not a part of the lease.
Speaker 2:They want to say the new price is $1,700 a month, but it's CAM. They call it CAM.
Speaker 3:Jason would know, but yeah can you do that seasonally, so you only have for the summer, you have to do the whole year. Oh, the whole year. Oh, wow, I mean I'm sure that makes no sense for them.
Speaker 2:Yeah, right, yes and wow, it is what it. I mean, that's the price of being where I'm at. Yeah, you know, I could have chosen my prospector right deer park and I wouldn't. I don't right, I truly don't think I would be there right now if I chose a different location because of all of you guys in the community. I don't, I really don't think, because you're not going to find a community like arlington. They're just everyone, is just all for everything. And you know all businesses, you know, and it 90 of those businesses down there is family owned yeah, it is a really unique downtown I mean and you're right in the heart of it.
Speaker 3:So I would agree. Your location is so, yes, important and special, and I love it I, I just love it and yeah, it's rent high.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, but that's the cost of being right in the heart of it, but you have the foot traffic Right.
Speaker 1:You have the foot traffic to afford it and you've got the product that people want to go to Right. And yeah, it's a good model.
Speaker 2:It's a good win, yeah, especially with my family. So I just love all of you guys.
Speaker 1:And a lot of your family works with you, right.
Speaker 2:Well, yeah, the boys now are with dad full-time. They get mom's phone calls and they have to come and fix something. They love those phone calls. Dave loves them too, and Paige, she's there on the weekends for birthday parties. Now she also works for my husband. We own an industrial painting company.
Speaker 3:So I wanted to get to that too. So you're really an entrepreneurial family, so your brother's an entrepreneur, but your husband has a business as well. You guys have another business.
Speaker 2:Right, yes, and it's all working out. The kids love it and we have family Sunday dinners every Sunday and they're not killing each other because they're with each other six, seven days a week. So it's working out, I guess yeah each other six, seven days a week.
Speaker 3:So it's working out, I guess, yeah, yeah. Did you guys start that business yourselves, or was that a family generational?
Speaker 2:business. Dave worked for a company and then he decided that he was going on his own. He's been on his own for, I want to say, 13 years.
Speaker 3:Okay, so while you were raising kids?
Speaker 2:Yes, With kids. You know Brandon's 31, jake's 28, paige is 25, and Dylan's 23.
Speaker 3:Okay, same timing as.
Speaker 2:Well, it might have been a little bit before Barry O Okay, he went on his own, and then the boys followed suit. You know, they all have their own responsibilities, and it's doing phenomenal too, and it's because of Dave and the boys and all their workers, so they have a great staff, so industrial painting.
Speaker 1:what is that? What's the common customer?
Speaker 2:It's like coatings. They do a lot of dealerships, they do a lot of water towers. They do a lot of sky rises downtown Chicago Wow, a lot of sky rises downtown chicago. Wow, a lot of, yeah, a lot of coatings. They do the painting too on the outside, but the coatings is what they they're known for in garage floors, like you know, epoxy garage floors. So, yeah, they they're, they're good at it. That's awesome. Yeah so, yeah, so.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's awesome, especially if you it's always that commercial side, when you're getting into that stuff. That's where you, whenever I think about like people that are in contracting businesses, it's like residential is good, but really the best part is to get into the commercial side of things. Yeah, you just have you're working with businesses. They have bigger budgets and they have you know usually does pretty well.
Speaker 2:You're working with businesses they have bigger budgets, and they have, you know, usually does pretty well. So correct, right, yeah, and that's why Dave moved away from the residential and just does industrial. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:No, that's awesome, that's awesome. So I, yeah I love how you just have this entrepreneur side of your family and you're really teaching your kids that stuff and they're in the business. Did they always want to be in the business, or did they ever want to go off and do their own thing?
Speaker 2:Jake Brandon always wanted to be From the get-go. He was not a college. He did college for a year for mom and said, mom, I'm done, really, went with dad right away. Dylan went with dad right away. Jake decided to go to school. He was going to be a police officer and then you know I'm so great he got his degree and everything. But I'm grateful he went with Dave because it's just too dangerous now. And Paige went to school to be a teacher and she decided she wasn't going to be a teacher and she's Dave's office woman. So I'm like, okay, whatever guys, they're all making it work. The three boys all have homes and we have our first grandbaby, one on the way on September. Again, congratulations, thank you. They have beautiful homes, beautiful wives and it it's all worked out so far.
Speaker 1:And that's just. That's just the dream. Yeah, you know to be able to build a business and then to have your kids work in it and actually want to be there. Yeah, you know that sounds like they chose that to do it and versus. I'm forcing you to. You know, work for us.
Speaker 2:Yeah, dave did not force them at all to come, and I forced them to be at burial when they were in high school because I needed them in high school. You don't really have much freedom and they were fine with that. They liked working in high school. They're all good, they all still get along and they're all hanging out do you think that it's?
Speaker 1:do you come across more and more like new businesses that are kind of like they have the same vision as you guys, or what do you think kind of holds back people from starting businesses this year or, you know, doing it now? Right.
Speaker 2:I think a lot of it has to do with real estate and how high rent is or how high the buildings are. I think it's scary, it truly is scary, as you know. It's just scary. How are you going to make it? How are you going to do it? People say it's the first year and it really isn't. It's the first five. That's what I think contributes to it.
Speaker 2:If my brother didn't push me to do this, I don't think I would have, because I would have been too scared. He said, sheila, you're going to make it be your shop, run with it. So and I always wanted to make him proud. So I'm like, oh, yeah, I did it. But yeah, every time he comes in from St Louis, he's like, oh my God, sheila, this is just incredible. He's like these people are incredible. I said, yeah, all you guys, all the customers, are like my family. They know everything about me and they, you guys, all have my cell phone numbers. That's the way I want it. I don't, you know I'm, I'm not here just to be an owner. I'm like I tell my staff I clean the toilets, I wash the floors, I bleach, I do everything you guys do. And just because I signed your check doesn't mean anything, yeah.
Speaker 1:I'm just one of you guys, yeah, so I'm sure they respect you so much for that too.
Speaker 2:I try. You know it's like just do your job, yeah, and have fun with it.
Speaker 1:Well, at the same time, you know, there's the old adage is that no one's going to love your business as much as you do? Right, you know, it's like it's, it's like actually probably impossible for people to to feel the same way you feel about it. Right, because you put in the eight hundred thousand dollar, build out, right. You've paid that back and and you've gone through the covet and you saw the the red lines that you were getting and and then all of a sudden bounce back.
Speaker 2:I mean, what a story of like perseverance and and resilience yeah, which you know, it was rough, but I'm so glad we made it. You know, yeah, I don't, I don't see do you think okay now that?
Speaker 1:because so it kind of relates a little bit to like the 75 hard thing that page has done right, so she is a champion of 75 hard and not only 75 hard but, live hard, which basically means she's very disciplined and she did it for a full year. She's one of the very few people that we know that have completed that, and actually me and Rachel, to kind of put us in the same category which has been nice, but we are also live hard champions, which is really cool.
Speaker 3:Yes, yeah, but I think we only know a total of like four.
Speaker 1:I think there's only like four or five people that we know?
Speaker 3:Yeah, I can think of four. Yeah, so Paige falls in that category. So she's very unique, right? Yeah, and she's so young.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and so really, the mentality of like the 75 Hard program is that you are going to be very disciplined Every single day. You're going to work out twice a day. One of them is going to be outside, You're going to drink a gallon of water and then you're going to take a selfie. And you're going to do this for 75 days straight. And so when you do this program, you get these confidence boosters that happen, because you're like man, this sounds so freaking hard.
Speaker 1:But when you take it one day at a time, you're like oh, I just checked off another one, checked off another one, checked off another one. Before you know it, you're 60 days deep into it and your confidence is off the charts, because you just can't believe all the hard things that you didn't think you could do, but you did it. And so when you complete the program, you're like, you know, you kind of sit back a little bit. You're like what other hard thing can I do, Right, Right. So and I want to bring it back to you because it's like you went through the depths of COVID and you bounce back from it Is there anything that you think that your business could like? Like, do you feel your confidence level. It's like, oh, we could probably take on anything that maybe comes our way. We know that we can get to the other side of it.
Speaker 2:Yes, I I, now that I got through COVID, you know, and I don't think anything. You know I I'm not scared anymore. You know, it's like I'm. If we all got through covid, I think we'll all make it. Yeah, because hope to god there won't be another covid.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah it's like, well, you know, there's a lot of business and I don't know if there's any like. You know, tariff things that, or like recession fears or like any of that stuff. You know, a lot of times we like to hear how does the business owner feel about their business and like, what's the confidence level? And you know, when you go through the hard times of what COVID is, and now all of a sudden you're like, well, you know, that was pretty hard, but we ended up getting through it. Right, that was pretty hard, but we ended up getting through it, I feel like at the same time, when we have these talks of maybe there's a recession coming, maybe we're doing some policy changes that might impact us, but do you feel that we could get through any of those things that come our way?
Speaker 2:I would hope so. I listen to a lot of business people radio radio and the recession does kind of scare me due to the fact that burial is it's not a necessity. Yeah, you know I'm like oh boy, you know, please don't not again. But hopefully, you know, I'll do everything I can, if we do get into a recession, to hold on to it can, if we do get into a recession to hold on to it. So you know I don't, I don't know if they're.
Speaker 2:You know it'll be scary if we do go into a recession.
Speaker 1:Let me ask you about. So there's a lot of hype around the Chicago bears moving out of the city and coming to Arlington Heights to purchase the Arlington park racetrack, and that might be a good thing for a number of people, but then there's also a downside for others that people may think of it as well.
Speaker 2:Where do you?
Speaker 1:kind of stand on if the bears come. Well, I think. Either way this whole old racetrack is going to turn into some type of entertainment district that they're looking to do here in Arlington. And you know the mayor-elect has. We've listened to him a couple of times. It's Naglia and he said you know, what we don't want to do is have this new Arlington Park, you know, take away from the downtown and we don't want to have a second downtown and people don't go to the first downtown that they've built up for for years and years and things like that. Where do you kind of stand on some of the things that might be impacting Ironton Heights in the coming years?
Speaker 2:The Bears, I think may be a good thing because it's going to drive traffic and it's going to make businesses better. I'm with the new mayor, I think that have two different locations and I think we'll all make it because, think about it, the Chicago Bears come to Arlington. There's thousands and thousands of people. We're going to need more than just Arlington Parks restaurants. We're going to need our downtown too, and the only thing that scares me is the traffic. How are they going to get Northwest Highway up and running like it should be? Yeah, I was born and raised in Mount Prospect and it seems like the structure, the infrastructure, I don't know. Is it going to hold all these people? I don't know. Yeah, I'm going to hold all these people. I don't know. Yeah, I'm excited to see, like I would love. You guys may not have known Poplar Creek. It was an entertainment thing out in. It's the old Sears building.
Speaker 2:Oh it used to be where the Sears building was and it was an outside entertainment like concerts, and I think that would be phenomenal for the suburbs, because we only have ravinia right yeah and, but you know, when the bears aren't playing, make it a concert facility and, oh yeah, make those all these restaurants downtown and the new downtown thrive yeah yeah, and that might be a good thing for summer, absolutely.
Speaker 2:So I don't know. You know it won't be. I bet you it doesn't even transpire for 10 years. You know it's like everyone's so up in arms. A lot of people are up in arms and I understand tax wise and you know everything else and you know I worry about the traffic and you know what happens with the people coming in from the city and but it's, it's not even nearly. They haven't even done anything with it yet and you know you got to hope that the new mayor sees that light and he's an architect, so he's going to do what's right by Arlington. He's not gonna put something that it doesn't make sense yeah, yeah, yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 1:I mean in. In my opinion, I think this is just like a once in a lifetime, once in a generation type opportunity that, if the bears do decide it's, it's only going to bring a lot of prosperity to the area and like those are the issues. Yeah, you're going to get some issues, but I feel like those are all fixable and you can figure that out.
Speaker 2:Right, Right, you know the growing. You know everything's going to have to grow a little bit in order to make you know, and I think it would be a great thing, you know, the bears come into Arlington Heights. Yeah, Some people are like Sheila, really, I'm like, but it would be. So, you know, instead of having to go to the lakefront you know a lot of families don't want to go to the lakefront- yeah, it's hard, it's really hard to get to it's very hard to get there.
Speaker 1:Arlington Park is actually very easy. There's a train, there's highways.
Speaker 2:Right, exactly, you know I mean it. There's highways right, exactly, you know I mean it would make the most sense for them to move there and it's a and it's a massive it's a massive property like over 300 acres yeah and I mean so.
Speaker 1:So I guess, to you know, as a potential expansion of barrio, have you thought about, hey, if they actually do expand and they got some, they got some storefront space, would you maybe have a second location?
Speaker 2:uh, I don't know. Yeah, yeah, we'll have to see what transpires. Yeah, I've seen, like pictures of what they want to do. Have you guys seen those and like in them, yeah, it's going to be beautiful if that's what they're doing. I don't know, I don't. You know, who knows, who knows what life will bring us?
Speaker 1:but yeah, have you thought? Have you thought about other expansion, to open up another store anywhere else?
Speaker 2:There's been like six or eight people that have come to me and wanted to franchise it.
Speaker 3:Oh, wow.
Speaker 2:I will not why, because it's my little thing and it's Arlington Heights little thing and there isn't another one. It's Arlington Heights little thing and there isn't another one. And the other thing is is that when you franchise and florida one was hawaii I'm like where, where am I gonna find the time to do that and make sure that arlington's running the way it's supposed to? Yeah, true, so I I never had the desire to franchise it and I I don't know if my brother thinks I'm crazy because he'll like put in his snippets.
Speaker 2:You know when they were asking yeah, and I'm like jim, he's like I'll leave you alone. I'll leave you alone. He's like you wanted one and he's like and that's your baby. And yeah, I don't think I have time for another one, and you know, if I walked into one and it was dirty, I I'd lose it. Yeah, so I I don't. You know, I don't want to be that person, but yeah, I'm, I'm good with.
Speaker 1:I'm actually curious how so you got you got such a nice size loan. Was it hard getting that loan? Or, especially because you know you were prior to burial, you said you a stay-at-home mom right?
Speaker 2:Yes, yeah, stay-at-home so like.
Speaker 1:The recent experience level that maybe a bank would be looking at is like oh well, you know.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, I have no job, right yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Was it hard to get a business loan and all that build-out loan or what helped you kind of secure that? It was very hard due to the fact that I truly, being a stay-at-home mom, had no income. So you know, banks don't want to do anything with business owners anyway. You know business owners anyway, because we're a risk. It will always be a risk. Um, my brother co-signed for me. Okay, yeah, and thank God he did, because Berrio wouldn't be here, because there's no way Dave and I, building our family and his business, would have the money to build that out. Yeah, but yeah, he is the one that co-signed and it was his name first and then my name second and I made sure I paid that rent every month.
Speaker 1:There's so much responsibility on your shoulders.
Speaker 2:I'm like I'll pay the loan before I'll pay the rent, because I didn't want his credit wrecked.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I mean, that's an amazing gift.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, and sometimes that's what it comes down to, is that? You know, for these businesses to to get started off the ground, it's not, you know, it's not a solo thing you have. You have to have other people that are rooting for you and that can actually help you, and whether that's a family member or whether it's it's a friend, you know, I feel that a lot of people they don't want to do businesses is because they think they have to do it all by themselves.
Speaker 1:Yes, and for your case, you were like I don't know what I'm doing, but your brother introduced you to a school that helped. It sounded like yes, and then he was there to help support the financials, to get it off the ground, and then just give you a lot of confidence and hoorah, and you know.
Speaker 2:So it's just like you got to have this little support system if it wasn't for my husband and the kids and jim and his wife and you know they're they were my biggest cheerleaders and there, when I fell you know all the time too, I mean it's like machines broke. You know, they were always getting phone calls, yeah, and but yeah, they were my biggest cheerleaders and thank god I had them, because I don't think without them, obviously I wouldn't have been able to do it. Yeah, and Dave has been a trooper because I had no idea what I was doing and he had the four kids at home I'm'm like have at it.
Speaker 2:buddy and I was also bartending at Chevy Chase Country Club.
Speaker 3:Oh were you.
Speaker 2:On the weekends for weddings. Yeah so, yeah. So I was like, okay, dave's a stay. He wasn't a stay-at-home mom, but he was home on the weekends with the kids, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:Because you had to do what you had to do right yeah, yeah so I love the grit, yeah, so I think I know the answer to this question, but was it worth it?
Speaker 2:yes, it was very well worth it. Yeah, I think back of you, know all the worries and everything, and it still was worth it. And the kids that come in there, you, they just have little smiles on their faces and all they want is those machines. And I ask them how their day is and how school was so.
Speaker 1:I love it.
Speaker 2:I truly love it yeah.
Speaker 1:Now I actually want to talk about this a little bit and you don't have to go into the secrets or whatnot. But so the other day you and Paige came up to me and said, hey, we're actually going to try this whole protein frozen yogurt mix and so new product, which is pretty awesome. Yes, can you go into like some of the details of kind of like what that looks like?
Speaker 2:We were in St Louis, which is where First Form is located. My kids, dave, myself. Paige is a big, big supporter. Yeah, they have it. That company is unbelievable and if we can ever get you in there, jason, you would just die at the way that they they, you come out of there. We went to a summit and you come out of there and they've never had a cleaning person in the building. Everything is like just so. All the time it's all the employees they don't have a cleaning staff.
Speaker 1:It's all the employees, the employees do everything.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I've heard andy talk about this on the podcast.
Speaker 2:Like his expectations.
Speaker 2:Yes, staff and the type of people he hires, and it is been this place is you come out of there and you want to rip your business apart and redo it to andy's standards. It's like if he can do it, why cannot you? Can't you need somebody that is like andy that is going to do that? But so they have would know. You two would know more than I would, because I'm not. I don't do the protein, but I obviously starting now. We talked to us too and we're going to get with first form and add first form protein powder to to one of our machines and I think it's phenomenal, it's very, very healthy, it's I. I think Arlington Heights would love it.
Speaker 1:I think so too Honestly.
Speaker 3:Yeah, and.
Speaker 2:Arlington and anyone because you can't. You know you're not going to find it anywhere but burial.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And, you know, I'm hoping that all the surrounding areas use it, because it truly is very healthy.
Speaker 1:Yeah, oh, I love it, I love it. So I'm actually wearing a first form shirt right now. Yeah. Always, Always Well the brilliance of that company is that when you continue to buy their products, they will send you free t-shirts, and so my wardrobe is probably at least two times a week, and maybe three times.
Speaker 3:It. Yeah, it's just a. It's just a free t-shirt that I got before I got pregnant. Now they don't fit, but you know it's.
Speaker 1:It's great. And so for those that aren't, aren't familiar with first form, or or Andy Frisella. So, andy Frisella um, when we were talking about 75 hard, andy Frisella came up 75 hard program, which has gone viral and is very well known nationwide now. So he's the creator of that program and he's just a mental toughness guy, great entrepreneur. He does a podcast called real AF. It's very explicit, but he's also he gives the realities of running a business and he gives so many great tips and he talks about people's stories of really changing their lives through 75 hard. And we've seen that through Paige. Yes, paige has come up to us and said I'm a completely different person from where I was when I first started this to where I am now. First, she looks fantastic, but more importantly, it seems like her mental toughness is off the charts and she's also just zeroed in on the vision and what she's wanting to do with her life.
Speaker 2:We are so proud of her, truly, her mental status, her physical status, everything has just changed. And Dave did the same thing when his parents were sick. He did the 75 hard and it truly got him through both his parents dying eight weeks apart. And we credit Andy for that, because you guys do 75 hard. It's a big deal to do it, but for that man to just keep mentally, you know, talking about it is just incredible. And we've all every one of us in our heneman family have learned from andy fusela and I wish we could meet him one day, but yeah, I don't think that's gonna happen I think page will make it happen oh yeah, she seems close yeah, she's like I will get in there.
Speaker 2:She, yeah, she found his car in the parking lot last weekend at the summit and she was gonna sit and wait and I'm like, oh great, stalker, stalker. But yeah, he, she, she loves the program, yeah, and it's done wonders for anyone that tries it. Yes, is it intimidating at first? I've never tried it, I, I. But I've seen Dave go through it, I've seen page go through it and they're just, it's just incredible. Yeah, the way she looks, the way she talks, the way she feels, you know, and she's just the way she talks, the way she feels you know, and she's just, it's a, it's a permanent life changer, and that's why we have recommended it to so many people.
Speaker 1:And actually at one point it wasn't this past year, but the year prior I had made it a goal of mine to actually try and influence like a hundred people to to do the program and I think I my my list. I didn't get to a hundred, but I got to 40 and but of the 40 that I ended up completing it, it's hard, it's very hard. I think it was only about 13. I give you guys credit because I can do it. Well cool, anything else you got for Sheila.
Speaker 3:Well, I was going to ask kind of a tag off of Paige's podcast. We kind of asked her off of Paige's podcast. We had kind of asked her. She's so impressive and I think just making the decision to do 75 hard at her age is so impressive, because you're in the height of like going out with your friends and kind of exploring and partying. And she made the choice to like focus in and be disciplined and commit to this program, not just for 75 days but, like you said, for a live hard year.
Speaker 3:And one of the questions we had asked her, you know, was kind of where that work ethic and where that discipline had kind of come from. And she credited you and Dave, your husband. And so I'm curious now, as a parent of two young kids, like she made it as an example of like you know, when I wanted something as a kid, like I didn't just get it, I had to work for it, you know the expectation was okay, we'll go sweep the floors or something if you want that. And so I'm just curious you know we're new not new parents, but still young parents I think in the journey you know our oldest is only five Any advice or tips you have as far as parenting and keeping kids focused and disciplined and just raising tips.
Speaker 2:Yeah right.
Speaker 2:Raising a family. Obviously you guys know it's hard. In this day and age it's even harder. Our youngest is 23. I came from eight siblings. I'm the baby of nine, wow.
Speaker 2:So we were born and raised in Mount Prospect. We didn't have much much. My mom and dad both. When I went in first grade my mom went to work first full-time, so we didn't have much. I mean, there's too many kids and you know there's just stuff going on. I would not change it for the world because it was. Mom and dad don't have any money and every couple weeks you got a liter of pop. You know, my mom made dinner every night. It wasn't like we were starving, it wasn't like we're. We were poor but we weren't poor. So I truly, when I wanted to have a family and dave was raised the same way, but he was on the golf course in Mount Prospect, so that's our big claim to fame I was on one side of the tracks and he was on the other. He makes fun of me all the time, still to this day.
Speaker 2:But we wanted our kids to know how, wanting something, you have to work for it, and how wanting something, you have to work for it, whether it be a pair of shoes, whether it be that shirt, whether it be you know, whatever it was. And we started that with Brandon and it just trickled down to we're not going to hand you things. Handing kids things is a disaster, and we've definitely. We've handed them things, you know, in their lifetime, but we're not handing them cars. We're not. You want a car, a new truck, go out and get one. You know that ain't our problem and I think, if you interviewed all four of them, they're grateful for that, because there are kids nowadays that just get handed everything. They don't even really have to work. But I think it's because other families are working, kids are working. So keep your head up. You guys got really good heads on your shoulder and I think you'll do fine, you're. I just I think giving them too much is a disaster, because I've seen it and I think you know, a little responsibility, even the five-year-old.
Speaker 2:just give her a little responsibility and it won't hurt.
Speaker 2:It won't hurt, I know it's hard yeah, you know, but you guys are going to do phenomenal. You know they're beautiful children and they're so polite and that's the biggest part is the politeness, and you guys have already done that. So, hands down, I've already done that. So, you know, just keep going the way you're going and don't give them everything in the world, even though you want to. You know it's hard, it really is Because, coming from nothing, and you know you want your kids, we wanted our kids to have more, yes, but we weren't going to. Oh yeah, here's a brand new car here and their friends were getting that.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And it's like no sorry, you know, and their friends were getting that, and it's like no sorry, and they would compare it. Why didn't my friends get cars? No, you're going to have the beat-up pickup truck and they loved it and now they have beautiful cars and they pay for their own stuff and they don't ask Mom and Dad and they're still, yeah, and they're independent, even though they work for your business, but they're independent people and they're still.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and they're independent.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:Even though they work for your business. But they're independent people and they're doing well and I'm not saying we would never be there.
Speaker 2:We would be there in a heartbeat if they needed us, but we never handed them. And the other thing is all the game, all the TV and all the iPads. I see parents come in at Tiberio. They get the kid's yogurt and they hand them their phone. You know, just talk to them you know, you know but that's society now too yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's but yeah, yeah it's. It's tough to be a parent, because sometimes you need some you need some of the peace and quiet. Yes, yes, yeah but yeah, yeah it uh, you know there's a hard balance. There's a really hard balance with it because it's so accessible now, so accessible I agree.
Speaker 2:Yeah, but I agree, yeah, but notice the next time you guys are in how the girls react. They have a conversation with me the other night. That's awesome.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 2:They both had conversations with me, gave me hugs. Looked me in the eye.
Speaker 3:You guys are doing phenomenal.
Speaker 2:That's what every parent should be doing. You know, not hugging people, but have a conversation with people. You know, that's what I think society is missing. But that's just me I'm, you know.
Speaker 1:I love it. Yeah, I love it. Well, sheila, well, thank you for all of this. This was a fantastic show I really loved it Thank you guys. So the way that we wrap up is just kind of like the big takeaway from the conversation. And so, Rachel, I want to start with you.
Speaker 3:I always have to go first.
Speaker 1:I always got to yeah, I start the wrap up, and then she does. She brings the big thought what's your biggest takeaway from this?
Speaker 3:My biggest takeaway I have so much respect for how you choose to run your business. There were several pieces in there about like making a choice not to franchise because you don't want any impact to the brand that you've created and the high quality of business and product and customer service and staff and I have so much respect for that. I just think that's a big reason of why we love going there right. It's always a great experience and it takes a lot of commitment and work and discipline to maintain that over 13 years and to ensure that going forward. So I really love to hear that, even though I kind of already knew that just from going in.
Speaker 1:It's like it's a feel you know you walk into a place and you know it's well run Well thank you Well, yeah, and I want to kind of piggyback off of this, because it just feels like, when you walk into your shop, this is the classic mom and pop shop and it is in your community and these are real people that own this place. These aren't big corporations that are. You know, if you were to rob Barry Yeo, that would make a massive, massive dent into that business owner's pocket, right. And so you just think about these businesses so differently when you know the owner, when you see the owner because she's there on a regular basis and you can get to build that relationship with them you just, this is like all about building community, and I love what you do, which is, hey, I hire high school kids that are at all the surrounding high schools, right, and that's a choice that you do, yes, and that's incredible.
Speaker 1:And you know, again, I just I think what's really hard for a lot of us is like, oh, you know, oh, it's just the wendy's or it's the starbucks and, like you know, you don't ever really know those people. Yeah, maybe you see them on every, but you, you just don't feel the same way because it's such a big corporation, right, that owns those places, and so that's why I love that you're the business owner. This is what america is made up. Made up a small business, correct, right, and you know, in arlington heights, downtown arlington heights is made up a small business and so that's what's really unique about this place and so anyway.
Speaker 1:So I think that's that's a big piece. But also a big takeaway is that you did this with I don't know what I doing, but I'm going to figure it out mentality and that's just. You know, it's not something that can really be taught, but it's just like you know, some people just need to take the leap.
Speaker 2:I was very scared, but yeah, I'm glad I did Like I said I'm grateful and it worked out, yeah, great.
Speaker 1:And you said you you would.
Speaker 2:It was all worth it.
Speaker 1:Yes, I would not change it for the world. So yeah, so incredible, incredible stuff. All right. So, sheila, what is, what is your big takeaway, or what is it the big takeaway that you want a listener to kind of hear from the conversation?
Speaker 2:Go with your heart and be a good person. Do what's right. If you have a dream of opening a business, open it. I know everyone fails in life at something, but I promise that if I can make it, anyone can make it. So go ahead and do it and make that American dream come true, because you never know. Yeah, I love it. Yeah and I. You never know. Yeah, I love it, yeah and I love you guys. You two are amazing people. I'm so glad that. I'm glad that Berrio connected us and that's you know. It's just amazing how many people I think are family, and you know my Paige loves your daughters and she can't wait for the baby to come in May. She's got it all over our house on every calendar.
Speaker 2:She's so sweet and that's what makes me happy about having Barry O, because you know we wouldn't have met you guys if we didn't. Yeah, you know so.
Speaker 1:That's absolutely true, that's absolutely true. And if I wasn't wearing my because I have so many of these.
Speaker 3:First, form t-shirts.
Speaker 1:When I first walked into Berrio the very first day, paige was working and I wore a first form t-shirt and she's like, oh my God, first form. She's like no one knows about that company except me, but that guy does.
Speaker 2:And so she ran.
Speaker 1:She ran and I took maybe two steps into that store. I mean, your cashier is like it's in the back. She ran around and she's like I'm Paige, I need to meet you that's Paige so, anyways, I'm so glad.
Speaker 2:I'm very glad, I'm glad that you know. Every day I take something away from a learning. I'm so glad, I'm, I'm, I'm very glad, I'm glad that you know and I, every day I take something away from a learning experience from burial. Every day I walk in there, it's a learning experience, or I meet somebody, or you know, you know, and I just try to make people smile because that's what life's about. Yeah, heck, yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, awesome, all right. Well, thanks for listening to the show, sheila. Thanks for coming on. Really appreciate the time and if you found any value in the show, please share it, especially if you are in Arlington Heights and you haven't checked out Barry Yo downtown. What is the best way? How can people book events or like? How can we get in touch with you?
Speaker 2:You can get in touch with me on our website. It's wwwberry-yocom. You can call the store 224-735-3112. Or my email is sheilahenn9 at sbcglobalnet. I respond to all of those, so reach out. I would love to talk to you. I'd love to book your next event. We go to schools, we go to block parties, we go to showers, we go everywhere. Now we cater everything.
Speaker 1:All right. Well, actually, what's great is that me and the guy down the street, we are going to be organizing our block party up here. Oh, perfect, for this coming August. So we will definitely let you know about that. Sweet, that was a good little tip.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I'll do anything. I've done wedding receptions. I'll do anything anyone wants me to do.
Speaker 1:Wow, yeah, wow, that's fantastic. So I didn't know any of that, so cool.
Speaker 2:I will do whatever needs to be done.
Speaker 1:Sweet.