We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Dominick Blanda a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Dominick, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.
As it relates to City Roots Coffee, we keep our creativity alive by aiming it where there is a need in the community with a primary focus on the people. Put people first, and the inspiration will come. When people are your purpose, it becomes difficult to stop those creative wheels from turning.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I get the opportunity to oversee the business of City Roots Coffee Bar. What is City Roots? In short, Matt Saurage, the owner and inspired the entire concept puts it like this,
“City Roots exists for the love of coffee and the people who make it. It’s an immersion in the culture and craftsmanship that makes coffee special.”
But to add to that, what sets City Roots apart is that we embrace the community that we are in. From beverage ideation to dipping local artists, featuring musicians, or supporting the local neighborhood, we embrace where we are and who we are as a community… as your neighborhood coffee shop and a safe place for everyone.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
A love for people, the art, and discipline to produce positive structure are the three passions that I have found most impactful on this journey for me. Without people, life gets pretty lonely and uninspiring. With people, you’re inspired to create and have those to share that creativity with. In order to sustain and maintain that shared creativity, you need to work hard and stay disciplined. Serving others and creating is a great way to live. But doing it without a disciplined heart, it doesn’t seem to last.
Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?
Though I seem to fall constantly, I find staying grounded in my faith helps me overcome obstacles that just seem impossible to beat. Without that faith, I would have never crossed paths with the woman who would eventually become my wife. Shelley, my wife is my biggest inspiration. God definitely uses her for helping me find my way back whenever I get to off course. Whether it’s work, hobbies, beliefs, or just everyday happenings, having that someone to inspire you to stay on the path just makes you better. I feel like Shelley thinks I am better than what I am. That alone gives me the positive drive to happily strive for success.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.cityrootscoffee.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cityrootscoffee/?hl=en
Image Credits
Photo 3 (City Roots Coffee Mug Logo with beans falling) taken by Daniel Williams of Integrity Productions Co.
The other photos were either taken by property of City Roots or shared to our social media without request of acknowledgement.
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
