Black Bridge Mindset

Building House of Ross Coffee Bar and Cigar Lounge w/ George Ross Jr.: Black Bridge Mindset Podcast.

• Black Bridge Mindset • Season 1 • Episode 4

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Join us on this episode of the Black Bridge Mindset Podcast, where culture, entrepreneurship, and business intersect to fuel inspiration. Co-hosts CJ, Ken, and Mike introduce special guest George E. Ross Jr., the mastermind behind the House of Ross Coffee Bar and Cigar Lounge in Paducah, Kentucky. Discover George's journey of turning a long-held dream into reality, the challenges faced during the process, and the importance of community and collaboration. Learn about the unique blend of coffee and cigars that creates a relaxing atmosphere for meaningful conversations. Plus, get insights on writing a business plan, the value of networking, and continual learning. Don’t miss out on George's inspiring story and practical advice for aspiring entrepreneurs!

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CJ:

Hello and welcome to the Black Bridge Mindset Podcast where culture, entrepreneurship, and business intersect to fuel inspiration. This podcast celebrates the power of diverse voices shaping the future of business. So whether you're building a business, breaking barriers, we're just looking for some serious inspiration here in the right place. The Black Bridge mindset where culture and entrepreneurship collide. Hello. Hello. Hello. Good morning. Good afternoon. Good night. and wherever you're listening, you found us. This is the black bridge mindset podcast. We want to thank and welcome everyone for entering in my name is C. J. I'm 1 of your co host. live all the way from Columbus, Ohio. I'm sitting here with two of my best friends, mr. Ken and fellas. If you'd like to introduce yourself, please feel free.

Ken:

Hey, everybody. This is Ken, coming to you from Atlanta, suffering a little bit from allergies, please, overlook my voice right now. You might see me hop off camera, but all good. It's a good start to the week. It's a little cold here, but it's gonna warm up. Excited today for our guests, looking forward to a great conversation.

CJ:

out of curiosity. Did you get the the same storms and stuff that we got? Cause they were saying you all was supposed to get tornadoes.

Ken:

We did, it was really bad hail. the electricity was out for a bit. Tons of trees down, across like roads and highways. Yeah, it was crazy. It was crazy. So yeah, so the temperature dropped by 20 degrees from one day to the next.

CJ:

How it did here.

Ken:

yeah, even today, it was cold today. I walked in the house and the temperature said it was like 64 degrees So I had to kick the heat back on and what's crazy is that tomorrow it'll be like 75

CJ:

Wait. you said it was 64 degrees, but you had to turn the heat back on.

Ken:

'cause it was 64 degrees in the house.

CJ:

Okay. Okay. I thought you meant outside. I was about to

Ken:

only 64 degrees

CJ:

the what Midwest or Northeast, whatever you want to call Pittsburgh that long.

Ken:

Listen, I become a baby now that I don't live where it's cold anymore, the winters here are short. We do get some cold days, most of the time, the weather's mild it's NICE's gonna start getting hot here soon. Anyway, yeah when we listen whenever we were home Whenever we were back in pittsburgh for my birthday in january I was losing it,'cause it was way too cold. Nobody should have to live like that.

CJ:

You did it for you, but you did it long enough.

Ken:

Mike, you wanna introduce yourself?

Mike:

Yeah. I don't know if y'all noticed, but I was gone for about or three minutes. I don't know what happened over here, but I'm happy y'all just kept on rolling without me.

CJ:

Yeah,

Mike:

y'all professionals. I love it.

Ken:

I

Mike:

Yeah, my name is Mike Lovett. I'm over in, Chicago, one of your co-hosts of Black Bridge Mindset. And, I. yeah this week, today is only Monday, and it feels like it's a Wednesday. I am exhausted, but I said, you know what, I'm gonna show up, and I'm gonna bring the energy, and I'm gonna do my thing, because that's what George deserves, and that's what y'all deserve. So yeah, I hope you guys enjoy this. I'm gonna make it. I'm gonna make it. But I'm definitely gonna bed early tonight. and we'll see how that looks tomorrow morning. Start all over.

CJ:

On that note, I guess we can go ahead and bring in our guests and our illustrious guests. Today we're sitting down at the intersection of culture and entrepreneurship with one of the coolest gentlemen, from Paducah, Kentucky, Mr. George Ross, Jr. George is the mastermind behind the house of Ross coffee bar and cigar lounge. His passion lies in providing a relaxing utopia where you can slow down, unwind and converse over a flavorful cup of coffee and easing cocktail or soothing cigar. tap into Georgia's inspiration for opening his coffee shop, what steps he took to open his business, his future plans for the shop, and other exciting topics as well. And with that, and a nice drum roll, we want to bring in the Mr. George E. Ross Jr.

Mike:

go.

CJ:

Good evening.

George Ross:

Chris, man is wonderful, man, seeing you do your thing. It really is. An attitude. even better to know as you mentioned in the beginning couple of your friends and any journey like this those troops that brotherhood is something that's must needed. the support it is. You can't put a dollar amount to it.

CJ:

And that's what your shop's built on, isn't it?

George Ross:

Yeah, it is truly is. Long time family history, being here at the corner of 13th of Monroe in Paducah, Kentucky 2 27 North 13th Street. North side representing Paducah.

CJ:

Yes, sir. That remind me, you mentioned your location. where Weightless Cats used to be, isn't it?

George Ross:

ELAs is across the street.

CJ:

Okay. All right. I got you.

George Ross:

Yep. Yeah. Is across the street. Yeah.

Mike:

Listen,

CJ:

in the neighborhood in the good old days in my past.

George Ross:

Yes.

Mike:

I feel like

CJ:

Mike.

Mike:

this goes out, people gonna listen. Like Paducah. Where the hell is the Paducah?

George Ross:

Yeah, that's what everyone says and then, they, next thing you know, they're visiting, hey, I've got a, yeah. I need that experience. Yes.

CJ:

I'm just going to share. And anybody from home that's listening to this, not going to mention any names, but some people like to tell me, and not I'm from Paducah, but from Padonkadon, so if you hear that term, that's it's a long history of that, but they're going to learn tonight,

Mike:

Yeah. and after that, that intro, I feel like I need to hurry up and get on down there and, have some coffee a cigar. I don't even smoke cigars, but I've smoked a couple with some friends at like weddings and things like that. So, um, I'm excited to hear about, you, your business and your journey. So if you want to get us started. Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you, came up with the House of Ross Coffee Bar and Cigar Cigar Lounge.

George Ross:

I'm gonna tell you, I've owned and operated several different businesses over the years. The coffee shop for me was the very first plan I ever wrote. My brother Gerald I'm the oldest of seven. My brother Gerald, he actually opened the first black owned shop here in Paducah. it's called

CJ:

I didn't know that.

George Ross:

in the day. Just, I, helping him at that time, and it was one of those kind of things where really, he was he was beyond his years, meaning his idea and the, actually, the idea and the concept for him with Groove Theory was one of my favorite movies is Love Jones. So he wanted to just steal that, just that entire. aura of that movie being that that true vibe there. So then just took my ideas and then too, just you gotta think when, when I wrote that business plan, it's back in, 91, and. Putting it on the shelf and picking it back up, but, over the years in time, just constantly my thing was to hone my craft, And whatever I do, I wanted to be, do it with excellence. So I really wanted to, really. And then at the same time, the cigar portion of it started to evolve with me. Then and then I and then more and more, I studied just the coffee bean itself the origin of the coffee bean. Then I started to, the same time I'm looking at my Dominican brothers and sisters and how they really paired. I. Coffee and cigars together. where the concept for the House of Ross Coffee Bar and Cigar Lounge came about. is just appreciating and loving our culture to enjoying those two experiences together it's just meshing them together. And then the, the whole thing of really having the, what we call the Ross experience. It's one thing to talk about black excellence. It's another thing to walk in black excellence. So

CJ:

Silence.

George Ross:

also put it in my neighborhood. My parents still live across the street from the shop. My dad the location of the House of Ross. My dad and granddad, they owned and operated automotive and cleanup shop right here. And so with my construction background and, owning a construction company, what we did is we transformed the location To be what we call today, the house of Ross. And that's what kind of also gave us its name. My dad and granddad were here. The building itself is a, is a staple, within the community wanted to maintain and keep it here. So, you know is we bridge the community. One cup at a time. Oftentimes we think of the south being divided, but those that coffee and that conversation we had with our neighbors, that the people in our community just being able to just to to bend and not break And at times when your conversation is safe. matter what your political, whether you blue or red, To also to understanding that the comfort in being able to do that in a way that is not judged. is respected. also we look at so many different ways we divide ourselves, within our, com.

CJ:

Silence.

George Ross:

It's just, really, I wanted to create an atmosphere. where those barriers was taken down and, meaning you felt comfortable in your skin. I've come to truly understanding living my truth, living there's things that I like and don't like on both sides. But two, to be able to have those conversations that are well respected, appreciated, and, yes, they're judged, but they're judged in such a way when we leave. It is still the the utmost and respect at the end of the day, we wanna provide for our family the same way you wanna provide for your family. We wanna love who we wanna love. We wanna appreciate whom we wanna appreciate. We have family members who we don't like. And then if there's ones that we love to death and at the end of the day, we still God's children, and

CJ:

very much.

George Ross:

just placed that on my heart. And then for me, it's also

CJ:

Silence. Silence. Silence.

Mike:

I love the community that you're building in the coffee shop. It reminds me of just almost like going to a barber shop, right where everybody gets together. You can commune and you're able to shoot the shit and talk about any and everything. But at the end of the day, everybody. They leave with knowledge and everything else, and you don't leave, pissed off or bitter because you're red, you're blue, you believe in this, you believe in that. So, think you creating something like that is, is awesome. One of the pillars of Black Bridge Mindset is to provide some insight, knowledge, and consultation to young entrepreneurs out there who are looking to build their own business. And one of the things that you mentioned is that you wrote a business plan for your business. Can you speak on like how important that was for you to have that business plan in order for you to get to where you are today?

George Ross:

Yes. And two, with the, with that business plan one of the things that we do here at the House of Bra we have small Business Mondays. With Small business Mondays is entrepreneurs oftentimes that place event, but and two just. To also get some insight and some knowledge on some simple things. So going to the business plan part of it, knowing that business plan will change and it will evolve. As I mentioned, the, that, that business plan was in 91, In 91, we doesn't we didn't see the internet as we do today, you know, what I Media isn't the way that it is, there was no social media, so to speak, of, Our biggest thing then when actually was never forget taking a business communications class and it was over email, you know what I mean? So now we're zooming, we're having, these literally these teleconferences, so just the way in which it has evolved and it has changed in so many waves. And with that, my business plan had to change and evolve as well. When I first wrote it, some of the. Places that I was looking at to be able to purchase teas and coffees. They don't even exist anymore. A lot of the machines and equipment, but they had two. I never let go of that dream and they had two. I also wanted to hone in on being a. Great barista, And that's the person curating that those coffee drinks. I wanted to do

CJ:

Okay.

George Ross:

Within your business plan, the way in which you market within that business plan, the way in which, you know, even I'd I changed locations, then at the time, I wasn't put thinking of putting it here because my dad and granddad was here. I was looking at other locations. I was looking at thinking more of a mall style location then, but we don't visit malls the way that we did in 91. So you have to be willing to, and be prepared for change with that business plan,

CJ:

Nice. along those same lines, you mentioned you wrote your business plan in 91, which you were well ahead of the curve, clearly. You had that already in place. What was some of your biggest of the construction and all that stuff, but what types of things challenges that you face with the city of Paducah, your certificate of occupancy and things like that.

George Ross:

That, that was very challenging. It was because what you're doing is you're selling an idea to a community then to, the building had been occupied a certain kind of way for a very long time before my dad and granddad owned the building they took ownership. It was actually a old bar. And, so the building itself dates back to pre-flood, what we call pre-flood. here in Paducah. There was 1937 flood that flooded the entire city. So the building dates back pre-flood. So it was built in 1932. So when you think about that, the way in which structurally and the things had to change, but also we, I, I tell people that this, it's like Noah creating the arc. In biblical terms, you took a very long time in building, it took him over 80 years to build that arc. And then you think of even the arc, we had never seen rain before. In that, in those challenges. You're trying to tell someone how in which you're going to create I can visualize what I want to do, it's difficult for me to articulate that vision, I see it, but then to be able to you is something else. I have to just do it. And but in this type, in this case, you literally have to sell this idea. When you understand your, you're planning your purpose, there is no quit, There is no turning back. You're gonna get discouraged. There's gonna be some days you're gonna throw in the tab like, what you all are doing right here right now. You're gonna need the strength and encouragement. Of other friends, family members who truly believe in what you're doing and you can't even and I tell people even baby steps or steps moving forward. Notice some days, hey, you're at a good job and then there's some days. You're literally making baby steps, but when you prepare yourself and knowing what it is that you, are, what you want to do, and and there too I just can't ever imagine having a business and not having God in it.

CJ:

Silence.

George Ross:

what I mean? You know, I can get coffee at the gas station. I can make coffee at home. You know what I mean? Why am I gonna come to a coffee shop? You know what I mean? And then we're black folk. We just drink Folgers. You know what I mean? A cigar we don't do that. You know, what I mean, like, you, we have celebratory cigars. We don't, we don't casually drink, smoke a cigar, but the pairing of the two just gives us an outlet and a place to be able to just, if nothing else, just to appreciate the finer things in life. We also do One of our events, weekly is Ross at the Dark. So, every Friday, our mix college, will introduce us to a different cocktail, to a different drink. Something that, you know, mean, that's out of the norm. But again, it's to, for us, I feel like, to change our palate. You don't know that there's some things that you enjoy until you have the opportunity to try it.

CJ:

All

George Ross:

a beautiful bourbon right here at the House of Ross, we're beyond and yes, I enjoy a good crown with the fellows. You know, what I mean, I enjoy a nice Hennessy with the brothers. Too if you've never had the opportunity to, have a weller bourbon, if you have a, those different things, if you haven't had the opportunity to try, a kazu. here, and and we appreciate that and and those are the things that, you know, just to splurge on yourself a little bit. To know, that those things that we do appreciate and and I want to more so just encourage it with our young people, To know that, don't feel ashamed or intimidated by some of the things that you really enjoy doing.

Ken:

You had mentioned earlier that you wanted to become an expert barista. Can you tell us a little bit about, that journey? Did you have to go out and learn about not just how to make coffee, but also, what beans, right? What machines work best? All of that. Can you talk about, that portion of the business?

George Ross:

Yes, for with that we had tried one of the things that I have is I have a West L Coffee, coffee. bean again, it's by a wonderful gentleman a black owned, that creates the coffee right here in Kentucky in West Louisville, which is the name. West L has family tie right here to Paducah, but he roast the, he roast some our beans. And that's another thing too, is just also incorporating. Other minority owned businesses our business. So we purposely incorporate that That's that isn't that is by design. I'll be honest. Because oftentimes we don't get those opportunities. So if

CJ:

All right. All right.

George Ross:

taste a West Lew coffee, which is a black owned Coffee roaster. from right here in Kentucky, Right here at the House of Ross. Then by the time I chop and screw that coffee and turn it into a latte, Now you get the excellence that comes behind Mr. Raw in the House of raw. It's, that's the beauty of it, you know what I mean? All the way down to, the way in which, you know we triple filter our water. The company in which, we get our our espresso machine comes from. Those things they are, it is dumped. It is purposely if if it's not black owned, it was a black salesman that that introduced me to it. He's getting a commission. You know what I mean? If it's, I don't care if I'm getting a ice maker or a freezer, We may not own that company, but the salesman that sold it to me looks like me. And

CJ:

Okay. Okay.

George Ross:

we were closed for a, month. Within that month. I had a, black cabinet maker come in and he did a lot of the restructuring. It was a black electrician that came in and did, our electrical, It's so again, to show, and to really Illustrate to our community again, it's one thing to say it. let's, put it to action. Let's really do it. You know what I mean? And that's, let's not just come in and we're going to say that we're gonna make this change just because of A-A-D-E-I or because of Al Sharpton told you to. No, let's be intentional by the way before then. You know what I mean? Let's live it. you know what I mean? Our t-shirts that are made right here. That are sold in the house of Ross. They're, that, that created from a great friend of mine, Mr. Tony Burton. You know what I mean? I use our cigar bags, we use there's a young lady that creates those bags for us. Again we're very intentional. Our coffee cups. Was designed by Prosperous Pieces. She does a lot of our, a lot of our designing my flyers are made by Miss Valencia. You know what I mean? At some point in time, we have to love us enough. to say, this is what I'm gonna do.

Mike:

I love that.

CJ:

I'm, I was just curious. I know Ken touched on it and you touched on it a little bit too. Did you take a like a class somewhere on,

George Ross:

Yes.

CJ:

or whatever you call it

George Ross:

yeah, the barista. so, what I did is I took several classes over the years, so several classes over the years in barista and bartender. so,

CJ:

West Kentucky.

George Ross:

yes, I wanted to be able to as far as bartending, because we do sell alcohol. So, those I wanted to be able to perfect that that craft, even still I use I'm gonna tell you A local, young lady, Ms. Avis. She comes up with the, some beautiful creation, a true mixed colleges. I'm not there yet, on the cocktails, but before, you had to go sit in the classroom. Now, there are actually YouTube schools, And that, that's, that makes it. even better. So you are able to travel around. I attended several different Coffee shows on coffees and pastries, Just knowing what it is that we wanted. Right here at the House of Ross a young lady I used my grandma's hands. Miss Ika Donaldson, she makes all of our pastries. So it's I can't explain it enough of how important that part is because now, I give her business that extra life that it needs throughout the week. You know what I mean? She's a full-time school teacher, but also, owns great treat business Ms. Brittany Freeman that owns Southern Spread. Truly helped me in designing our menu and setting up

CJ:

Mhm.

George Ross:

Within our community we're not far from downtown Paducah, so in our business district, now you have a place that you can come, a true brick And mortar. You come have lunch, enjoy a nice coffee a a excellent tea. And then too trying to incorporate a lot of, I do a lot of herbal type things, with our gingers, what we call a feel good piece. So those those things is where I have to constantly evolve in creating and then and reaching out to other businesses that, hey, what it is that, what is it that you're doing? and then too to, to that continuing education. That's really real important.

Mike:

and I don't, and I don't want people to overlook what you're saying on this.'cause I think it's really important, especially for entrepreneurs to understand that the common thread that you've been speaking on in the last couple of minutes is I. Networking, building teams and collaboration, right?'cause somebody may come in and say, hey, I wanna start a coffee shop and think they have to do everything on their own. I have to be the barista. I have to make the menu, I have to do this, I have to do that, whatever. But it looks like you've had the wherewithal to say, I need you to be the barista and teach me how to do this. I need you to be the mixologist and do this. I need t-shirts. So I know this guy who makes t-shirts. And you're able to bring all these people together as a team to help you create House of Ross and do your business. So

CJ:

think they call that community.

Mike:

that.

George Ross:

Yes, and then too, that's where also you go from turning you go from being an entrepreneur. So you're no longer a hustler. Now you're a businessman. You're a businesswoman. Now you're, evolving. You're only as good as the other people around you. do it all. Yes. All the way down to when you come into the house, overall, some things are intentional, very intentional in the sense of when I, when you come in, as you can see in the background, Black chairs. I. That's not for no reason. I want you to see a excellent black chair so that you don't, when you see black. you see something that's beautiful when you come in and you see the brown, see my brown that, that color. I literally had them to scan my skin color to get the color you see. when you look at you was able to look around the entire building. Those are my nieces, my nephews. So yes, I have white sister-in-laws, so I have mixed nieces and nephews. I needed them to be able to see themselves when they come here. but aunt too, that's my black. you say You are black. I need you. And then too, I need you to see that black in a excellent way. I need you to see that black in a such a positive manner. that now when you go back to your office at the bank, intimidated by my skin color. you go back and you're downtown you're the judge, you don't see my black as being intimidated. When you go and then I'm at the doctor's office, when the doctor sees me, just sees an individual. He doesn't see my color. He doesn't see an into No one Understand that I have this appreciation for who I am unapologetically, and and I respect who you are. Unapologetically And with that community like that, we're bridging so many different gaps and individuals, just blending us together. But I under, truly understand that if I want change, I have to be the change. I have to be, the change that I'm looking for If I'm looking for somebody to collaborate with me and to to support me, I have to let me be the one to extend that hand first. And that's where. we really just, that's my true focus and wanting to see us to grow in that manner.

Mike:

Nice.

CJ:

there any key mentors or role models that guided way?

George Ross:

Oh, yes, it was s several my I can't say this enough, but for one, my faith it. it is a unwavering faith. Then I had then as a man, I think every man needs three different types of men within his life. who is pouring into him, someone he sees at his equal, And then also someone that you can pour into. So within this journey. That I'm talking about, I had some brothers and then too, those brothers that are my, whom I consider my mentors, they become friends, but they're not intentionally friends. What they are is they're

CJ:

Hello, everyone.

George Ross:

there's always somebody else that I'm looking to, that I'm able to pull up, that I'm able to, be to extend this blessing that God is giving me into that next individual. So that then in turn, that's the, that's how we continue to live. You know what I mean? We're looking for this this long life. But that life is in this circle of life of the people that, and then I had to have, and then, when it can, when it comes to, the coffee game itself, you know what I mean? I'm looking in the cigar game. Yes, I'm looking at the David s. Know what I mean? And their family and their long history and legacy, so, yes, when they come in with style and grace with that cigar. Hey, that's how we wanna come. We come in different. You know, what I mean, I'm looking at the Rocky Patels and the way in which, He has branded himself and what he's doing, When I look at so it's nothing for us to, to go to EOR City and to down to Tampa. know what I mean that's where the, that's where it really is. Little Havana, that's where the Segar game is.

CJ:

Right.

George Ross:

down there. I'm down there like a student. I'm pen in paper. Yes, I'm recording conversations'cause I wanna be. Yes, I wanna I, if I'm gonna say I'm a cigar aficionado, I need to that's what I need to be. Keep myself as such. If I say I'm a barista, I need to know everything about the game because you're gonna be questioned. You know what I mean? So, and, you want to be able to know what it is that you're looking for. You know what I mean? I need to truly identify different flavor profiles. I need to be able to identify You know, what I mean the, the brewing process, all the way to how hot the coffee needs to be. if the milk is too hot, I can hear and tell if it's steamed too long, you know, what I mean, I can smell a coffee from a distance and know whether it's burnt but that takes time That takes a, there was a lot of time, like I said, in that 35 years, it took me to, to the House of Ross coming to fruition. That was a lot of practicing at home and abroad, you know what I mean? So you spending yes. it, wasn't a vacation. when I was married, it wasn't a vacation that we went on that I didn't visit the coffee shop. didn't go to a cigar lounge, that was, it. it just wasn't, and, but that's just how passionate that I am about it and then too the ability to be able to bridge that community, our community together and and do it in such a way that is truly respected and adored within our community.

CJ:

Just. your passion and what you do, think when we actually air this episode, the intro, I know we probably can't do it because it's copyright issues, but we should play of talking like I walk it plan. Does that loop that identifies who you are? 100%. I have 1 question You is there anything that you wish that you knew before you started the business? I know that, you said you started your plan a long time before, but that you've come across since opening and, getting things running that you wish you had known prior?

George Ross:

What I wish I had known. One of, the things that I wanted to do as I mentioned, I had owned and operated several different businesses all the way from real estate which we still hold some real estate. We still so we have Ross properties we have R and D roofing and Remodeling, which is our remodeling, side of Business. And then and with that, of the things I would've done is, I come from a era with my dad he never wanted to borrow any money. He never wanted to on a financially, So you think that you're financially secure enough, and then two, it was with the house of, Ross. because it is such a passion. It was difficult to start because it was a true leap of faith. So of the things that I would've done for sure is not use my own money. I would not have done that. I would have leveraged my money, but I would not have used my own money, but we used our own money, our own time. And we it took the remodel of the building itself was a three year process, but that was because too, at the time still on the corporate side. I was still working a full-time job, I. still, like I said, operating these other two businesses, and then creating this one, and then this one comes. in the, On the heels of COVID. So that's another thing. You talking about a leap of faith. I mean, it was, Truly a leap of faith and, and then, for me, there was no PPP money. The business wasn't created of yet, we were still in the remodel. We was at the end of the remodel stage, I

CJ:

And then For the work that

George Ross:

there was supply

CJ:

done.

George Ross:

made it extremely difficult. So I was not.

CJ:

Silence. Silence. Silence.

George Ross:

par, partially my my retirement plan, to be able to uh, from corporate America. This was easing into that to where, but at the same time, I would have most definitely leveraged that. if there had been anything I'd done differently, I'd have done that.

Mike:

Nice.

Ken:

You've mentioned a couple times, you were the oldest of seven children. You have come from a large family. Are there members of your family who are also very involved in the business?

George Ross:

It's a yes and no.

Ken:

Okay.

George Ross:

It's I say yes because gonna tell you, man, my brothers are my greatest supporters. and that alone is enough. There's times when, you know, me if it's nothing more than sharing a post planting a seed. know what I mean? They have truly supported me. My parents have, in a way. Oftentimes people talk about, oh man this one doesn't support me. That one doesn't support me, that you know this and that. I can't say that I have a beautiful, wonderful family. You know, what I mean? That truly support, the House of Ross. My mom, she comes in just about every day, like I said, my dad. stepmom, they live across the street, just being able just to see them and they had too, they do it without taking, they're expecting any kind of accolades of glory from it, you know what I mean? My brother, Greg, he's always supporting and sharing. My brother, Josh, he's a herbalist, he's always sending me, he lives in Tampa, Clearwater, always sending me different stuff. My brother, Gerald, he's in Soul Korea. He creates all different types of videos to for us to use for advertisement. So, everybody's doing different things to, to really and truly just to help me. You know what I mean? There's times that they just show up and and to have that kind of support. It does that that means a lot.

Mike:

That's awesome.

George Ross:

Yeah.

Mike:

we are getting close to time but there are a couple of things that we'd like to do before we, we hop off, off here. Not sure if, CJ told you or not, but at the end, we like to do this little thing where,

CJ:

I did not

Mike:

You're

CJ:

as a surprise.

Mike:

Yeah.

CJ:

Surprise. Right?

Mike:

But we like to do this little thing that we do with everyone that we interview and at the end we call it the lightning round questions where we're just gonna ask you five questions just off the cuff crazy questions may deal with the business may not deal with the business I'm gonna put up a timer. you're the lucky person who gets this timer for the first time. But I'm gonna put up a timer because we want

CJ:

pressure

Mike:

All of the questions to be, quick and short. And we tried this in the past. And when we started asking people questions, they went into a deep dive it. And we're like, no, that's not the point of the question. We just, we, we just, we don't want you to think too hard about it. Don't think too much about it. First thing that pops in your mind is what We want to hear Does that work for you

George Ross:

That'll work.

Mike:

All right. so I'm putting up one minute and at the end of one minute, we'll be done. I'm not gonna cut you off. If you wanna keep going. But, the fun of this, That's what we're gonna do. as I've done every time, we don't have a soundboard. So, I'm the soundboard. Lightning round questions, All right. So, I'm gonna start the timer, after I read the first question, and then, whatever comes off the top of your head, and then I'll just go onto the next one. First question is one that we ask everybody. So, what is your book, or what book are you currently reading?

George Ross:

Oh, my favorite book would be and I'm not gonna say one of my, the bible first. Then my second would be that's called the Solomon Syndrome. The the third is Tinder Warrior by Stu Weber.

Mike:

Okay.

George Ross:

then fourth would be, the psychology of the black experience yeah.

Mike:

Nice.

George Ross:

Alright.

Mike:

All right. I got 1, 2, 3, 4 more for you. So if you could have a superpower, what would it be?

George Ross:

My superpower would be ability to, read minds.

Mike:

All right. You're a coffee man. What's your favorite coffee bean?

George Ross:

My favorite coffee bean would be an be considered a African beam. A true, what would be a, it's very acid based, so it's very floral. It's dried so it's not more so of a, like a Colombian bean, But it has more flavor to it as far as a more like a fruit,

Mike:

Okay. Your favorite holiday and comfort food?

George Ross:

Comfort Food is pizza

Mike:

Same

George Ross:

Favorite,

Mike:

all day, every day. I could eat pizza

George Ross:

wow. Favorite holiday is Thanksgiving.

Mike:

Nice. And then last one for you. What is something that you're looking forward to in the near future?

George Ross:

the the near future, the, to be able to Not only I want to, I wanna live this God-given purpose out. To, I don't wanna just say it. I want to live this purpose. I want to engulfed this God-given purpose.

Mike:

Nice. love it.

CJ:

With that nothing. The other question that I have left is, can you please share with our audience? think you've already listed before, but where they can find you your shop. you on social media.

George Ross:

The House of Ross is in Paducah, Kentucky, 2 27 North 13th Street. the House of Ross on Facebook, and Instagram. The house of ross.org is our website. and yeah, and more importantly. You have to come and enjoy the Ross experience. So we call the Ross experience. It's nothing like that I truly do is I come in morning and I welcome the Holy Spirit in and I want the people, minute. you come through those doors to be able to a lot of those preconceptions that hurt that pain, that anger, that frustration that you feel from the world, You are able to walk in those doors and you're able to experience. that God, that peace that only that God can give and to know if nothing else that you can come here. With true safety, security male, female, black, white, veteran, non veteran. Pet lover, non-PE lover, LGBTQ. It doesn't, I want you to truly know and then, and have that love and peace. If nothing else, we oftentimes, we say it at church, but this isn't church. This is something that's outside of those church walls. That I want you to be able to come here and experience God's perfect peace right here within the house of Ross and know that, hey, there's something different when I left and I don't care if it was a cup of coffee or a gin and tonic.

CJ:

look, I, next time I come home, I will partake in both of those.

George Ross:

Yeah.

Mike:

George, there's this thing that at the end of every episode I have people do before we leave. I know you're like, damn, they just throwing stuff in left and right. But this is

CJ:

here,

Mike:

we have all of our guests do at the end of the show. I call it the Wakanda peace pause. And it is just us doing this and smiling for about three seconds and then that's it and what we do with it is at the end, I'm gonna take a picture of it. use that on social media when we talk about the show coming out. I'm gonna count to three and we just gonna go like this. pause, and then that's it.

George Ross:

Gotcha.

Mike:

it? You gonna do it with us

George Ross:

Practice. Is enough?

Mike:

good. Yeah. Yeah. smile, You lean in, you smile. you do your interpretation the All right. All right, let's give it a go. All right. 1, 2, 3. And there it is. I love it. Thank

Ken:

was good.

Mike:

so much for coming onto our

CJ:

Absolutely.

Mike:

This is what, episode four.

CJ:

Yeah.

Ken:

Four. Yeah.

CJ:

so forth. Dude, I just wanna let you all know this was going to the first persons that I reached out to and he immediately accepted and was ready to roll, and I appreciate you for that.

Ken:

Yeah. George, thank you very much. This was fantastic.

CJ:

Absolutely.

People on this episode

Head Shot

Mike Lovett

Host
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Chris Johnson

Co-host
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Ken Peak

Co-host