Today we’d like to introduce you to Joshua Rominger.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I come from a small town in western North Carolina named Boone, where I grew up in the countryside on a small chicken farm with my parents and two brothers. My family, though having occupied Watauga county for decades, has no generational wealth to speak of. My years as a boy and young man were spent living just beyond poverty’s reach, and I’ve never felt myself a stranger to hardship. I grew up in constant contention with my southern Baptist family, due in part to the fact that I have known from a young age that I am not heterosexual, and due in large part to several other radical differences in ideology. As soon as I was able, I began living on my own and preferred work to leisure. I discovered a love for small, local business as I continued advancing my work experience, and am proud of the resume I have put together with just six years of work experience. From grocery management at a local supermarket to product management at an exotic tea bar to restaurant management at my beloved Sazza, I have been blessed with opportunity in every field I enter. Before moving to Denver, I spent a year homeless in my hometown. Physically, I had always been heavier, and at my heaviest weighed just shy of 250 pounds. In the year that I was homeless, I learned a lot about discipline and began taking my health into my own hands, losing 120 pounds in just over a year. At the end of that year, I was finally able to take my savings and buy a car, and not long after, I was on my way to Denver!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I wouldn’t describe anyone chapter of my life as ‘smooth’. Growing up, I often felt powerless to change the situation I was living in. My family life as a teenager was often confusing and filled with arguments. After leaving my childhood home, I worked multiple jobs at a time for several years while living with my partner. Near the end of our relationship, my car had broken down and I was not in a spot financially where I could buy another. I ended up living on the streets of Boone, couch-surfing or just sleeping under the stars. When I wasn’t working, I was working out. Between my exercise routine and the hardships of living without home or transport, I was able to transform my body into something that I felt reflected my values. Self-discipline, patience, and perseverance are three of my core values, and each of them I learned and grew fond of during this time. I am grateful for the hardships I’ve faced because without them I would not be the person that I am today.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Sazza story. Tell us more about the business.
Sazza is a restaurant serving soups, salads, and pizza. Having recently celebrated 14 years as a business, Sazza enjoys a customer base comprised largely of regulars who have been a part of our growth as a company for more than a decade. Sazza is different from many restaurants in that we strive to set an example as an environmentally responsible business. In addition to composting all food waste, all of our takeout utensils, containers, bags, straws, and cups are also compostable, We source nearly all of our product locally and strive to promote other local businesses through our own. In the spirit of remaining sustainable, all of our silverware and employee uniforms were donated to us. The tables at which our customers dine inside the restaurant are made from the post-manufacture remnants of Aspen trees. Our patio tables, needing to be able to withstand all manner of Colorado weather, are made of recycled soda bottles. Our business is constantly evolving in order to become more environmentally conscious, a value that I feel is only going to become more important in the not-so-distant future. I am proud to work for a business that is staying ahead of the game when it comes to keeping our planet healthy.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I can’t honestly say that I believe in luck. I feel that everything that has happened in my personal life, apart from the circumstances of my birth, is the result of my own actions. I like to believe that if we strive for excellence, remain positive, and look to innovate in our personal and professional lives, then we will find success in whatever it is that we choose to do. Hardship is ever-present for most of us, in some form or another, but overcoming hardship is what helps us become stronger. What some would call bad luck, I prefer to think of as an opportunity to learn and grow. Conversely, what others would call good luck I prefer to think of as the fruit of our labors. True coincidences are rare, and I believe it is important to remain cognizant of our decisions, regardless of where they lead us.
Contact Info:
- Address: 2500 East Orchard Rd
Greenwood Village, 80121 - Website: www.sazzarestaurant.com
- Phone: 303-797-2992
- Email: josh@sazzarestaurant.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sazza.pizza.salads/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SazzaRestaurant/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/sazzarestaurant?lang=en
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/sazza-pizza-salads-greenwood-village-2
Image Credit:
Credit for all photos – Andrew Elofson
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