08/17/2026
Two years ago, I had no idea how I was going to keep Bucci’s alive.
We were losing money every month. I drained my savings, maxed out credit cards, and taken out a merchant cash advance through our POS system just to make payroll every two weeks.
When I ran out of options, I had to let our GM go because I couldn’t afford one anymore.
I was stressed and depressed.
Then, to add insult to injury, the pipes froze in the back room. Weeks before Christmas parties were supposed to begin, I walked in to find water pouring from the ceiling and inches of it covering the floor.
FML x100
Insurance covered the cleanup and repairs, drying everything out, replacing the floor and subfloor, and tearing out damaged walls and ceilings.
Over the next few weeks, I did pretty much all of the work myself so I could put that money toward payroll.
I sat down with our team and told them we were down to our last penny and out of options. The only reason I hadn’t closed the doors was because I believed in them and in what Bucci’s could become for Marion.
They stepped up.
They stayed through everything, took on responsibilities far beyond their roles, and kept improving every day. I owe them more than I can say.
Since that day, we’ve been profitable every month and I’ve paid off all of that debt.
Last week, Layken, one of our servers, asked if I ever stop to think about how wild all of this has been in such a short time.
I don’t think I do enough.
More than 13,000 women have now traveled to Marion for our brunches from 43 states and four countries.
This October, we’re partnering with the Marion Palace Theatre to produce BIGGER, PLEASE! - a new live experience for 1,000 women.
As the brunches grew, they became where most of my time and creative energy went. They were the engine that pulled us out of that hole and opened doors I never could have imagined.
Now that we’re no longer fighting to survive, I can finally focus on what comes next.
We know how good Bucci’s can be, but there is still so much untapped potential.
We have the team and the space to make Bucci’s a destination. Not just for brunch, but for dinner, catering, weddings, private events, and so much more.
Our team has stepped up and taken on much of the work needed to keep us moving forward. But getting Bucci’s where it needs to go requires someone whose full focus is connecting the pieces, building systems, creating consistency, and leading that growth every day.
I’m not too proud to admit that I don’t have the experience, skill set, or right kind of brain to get us to that next level, and our team shouldn’t have to carry it on top of everything else they already do.
If I’ve learned anything through all of this, it’s to surround yourself with people who are great at what they do and aligned with your values.
That’s why bringing Winnie Brewer onto our team feels like such a big moment.
We’re excited to introduce Winnie, who will be leading restaurant and catering operations at Bucci’s.
Winnie brings nearly 30 years of food service and management experience, including leadership roles with Marion City Schools, Starbucks, and a large hotel and conference center.
In 2024, she was named Food Service Director of the Year for the entire state of Ohio.
Winnie has spent her career finding better ways to do things. She’s built innovative food programs, helped create school gardens, expanded access to meals for children and families, improved operations, reduced waste, and developed strong teams.
She doesn’t just maintain what already exists. She looks at what something could become and figures out how to get it there.
She’s a proven operator, a problem solver, and a leader who genuinely cares about both people and the work.
We survived.
Then brunch helped us grow.
Now Winnie is here to help us build what comes next.
Please help us welcome her to the Bucci’s family. We are VERY lucky to have her. ❤️
