Race Horse Traven - zainab ali

When you first walk into the Race Horse Tavern, you can tell it is more than just a place to get food or drinks. It has a relaxed, welcoming, friendly feeling. Inside the bar, people sit around talking, playing pool, playing darts, or just hanging out with others. Most people looked like regulars because they seemed comfortable around each other. The Racehorse Tavern has pool tables, dart boards, lottery machines, tables, and a bar. They also have live music and different events throughout the year. In the back is the kitchen with foyers, a flat stovetop, ovens, a refrigerator, and a freezer.

The person I interviewed was James Delisio, who has been running the racehorse tavern since 2010, when his father passed. James was born in Brooklyn, New York, and moved to Pennsylvania when he was around `14 years old. When he was 17, he started working at Harley-Davidson. He eventually retired when his father passed and took over the bar.

James does a little of everything at the bar. He takes care of maintenance, bills, attorneys, and legal work, managing and other things that need to be done. He explained, "I'm managing it, running it, everything it takes to make it work." This made me realize that running a business takes a lot more work than just being behind the bar.

Race Horse Tavern brings people together
through food, music, and community.

While talking to James, he seemed comfortable talking about business and its history. He was also respectful and made it easy to ask questions. One thing he talked about was how important the customers are. James said that customers have a choice of which bar they can go to, so he wants them to feel welcomed, wanted, and appreciated when they choose to come to the Race Horse Tavern.

This connects to the tavern's slogan, " Welcome to the Race Horse Tavern, welcome to the race horse tavern where you come in as a stranger and leave feeling like family.'' After hearing James talk about his customers and watching people interact with each other, the slogan started to make more sense to me the more I stayed. It's not just something written about the bar. It's something the people there experience.

I also talked to four customers named Kayden, Louis, Avery, and Carter. Talking to the customers said their favorite thing to order was the spring rolls. They said they already liked spring rolls, but the ones at the Race Horse Tavern were really good. They also said they come there very often, especially on weekends.

The customers also talked about coming to the bar for different reasons. Sometimes they come with friends or family; sometimes they come for car meets or other events. When I asked what they like about the Racehorse Tavern, one of the biggest things was the community and the people. One customer explained, "It feels like family here." This quote connects to the slogan because it shows that the customers are not only coming for the food and drinks.

Another thing customers liked was the different events throughout the year that give people another reason to come back. The tavern also holds events, so there's usually more than just eating and drinking. I noticed that people were familiar with the place and with each other. This helped show the community James talked about in the interview. James also talked about some things he has learned from running the business. One important thing he learned was that you have to trust your employees and let them do their job. You cannot always try to control everything yourself. he also explained that running a business means making sure customers are happy while also treating employees fairly and making enough money to keep the business open. 

Saving money is another important lesson James learned. He explained that having a good week does not mean you should spend all the money because there will also be slower weeks. He said that you should spend all the money because there will also be slower weeks. He said that you need to save money for a rainy day. This shows that running a business is not only what happens when the customers are there. There is also a lot of planning that is behind the scenes.

A look inside Race Horse Tavern,
where everyone feels welcome.

The most personal part of the interview was when James talked about his father. His father was the person who started the business, and James eventually took over the tavern. Even though his father has passed away, James said that when he walks into the bar, he still feels close to him in some way. Knowing that his father started the business and that he gets to continue it is one of the things that means the most to him. After talking with James and the customers and observing the tavern, I think the Race Horse Tavern really does feel like more than just a bar. It has food, drinks, games, music, and events, but the people are what make the place feel different. James has continued something his father started, while the customers have helped create the community around it.

The Race Horse Tavern shows how a business can become an important part of a community. James is not only running a business that was started by his father, but he is also trying to make customers feel welcome when they come through the door. The customers who return every weekend and come with their friends and family help keep that feeling going. That is what makes the slogan, “where you come in as a stranger and leave feeling like family,” fit the Race Horse Tavern.