Check Out Roshiem Austin’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Roshiem Austin.

Hi Roshiem, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
In 2016 my wife was offered a CEO position in Ventura, California. At the time, I was working as a project manager in construction. When she accepted the offer, it meant life changes for everyone. We would need to move from the only home I had ever known, Arizona. My role within our family changed as well. Our first concern was taking our first-year high school students out of school and the only education environment she’s known that included many childhood friends. My wife and I weren’t very popular with her then, and we both decided that it was important for me to stay at home and play the “Mr. Mom” role to make the transition as smooth as possible for her. Working in construction, all those prior years afforded me the opportunity I had the first year in Ventura to indulge in being there for my daughter. I enjoyed it immensely.

But like most things with kids, it didn’t last forever. My wife and I spoke, and she challenged me to figure out what truly makes me happy. The very next year, when we purchased her first car, her freedom pushed me to figure out what I would do with all of my free time, so I decided to go back to school in a subject that has always been a passion of mine beer. The Ventura area is a goldmine for breweries and taprooms alike, and I loved the scene. It only made sense. I quickly set out to get my cicerone certification.

While working through the first course (certified beer server), I stumbled across a taproom with this unique self-pour concept. Immediately a light bulb went off in my head. My brother-in-law and I always spoke about business concepts and how we would love to do something together. My wife and I invited him and my sister-in-law out for a visit to Ventura to show them the concept and pitch them the idea; the rest is history. A simple visit to create the vision for Tap That Downtown.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a smooth road?
The road was not smooth as we began construction on our project right in the middle of the pandemic 2020. We encountered issues with material shortages and delays, as well as delays with permitting due to furrowed staff. Due to these issues, we were forced to open 6 months behind schedule. When we look back on that difficult time that we still are working to recover from, we are most proud that we didn’t back out on the project and were able to finish despite the setbacks we encountered.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Tap That Downtown was born from the love of beer. The thirty-five, self-serve tap concept allows you to enjoy a constant rotation of craft beers with a variety of wine and champagne, along with a menu including the freshest ingredients.

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I believe passion, hard work, and determination are the most important qualities to success.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.tapthatbeer.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tapthatdowntown/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tapthatdowntown/