PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) — A former banker turned BBQ pitmaster joins us in the podcast studio. Sterling Smith—AKA Smitty—is Jaime’s brother-in-law. Smitty and Jaime’s sister Molly met when Molly was in high school and Smitty was in the Navy. We talk about building a business and a family while smoking meat, creating rubs and sauces, and winning a lot of trophies and checks.
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PRIOR EPISODES
Rinaldi’s Deli: Dedication to the Deli: A New York style deli where freshness comes first. That’s what you’ll get at Rinaldi’s in north Scottsdale. Owner John Sayegh is celebrating 30 years in the Valley where you can always count on—breakfast burritos filled with just-cracked eggs topped with his wife Bolivia’s homemade salsa, amazing deli sandwiches, and Italian dishes like chicken parmesan and baked ziti. John talks about his longevity in the Arizona restaurant business and in love, as he’s been happily married for decades.
Frites Street – For the Love of Fries: A Phoenix native bears the nickname “The Fry Guy”. In this episode, we learn how Flip Isard of Frites Street—a graduate of Shadow Mountain High School—launched a potato company, making the fries you’ll find in Phoenix’s fine restaurants. His journey took him around the world as a roadie for Jared Leto’s band, eating from late night frites shop in Europe. When he came back to Arizona, his dad told him to bet on himself. He bet on the power of the potato.
Wally’s American Pub ‘n Grille: Wally’s American Pub ‘n Grille is a neighborhood bar and grille where you can take the family or meet a friend for a drink. It has a cozy environment offering comfort food like meatloaf and pot roast. Wally’s has been family owned for 22 years and much of the staff has been there for decades too. We talk to owner/operator Matt Collins about running an institution as the neighborhood around him changes immensely.
Original Elderberry Co. – For the Love of Family: Divya Yoder works full time and is a dedicated mom trying to keep her husband and two young boys healthy. She says when one person in the house got sick, the illness ran through the whole family. To stop the colds, she found the healing power of the elderberry. Her continued research revealed many elderberry products on store shelves contained ingredients that she didn’t want to feed to her family, so she created a recipe of her own and the Original Elderberry Co. was born.
Rydables – Making Business Fun: If you are looking to explore what Arizona has to offer, learn, and laugh, ya gotta try Rydables! These are motorized large stuffed animals that roam Scottsdale, Mesa and Wildlife World Zoo on guided tours. On this episode, the creator of Rydables said he thought it would be something fun to do to entertain people. But he soon learned that these stuffed animals on wheels offered something more.
The Nixer: Small Changes = Big Results: The holidays can be filled with indulgence. Food and drinks flow with every celebration. And that’s why The Nixer wants to provide an inclusive experience whether you’re drinking alcohol or not. On this episode, we talk to Kristine Abrams-Petersman of The Nixer, a pop-up cocktail bar slinging non-alcoholic drinks. She says she saw major life changes when she nixed alcohol and she wants to support others who wish to do the same, all while still staying social.
Retail Therapy: For the Love of Small Business: In a year-and-a-half, two Arizona entrepreneurs went from one location to four. The business is called Retail Therapy AZ. It is a makers’ market, supporting small business owners, with locations in downtown Glendale, Westgate, Scottsdale Fashion Square and coming soon to the Phoenix Convention Center. But first, the two owners, Jacqueline Thomas and Erica Jerido, worked in a restaurant together where Erica said, “I’m quitting, and Jackie is too!” It was then a new booming business was born.
Grapes and Hops – A Place for Friends and Neighbors: A former TV reporter takes what she learned in the field to create grapes and hops at Tatum and Greenway. Arizona native Jen Rogers took one of her first TV jobs in Washington wine country where she’d interview the farmers growing grapes and fell in love with the work behind the wine. Fast forward to today when she just opened a neighborhood bottle shop. She says she dreamed of created a space that offered a moment of peace in a busy day and a place where neighbors become friends.
Wild Bunch Desert Guides: For the love of the desert: Showing people how to enjoy the beauty of the desert is the job Laurel Darren of Wild Bunch Desert Guides gave herself. She created her own hiking and mountain biking tour group and shows visitors and locals the best practices when it comes to taking on Mother Nature on two wheels or two feet. Hear how she works with many first timers and loves helps people overcome a fear, enjoy some wind therapy, or fall in love with something new.
Desert Rock Winery and Distillery – For the love of wine, veterans, and dogs: Paul Hoffman of Desert Rock Winery and Distillery has long worked in the world of wine. Founded in 2006, this is his 20th vintage making wine and 13th year in spirits. He gives back in many ways to our veterans and our animals and works with soldier’s best friend. Hoffman’s facility is by Kierland Commons and is the only one in the Valley where guests can have first-hand experiences to see and feel all elements of winemaking and distilling. When you go to Desert Rock Winery and Distillery, you can taste, hold a party, and even hang on the tiki deck.
Twenty6 Designs: Words Have Power: Words have power and handwriting artist Rachel Hudgens is committed to using her words to spread kindness, love, happiness, and faith. Hudgens started her hand lettering as a hobby, and when she started making shirts expressing her love of her new hometown of Phoenix, her business exploded. Hear how she went from trapped in a dumpster (it happened!!) to finding purpose in gratitude.
Pedal Haus Breweries: The Man of Mill Avenue: Julian Wright’s built bars along Mill Avenue since the 2000s. He says his key to success are blind confidence and scrappy ways. Pedal Haus Breweries is one of his most recent ventures. In Jaime’s Local Love, we talk about when money was short but hope made a way.
Two Plates Full – You can call her Terri “Two Plates”: Terri Weisz started her own business in Scottsdale out of necessity. She was pregnant and left to raise her child alone. She thought running her own kitchen store would allow her the flexibility to work and raise a family. Thirty-four years later, her store “Two Plates Full” is still going strong. Hear how Terri bobbed and weaved to make it work.
Barter and Shake: A story of Cocktails and Marketing: The best cocktail bar in the United States is right here in the Valley. The Tales of the Cocktail Foundation announced Century Grand in Phoenix the Best U.S. Cocktail Bar. The awards are like the Oscars for the beverage industry. Yet, Kailee Asher of Barter and Shake, says the award announcement generated more digital leads from LOCAL media, not the article in the big name magazine. She knows this because she studied the analytics. She quite literally wrote the book on it in her self published book: Mise En Place Marketing. She writes the recipe for small bars and restaurants to get the most out of their marketing and how to fish where the fish are, plus we get to hear the story of how Undertow and Century Grand came to be.
Cave + Post: When “Someday” Becomes TODAY: Patrick and Mary Burch are fourth-generation Arizonans who met in seventh grade. The couple LOVES Arizona but realized we were missing something in the Valley—a men’s boutique with casual yet stylish options for men. That “someday” finally came and the Burches opened Cave and Post. And in a nod to Arizona legacy, the shop is located in the same building as the former Easley’s Fun Shop. Hear all about the Burches’ Arizona family history and how they made “the jump” to work for themselves. Plus, you’ll want to shop with them too!
Just Roughin’ It – Take a hike, AZ!: Debbie Hendricks grew up in Arizona and learned to enjoy our state’s beauty at a very young age. Debbie and her husband Ray started an adventure company which then turned into an outdoor retail business, offering everything you need from a backpacking trip to a day hike. Debbie gives us some “pro tips” on which hikes have the best sunrises and sunsets and which are the least traveled—yet a must do!!
Porters and Old Town Gypsy – Family Tradition: The Halpin family is one of entrepreneurs. Meet a son, Grey Halpin, and his mother, Peggy Halpin. The family owns Porters Western Saloon and Old Town Gypsy Boutique in Scottsdale, Arizona. Learn how they create a tight-knit community among their customers.
Screws and Sparkles – Buckeye Bound: Host Jaime Cerreta introduces us to California born Sophia Martinez. She followed her in-laws to Buckeye, Arizona and developed a deep love of the city. Hear Sophia’s intense passion to help others grow their businesses as she grows hers into a place for community and fellowship.
Los Muertos Salsa: From Mortgages to Markets: Once in the finance world, Los Muertos Salsa maker and founder Anthony Perez is celebrating nine years as an Arizona entrepreneur. Host Jaime Cerreta learns how Anthony started by taking salsa orders at the bank to working the farmers markets, moving into a commercial kitchen and shifting business strategies during the pandemic. Los Muertos Salsa is a newsroom favorite at Arizona’s Family.
Lunch Money – The Quirkiest Shop in Town: Erin Dragoo says she bounced from job to job until she went back to the way she spent her lunch money as a child. Host Jaime Cerreta learns how Erin’s childhood fascination with colorful trinkets, tongue in cheek sayings, and happy vibes led her to her passion—helping people find the perfect gift to give! Her Chandler, Arizona store is filled with key chains, water bottles, stickers and more– all designed to make you smile.
Knee Deep: For the Love of Denim: At just 30 years old, RaeAnn Luksza has four retail concepts and owns a building. Host Jaime Cerreta talks to RaeAnn about why she learned to upcycle denim, the surprising challenges she’s faced with social media, and how no DIY project is too big for a business owner.
The Cerreta Candy Company: Where Local Love began: Host Jaime Cerreta introduces us to the source of her love of local. As a little girl, she watched two very important people work as business owners in the ice cream and candy industries. Jaime launches this podcast by interviewing her parents—the reason she feels so passionate about local business owners—Jim and Kathy Cerreta
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