We were lucky to catch up with Adri Botti recently and have shared our conversation below.

Adri, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?

It all started with a conversation between my friends Ricky, Jona and I, Adri, at a local sports bar. We were chatting about how much fun it would be to actually own a sports bar and make it our own. We had never really talked seriously about owning a business before, but this felt different. We were both passionate about sports, and we even discussed what the atmosphere of the bar should be, and thought it could be an amazing experience if we could have our own.

We knew that buying a business was no small feat, but after looking through the online marketplaces we found a small sports bar that was for sale. We contacted the owner and began the process of negotiations. We had to figure out the financials, get familiar with the legal paperwork involved, and make sure the location was right for our vision.

After several intense weeks, we finally signed the documents and became the proud owners of our very own sports bar. But the real work had just begun. We spent the next few months figuring out how to rebrand and refresh the space to match our vision. This involved hiring graphic designers, contractors, and figuring out what modifications we would like to do in the future.

Once we had the physical space set up, we turned our attention to creating an exciting menu and a lineup of events to draw in regular patrons. We brought up some events that used to be hosted before the pandemic started, like Comedy shows & Live music. We started to Mingo Nights (Musical Bingo) and continued with Trivia nights. We made sure every detail from the food, drinks, to the music was perfect.

Opening day was one of the most exciting days of our lives. We welcomed all sorts of customers who enjoyed our wide selection of craft beers, our signature cocktails, and even our classic burgers and wings. In the days, weeks, and months that followed we continued to see the business grow. We learned many lessons along the way, but it was our passion for sports and community connections that ultimately guided us.

In the end, buying and launching our sports bar was a complicated and often challenging process, but it was also an incredibly rewarding experience. We never once regretted our decision and were thrilled to watch as our vision became a reality. From dreaming of owning a sports bar to launching it, we had successfully turned our idea into a thriving business.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Welcome to Trenchers, the ultimate destination for sports, entertainment, and food. Our sports bar is unique in many ways, making it a must-visit for anyone looking for a thrilling night out, or just a weekend brunch. We offer a diverse range of live shows that cater to all kinds of preferences, from live music to comedy, trivia, and Mingo (musical bingo). With something for everyone, even small kids, you can be sure that you’ll never get bored at Trenchers.

One of our most outstanding features is our menu, which offers a wide range of options from American to international cuisine. Whether you’re in the mood for classic bar food or something more exotic like an argentinian empanada, we’ve got you covered. Our chefs use only the freshest ingredients to create delicious dishes that will leave your taste buds begging for more. Whether you’re in the mood for burgers, wings, salads or something more substantial, we have a dish that will satisfy your craving.

But what sets us apart from other sports bars is our extensive selection of 50+ draft beers and ciders. We take pride in offering our patrons the best selection of drinks, carefully curated to suit all tastes. From craft beers to classic brews, we have something for every beer lover. Our bartenders are knowledgeable and passionate about beer and will help you find the perfect brew to match your mood.

We are now getting bigger, with a new space with more Tvs, seating space and even we can now host private events. This was a challenge that took us more than a year to make it true. Working with contractors, the city of Renton, and all the people involved to bring this idea up, was quite an adventure, but the result is the most gratifying thing. We are about to open that new area, that we are calling The Hangout soon and hoping to partner with local shops to offer new activities.

Finally, at Trenchers, we are the go-to spot for sports fans, with more than 15 TVs that stream all the major sports events. Whether you’re a football, soccer, basketball, or baseball fan, you can catch all the action live on our screens. Our bar has a lively and electric atmosphere, making it the perfect place to enjoy a game with friends.

In summary, Trenchers is a unique sports bar that offers a diverse range of live shows, a delicious menu, an extensive selection of draft beers and ciders, and a great atmosphere to watch all the sports action. Come and experience the Trenchers difference today!

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

Trenchers Kitchen & Tap is co-own by Ricky, Jona & Adri. Ricky and Jona has been friends along with my husband since they were in preschool and since then they have been writing their life together. Today, we team up to have our own restaurant, but we have done business together in the past. We work together very well and we complement each other.

Can you open up about a time when you had a really close call with the business?

When we started working at Trenchers, I have never done payroll before. We even started using Quickbooks without having any knowledge, we literally started from scratch. It was such a challenge, we googled, read books and talked to several people about how to do it. Our broker helped us with some basics, but the learning curve was long and challenging. We did some mistakes that Quickbooks customer services and our accountant helped us to solve. I would recommend that before starting with a business take a Quikbooks course at least to have some basics covered.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.trencherskitchenandtap.com
• Instagram: trenchersrenton
• Facebook: trenchersrenton
• Twitter: trenchersrenton

Image Credits
Pictures taken by Laura Botti