PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
*Courtesy of the U.S. Small Business Administration

NEW BETHLEHEM, Pa. (RVO) – Hoping to raise some dough for a car, Zack Blose’s part-time, high school job at a local pizzeria instead became the vehicle for his successful culinary career.

Blose Brothers – Zack, Austin & Mitch

On May, 14, Blose, owner and chef at Zack’s, will be honored as the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Western Pennsylvania Young Entrepreneur of the Year. The ceremony coincides with the nation’s 56^th celebration of National Small Business Week, held each May.

“It’s pretty cool to be selected,” Blose said. “I was actually surprised I won.” Blose’s award-winning nomination was submitted by the Clarion University Small Business Development Center (SBDC) where Blose is a client.

His recipe for success: attending culinary school, adding a list of practical experience to his cookbook, purchasing the pizzeria where was employed a decade earlier and receiving assistance from the sous chefs at the Clarion University SBDC.

“I needed a job and the shop was affordable,” he explained. “I didn’t know the SBDC even existed; once people found out I wanted to buy the shop they told me to go there for free help until I opened up my business.”

SBA Western Pennsylvania District Director Dr. Kelly Hunt said she’s pleased the community recommended Clarion University’s SBDC. “They cover 10 counties and do tremendous work providing free, confidential business counseling and offer a variety of classes designed to help new and current business owners.” 

SBDCs and Women’s Business Centers (WBCs) are SBA and state-funded entities helping small businesses in every phase of development. “In Western Pennsylvania, we have eight SBDCs and one WBC, plus four SCORE chapters comprised of current and retired volunteer executives, said SBA Pittsburgh District Director Dr. Kelly Hunt. “And the best part is the counseling services are free and confidential.”

Hunt, a former young entrepreneur herself, added she welcomes the fresh ideas and energy youthful business owners bring to the table.

Once Blose opened, he tossed around ideas as much as dough. “After a year there were about five more pizza shops in the area,” he said. “So, I created themed ethnic nights offering German and Chinese food and people loved it.”

Within a year, Blose topped off his business plan by moving to a larger location and providing the community a full-service, sit-down restaurant and catering business. His family became an integral part of the business, balancing the books, cooking desserts and coordinating the catering schedule which comprises one-third of the revenues.

Blose’s culinary reputation coupled with a new eatery created an instant buzz in the small town — with the restaurant boasting more than 1,000 Facebook page likes before its grand opening.

However, it was an unexpected egg delivery that would change both Blose’s menu and commitment to area farmers.

“One day, John Gruber, owner of Gruber Farms stopped in with some eggs for me to use,” Blose explained. “So, I decided to start a farm-to-table movement and each local farm name is in front of the dish bearing its ingredients.”

These days, cheese and sausage still are part of the menu; but instead of pizza toppings, today they grace specialty meals, burgers and salads

And, each Monday and Tuesday, Blose drives to more than a half-dozen farms in and around Clarion County purchasing his farm-to-table ingredients: eggs, beef, pork, poultry and wine with a stop in Pittsburgh for fresh greens. He incorporates those findings into an ever-evolving menu that encourages patrons to try different dishes. “The farmers do come into the restaurant to eat and it makes them feel so connected,” Blose stated. “And all of this evolved out of those eggs.”

This summer, Blose is taking his farm-to-table campaign one step further creating a Summer Farm Fest. “We’re building a full, five-course meal and wine tasting around our local farms,” he explained. “We’ll have live entertainment — a farmer’s market; petting zoo; and games.”

Blose, who doesn’t expect to earn a profit from the event, says it’s a shout-out for those local farmers he regularly patronizes. “That’s really my favorite part of the job, driving around the area and buying everything from homemade maple syrup to roasted coffee beans.”

Surrounded by his 10-member restaurant family, Blose not only dazzles with his creative culinary skills which he shares via social media videos, he can be found everywhere in the kitchen. “I do food prep: chopping and dicing and then cooking; and I’ll clean up afterwards too.” he stated.

According to Hunt, Blose is an exemplary entrepreneur proving why small business owners are essential to American economic growth. “They give back to the community in so many ways: from providing that first job to creating that unique food festival just to honor those hard-working farmers in our rural towns,” she explained.

Those farmers and Hunt will honor Blose again at a special dual-chamber mixer, May 14. “It’s always gratifying to learn the community is so proud they’re planning their own celebration for a Small Business Week winner,” Hunt added.

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NEXT EVENT:
Join us for Zack’s Summer Farm Fest on Jun 23rd from 11am to 9pm, located behind Zack’s Restaurant in “The Andrew’s Estate Garden” (Lisa Kerle’s House) Cooking Outside All Day. Local Foods Available for Purchase. Outdoor Cash Bar. Live Entertainment. Yard Games. Local Vendors. For more info, please visit: Facebook.com/events/501292960392735

REDBANK VALLEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE:
For more info and to become a member, please visit: RedbankChamber.com or Facebook.com/RVChamber

CLARION SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER:
For more info, please visit: http://clarion.edu/sbdc/index.html

CLARION AREA CHAMBER OF BUSINESS & INDUSTRY:
For more info and to become a member, please visit: ClarionPA.com or Facebook.com/ClarionAreaChamber

About the U.S. Small Business Administration:
The U.S. Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a reality. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.