Today we’d like to introduce you to Denise Roberts.
Hi Denise, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
After years of running restaurants for others, I knew I wanted to have my own. It took 7years to get my husband on board; through beer. Interestingly enough, that came with a game of bingo. We had been talking about opening a place of our own. We were at a brewery, playing bingo. He finally said, “If I get bingo on this game, we will open a brewery”. Well, needless to say, he did. 6 years after that game of bingo, our doors opened.
We spent a year planning, talking, looking, and learning. We would talk about what we wanted in a business. I had 3 non-negotiables; beer and cocktails, food, and a large space. We talked with other brewery owners and learned many lessons. Such as; the importance of having food available, always doing new things, and that it takes a bit of insanity to open a business.
By the time our grassroots research was in full swing, we did feel overwhelmed. We didn’t know if we could really do this. Knowing that owning a business takes a lot of time, effort, and commitment, I asked my husband, “Are you sure? Our lives will be forever changed by this endeavor”.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Smooth road? Not quite. After a year of looking at different buildings, we found our spot. We negotiated a lease followed by an appearance before the city council in early March of 2020. A week later, the world changed. Lucky for us, we were working with a building owner that believed in us and our vision. He said, “Let’s just ride this out”. He held the space for us.
After things started opening up, we slowly started working on our dream of a brewery the likes of which this market has never seen. It was about that time we realized the cost of this project was going up exponentially. We forged ahead, willing to do whatever it took to make this a reality. It was hard. There were many days we didn’t know if we could continue. The one constant that has held true from the beginning was and still is the partnership between William and I. We stand strong together.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Our business is built around 4 core initiatives; Safety, Excellence, Community, and Sustainability.
Safety is paramount at RWBD. Operation Metro Surge taught us that we really can bear the weight of physical safety. We transformed a room in our taproom into a grocery hub for volunteers delivering food and supplies to those who could not leave their homes. Physical safety is only one facet of this initiative. We also take great pride in creating a space where all humans feel comfortable. That comfort includes knowing the food and beverages they are receiving from us meet their personal or dietary needs.
Excellence is all about providing the best possible products at the highest quality. Just about everything we serve at RWBD is made here. We bring together a talented team of individuals to brew, make, prepare, and serve.
Community is our desire to create a space where all people feel welcome. Having been connected to Columbia Heights for almost 30 years, we knew this is the perfect place for our brewpub. Both of our children attended school in Columbia Heights from kindergarten to graduation. Our taproom has already become a community hub in the short time we have been open.
Sustainability is all about not being wasteful. We source ingredients as close as possible. Almost all of our spirits come from MN and WI distilleries. We are most proud of having what we believe to be the first trash-free taproom in the state. Everything our guests receive from us is either reusable or compostable. We have only 3 very small trash bins on the taproom floor. We generate an average of half a bag of trash a day.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
What we like best is easy; the diversity. When our son was in middle school, I spoke to the principal about this very thing. We live in a global society. Columbia Heights is raising its children to be global citizens. I don’t know anywhere else in this state where that is happening. We bring together, in our space, people of all ethnicities, all ages, and all life-styles.
I dislike when people make derogatory comments about the diversity of Columbia Heights. The diversity of CH is strong in ethnicity and life choices. Not everyone believes in those things. We are strong supporters of all humans. We have seen an amazing shift in the thinking and acceptance in the time we have been a part of this community. Our children graduated 12 years apart and the differences are remarkable. But there is still more that can be done.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://railwerksbrewingdepot.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/railwerksbd/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/railwerksbd
