Kasey Herod and her husband live in Perryton, a small Texas town of about 8,000 people close to the Oklahoma border. Because of the town's size, there is limited local entertainment. When a coffee shop on Main Street closed its doors, Kasey and her husband saw an opportunity. They bought the building and turned it into a wine bar and patio with room for live music and dancing to engage both the community and local talent. Sip’ A Roo’s fun, laid-back atmosphere is a tribute to the tradition the Herods have of sipping wine on their patio at home.
It was important to Kasey that they serve Texan products so she found a winery in the heart of the state that would print bottle labels to her specifications with her logo. The Sip’ A Roo menu features beer, wine, and more that can be paired with charcuterie boards made with fresh ingredients. The bar is open three nights a week, and although Kasey is almost always there, she said it honestly doesn’t feel like a job. She loves serving her customers and meeting new people, especially with the crowds the live musicians draw. Kasey has received overwhelming support from the community members who get just as excited about what they’ve developed so far. “In the end, how people enjoy it as much as you do is the absolute best reward that comes with it.”
Senior Business Consultant Ana Ramirez with America’s SBDC at WTAMU helped Kasey by researching the necessary steps, licenses, and permits to open Sip’ A Roo. Since Perryton is two hours away from the SBDC office, the two were able to meet via Zoom. When Kasey had a question, Ana was just an email or a phone call away. Sip’ A Roo held their grand opening ceremony in July of 2022 and have been going strong ever since.