May 17, 2017

Meet Regina Reed and Randy Reed of Zin Zen Wine Bistro

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Regina Reed, Randy Reed.

Regina, Randy, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Randy and I are first time restaurant owners. I have spent the last 32 years in education and Randy’s background is in marketing. While Randy had some restaurant experience in the past, I had not so much as waited tables, so we both had a steep learning curve ahead of us.

We are the third owners of Zin Zen, but before becoming owners, we were customers. We enjoyed visiting with friends and family, enjoying the live music and delicious food. We loved the Adriatica area and especially this little restaurant. Our son even proposed to our daughter-in-law at Zin Zen. We had a memorable evening with close friends and family members celebrating their engagement.

When we found out Zin Zen was for sale, we began researching and investigating. We knew it would be big adventure, but the more we found out about it, the more we loved it! As we considered this opportunity, we knew we didn’t want to change the basic concept that previous owners had developed. We wanted Zin Zen to stay Zin Zen. We felt like there was potential to make a great little place shine even brighter and we wanted to help make that happen.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Since we were both new restaurant owners, there were lots of bumps along the way. We learned what to do when the oven breaks just before live music begins on a Friday evening. We have learned about food codes, permits, licensing, and city and state rules and regulations. We learned where to find dry ice to keep the wine coolers cool until a repair man could arrive. We found out where to purchase a new doorknob at 10:00 on a Saturday night because the handle came off the bathroom door. These are the kinds of things that keep all of us on our toes.

Most people don’t realize that Zin Zen has a tiny little kitchen. In fact, the kitchen is not much bigger than a food truck. Most food trucks offer a fairly limited menu, specializing in one food genre. It can be very challenging to quickly and efficiently prepare a variety of dishes for, sometimes upward of 70-80 guests. The kitchen allows two to three people to work pretty well together, but any more than that begins to get very congested! It is hard to believe what is delivered from such a confined area where food is stored, prepared, and all of the restaurant dishes washed.

When we look around the restaurant and see our guests smiling, laughing, and enjoying a little break from the hustle and bustle of the world, all the bumps and scrapes are worth it.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
Zin Zen was established in 2006 and was the first business to open in Adriatica Village, a quaint area nestled on 45 acres at West Virginia Parkway and Stonebridge Ranch Drive designed to look and feel like a small Croatian village. We serve more than 80 different wines from around the world and a creative variety of menu items in a unique, relaxing setting. Patrons will find several comfortable living room seating areas, a variety of table options, and a beautiful patio in which wine aficionados or novices alike are invited to enjoy a taste, glass, or a bottle of wine. Lunch specials are offered seven days a week in addition to other daily features such as Wine Down Wednesdays, Flight Nights, and live music every Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening. The European character, ambiance and experience at Zin Zen Wine Bistro is truly incomparable to any other wine establishment in the DFW area.

What were you like growing up?
Both of us grew up in South Texas near Victoria. Randy loved playing golf and has been in numerous bands (he occasionally sings a song or two with bands playing on music nights). He enjoys spending time with family, especially at Lake Travis, loves making people laugh, and loves his four legged puppy dog family members.
I grew up in a small town where almost everyone was related to each other. I loved spending summers at the bay and running around with cousins. Both of my parents were teachers, and my father was a band director. This meant lots of music lessons, band trips, concerts, and band competitions.

Randy and I met in high school in band. We went our separate ways for a few decades, but found our way back and right in the middle of Zin Zen where music continues to be a big part of our lives.

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