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Most people who have a full college class schedule rarely find time for a job let alone manage to open and run their own business successfully. But 27-year old Robert Perez has managed to do both — he currently attends Lewis University and runs Main Street Imported Liquors in Berwyn.
After serving six years in the Air Force, Perez returned to Illinois and headed to college at Lewis University to study aviation. Little did he know that his six years overseas in the Air Force would inspire him to open a liquor store.
“When I was in the Air Force, I would travel around, mostly in Western Europe, and I found out about a bunch of different beers that aren’t as common here,” Perez said. “I got interested in what was going on here and exploring different American beers and seeing how they compare to imported beers and the traditional beers that have been around forever.”
Perez’s mother previously built her own liquor store from the ground up when he was in high school. When Perez returned from the Air Force, the duo set out to start their own business. Her knowledge of creating a business paired with Robert’s interest in craft beers helped to create Main Street Imported Liquors.
On Saturday, the shop celebrated its first birthday. As part of the celebration, Perez will be hosting a wine tasting on Nov. 18, where he will offer six wine and three craft beer choices. The tasting serves a double purpose — not only is it a celebration, but Perez is also using it to “get people familiar” with the products he sells.
It’s not an easy feat, considering he has countless craft beers that are often switched out by the season. But Perez tries to be knowledgeable about every beer, having tried most of them.
“Some of the stuff I get because I have tried it and I like it,” Perez said. “It’s good to have a good background on how they all taste and how they compare so I can recommend it to people.”
For those who don’t like to venture away from their usual choices, Main Street Imported Liquors carries all the common beers as well — from Miller to Modelo.
This year, Perez volunteered his shop as the supply line for Cicero and Berwyn’s annual Houby Fest. The Czech-themed festival spanned two days with rides, food vendors, and of course, Perez’s alcohol tent. Contrary to the previous years’ alcohol selections, Perez decided he wanted to explore other beer choices.
Most people who have a full college class schedule rarely find time for a job let alone manage to open and run their own business successfully. But 27-year old Robert Perez has managed to do both — he currently attends Lewis University and runs Main Street Imported Liquors in Berwyn.
After serving six years in the Air Force, Perez returned to Illinois and headed to college at Lewis University to study aviation. Little did he know that his six years overseas in the Air Force would inspire him to open a liquor store.
“When I was in the Air Force, I would travel around, mostly in Western Europe, and I found out about a bunch of different beers that aren’t as common here,” Perez said. “I got interested in what was going on here and exploring different American beers and seeing how they compare to imported beers and the traditional beers that have been around forever.”
Perez’s mother previously built her own liquor store from the ground up when he was in high school. When Perez returned from the Air Force, the duo set out to start their own business. Her knowledge of creating a business paired with Robert’s interest in craft beers helped to create Main Street Imported Liquors.
On Saturday, the shop celebrated its first birthday. As part of the celebration, Perez will be hosting a wine tasting on Nov. 18, where he will offer six wine and three craft beer choices. The tasting serves a double purpose — not only is it a celebration, but Perez is also using it to “get people familiar” with the products he sells.
It’s not an easy feat, considering he has countless craft beers that are often switched out by the season. But Perez tries to be knowledgeable about every beer, having tried most of them.
“Some of the stuff I get because I have tried it and I like it,” Perez said. “It’s good to have a good background on how they all taste and how they compare so I can recommend it to people.”
For those who don’t like to venture away from their usual choices, Main Street Imported Liquors carries all the common beers as well — from Miller to Modelo.
This year, Perez volunteered his shop as the supply line for Cicero and Berwyn’s annual Houby Fest. The Czech-themed festival spanned two days with rides, food vendors, and of course, Perez’s alcohol tent. Contrary to the previous years’ alcohol selections, Perez decided he wanted to explore other beer choices.
“The past years they had pretty normal stuff,” he said. “We wanted to give people more options and expand the selection.”
In addition to the usual Miller Lite, Miller Genuine Draft, Modelo, Blue Moon and Pilsner Urquell options, Perez added two wine choices, Gumballhead, Modus Operandi, and Sam Adams Octoberfest.
“I think a lot of people liked the wine options,” he said. “A lot of people bring their wives and they don’t always drink beer because it’s a little more filling. But everyone wants to drink and have a good time.”
Although he likes being in the store to meet and interact with his customers, Perez also has other plans for his life. He wants to use his aviation degree to work operations for an airport like O’Hare. But no matter where his path takes him, Perez still wants to remain the owner of the shop, even if it means being a little further away from things.
“The shop is definitely something I want to oversee and control,” Perez said. “It’d be more of managing the store than working in it all the time like I do now.”
With only one semester of school remaining, Perez has already started to interview for aviation jobs. Soon, his two-hour daily commute — one hour to school from East Lakeview, a half an hour to work, another half an hour home — will be shortened considerably. Despite his workload, which includes working in the shop 75 percent of the time, a full class schedule, and most recently, a spot on the Berwyn Main Street Chamber of Commerce, he is looking forward to a challenge.
“I haven’t reached the point where I’ve taken on too much, or at least I don’t think I have,” Perez said. “As soon as an opportunity pops up I don’t hesitate to take advantage of it.”
