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The Man Who Can’t Sit Still
When Ross Vehmeier graduated from college, he had no idea what he wanted to do next. “Both of my parents are entrepreneurs,” says the Lena, Ill., native. “I had big shoes to fill.”
There was only one thing Vehmeier knew for sure: He wasn’t ready to jump back into his family’s business, Rafters Restaurant, which has long been a Lena mainstay. He has many memories of working for his dad on everything from dishwashing to bussing tables to being a prep cook.
Instead of heading home after college, Vehmeier got a job with MGM Mirage in Las Vegas, and for the next three years he learned all about the food service industry, from the intricacies of fine dining to opening a new burger place on the strip. It was literally trial by fire.
“The grill would catch fire every day,” says Vehmeier. “We’d feed between 2,000 and 2,600 people every day. That’s the population of Lena, every single day.”
Three years in Vegas was enough to convince Vehmeier it was time to come home.
“My parents needed me,” he says. “I’m the only kid in the family. If I wasn’t going to come home, who knows what could happen to the restaurant?”
When he returned to the Rafters, Vehmeier hit the ground running.
“I came back and said, ‘Let’s shake this place up,” he says. For Vehmeier, that included adding a full-scale catering arm to his family’s business plan. By 2019, catering was netting the same income as the restaurant.
Then, he launched Lena Brewing Co. in 2013. The craft brewery experienced intense growing pains before opening a tap room in 2015. “We went through two brewers within six months,” says Vehmeier.
Despite the trials and tribulations, and a global pandemic, both Lena Brewing Co. and the Rafters continue to draw attention. While running two businesses may be enough for some, Vehmeier stays busy with other enterprises, including a digital billboard company, hemp and CBD products, a baling company, a virtual imaging company and a solar power company that keeps the lights running at the restaurant and brewery. All of it keeps Vehmeier busy, which is exactly how he likes it.
“I knew, at some point in my life, I was going to be an entrepreneur,” he says. “I didn’t know how or what I’d be doing, and I didn’t think it would be the restaurant business, but all that really matters is doing the right stuff to keep growing.”
Ross Vehmeier and his business partner Matt Jacobs (also a Citizen Farmer) are graciously hosting our next get together at Lena Brewing Company on Wednesday, October 18th.
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The Featured Farmer spotlight celebrates the spirit of Citizen Farmers by shining a light on individuals who personify our ideals. This is a simple way to publicly appreciate the many selfless servants among us who often go unnoticed or under appreciated. We look forward to filling this spotlight with Citizen Farmers members from all around Illinois. Please email us to nominate one of your peers to be a Featured Farmer.
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