3 Questions with Rob Long, Co-Owner of River City Roll
After five years with BB&T Capital Markets, Rob Long saw an opportunity to bring a boutique bowling alley to his hometown of Richmond, VA. Rob liked the concept of opening a venue with a focus on great food and drink with a backdrop of crashing pins and the energy associated with a bowling alley.
“I thought this would be perfect. They're popping up all over the country, and I knew someone was going to do this in Richmond,” he says. “I didn’t want to sit at a desk the rest of my life and always wanted to do something food- and drink-related. Quitting my job and doing this was the scariest part; it was a leap of faith."
We caught up with Rob over a few frames and pints for this week's 3 Questions.
If you weren't operating a boutique bowling alley, what would you be doing?
I would probably still be sitting on the trading floor at BB&T thinking about how to make River City Roll a reality. We have only been open 3 months but the idea has been in the works for almost 3 years!
What advice would you give your 20 year old self?
Life is short. You don’t have to do what you “think you are supposed to do.” Take your time and find something you truly enjoy.
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Perfect anything is tough to accomplish, but having a bowling alley in Richmond, Virginia Beach and Charlottesville would be pretty ideal…that way time could be spent “working” at the beach in the summer, Charlottesville in the fall and Richmond in the spring! The Virginia trifecta in my mind!
Find out more about River City Roll here. Shop The Moreheed Knit here. Photos by Kate Magee.