What happens when you try nine different schools and still don't know what you want to do? Vicki Freeman, co-founder of the Bowery Group, shares her winding journey from serial student to successful restaurateur. After searching for her purpose through child psychology, fashion photography, film school, and art history, she discovered her calling was right under her nose - in the restaurants where she'd been working to pay the bills. Her story is about the power of persistence, recognizing opportunities when they appear, and how sometimes the thing you're "just doing for now" becomes your life's work.Show Notes: Guest: Vicki Freeman – Co-founder, Bowery Group (Five Points, Cookshop, Vic's, Shukette, Hundred Acres) Follow Bowery Group on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-bowery-group/posts/Follow Vicki on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vicki_freeman/?hl=enTopics Covered:Going to nine schools while searching for her callingWorking in restaurants as a "means to an end" while pursuing other dreamsThe Ralph Lauren breakthrough moment at age 19Her "looking up at the sky" epiphany in SoHo and the phone call that changed everythingOpening Vic's: sudden success and devastating failure after one yearLearning the business side at Columbus Bakery with ARCThe innovative approach to raising money for Five Points (selling shares vs. big chunks)Building community through restaurants: being there for neighbors after 9/11 and during COVIDThe Shukette transformation: backing chefs and shared visionWorking with your spouse in business: the challenges and magicCurrent challenges facing the restaurant industry post-COVIDMentioned:Cookshop, Vic's, Shukette (Bowery Group)Missy Robbins (Lilia, Misi)Jonathan WaxmanRuss & DaughtersRalph Lauren RestaurantsSend us a textEmail us: [email protected] To stay up to date with The Messy Parts and get all the behind-the-scenes content, follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube.If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a rating and review on Apple or Spotify or where ever you get your podcasts.Thank you for listening.

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