3 minute read

Looking Ahead: Jerry Sailer

Jerry Sailer

Owner and Operator, Black Hills Contraband

What was your first job?

My first job was working for my father's paint company when I was six years old. He grew up on a farm in North Dakota, and his dad felt if you could go to school you could also work. My dad felt the same, so when I wasn't in school I was working on his job sites. He was a painter, so I had to clean the site and learn to paint. But he also paid me a wage to learn a trade as he put it. Then when I was in high school he would make me have a different job each winter so that I could learn different trades and learn to respect other people for their jobs. At the time I hated all of it, but later in life I respected what he did for me. He taught me multiple trades and to respect all jobs and the people that do them.

Tell us about your current job?

My current job is to make, bottle and sell Contraband flavored liqueurs. I take our raw ingredients and blend them together to create our main product. Then I hand bottle each and every bottle and label all our bottles. We also run a full service tasting room and bar with live events, such as comedy shows, live bands, karaoke, along with a kitchen menu. I get to interact with locals, and tourists everyday. It is work, but its a work that is fun, and the friendships we have made are worth it.

How has 2020 changed you?

2020 has not changed me one little bit. I'm still the same fun, grumpy, storytelling old man I always have been.

With the job, things have changed somewhat. We faced the shutdown early this year, then the massive tourism rush throughout summer, and now with winter and the COVID-19 slowdown we have learned to change things. We still have our live music every Saturday night. I refuse to give it up, no matter how slow it gets. Karaoke has ramped up quite a bit, but most of all we have been thankful for our dart leagues that play four nights a week. We are still cleaning daily have great customer service like we did before COVID-19.

Why are you excited for 2021?

To see the end of this mixed up year. Our start in 2020 looked to be a great year for us, with the first two months seeing a fantastic increase in sales. Then COVID-19 hit and the bottom dropped out. So I am expecting to see a slow start to the year, but I'm hopeful for a great summer and fall this coming year. I expect us to finally get past this current event and move on to a stronger tourist season than we have had.

Photo by Andy Greenman

Why do you live in Rapid City?

I was born and raised here in Rapid City, but after some interesting life choices I decided it had to get better than this, so I moved away for four years. I can tell you I was wrong. It did not get better. It got bigger, more crowded, more expensive, more crime ridden, and never get better. The only thing that was better was that I met my wonderful wife while away and for that I am grateful. However the best decision I ever made was to move back to Rapid City after the loss of my mother 26 years ago. I was able to be near my father, who passed away this year. Now I could not ever imagine living anywhere else. The people here are friendly, caring, and there is more things to do here than anywhere else I have been. I always say why live anywhere else? If you have it perfect here why leave?

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