Happy Birthday Vino!
We're raising our glasses to 15 years of incredible memories, delicious wines, and cherished moments at Vino! Join us as we celebrate this milestone anniversary in style!
Get ready to sip, savor, and celebrate with:
Special wine selections curated just for this occasion
Gourmet bites perfectly paired with our finest wines
Opportunities to capture the memories
Let's toast to 15 years of passion, dedication, and, most importantly, our incredible community of wine lovers!
Don't miss out on this unforgettable evening! Tag your friends, mark your calendars, and let's make this celebration one for the books! #15YearsOfWineBar #Celebration #WineLoversUnite
Vino’s Story and Some Fun Info You May Not Know…
Vino At The Landing, established in February 2009, is the realization of owner Rick McMaster's dream to unite his enthusiasm for wine with a love for community. After over 11 years in the tech industry, Rick envisioned Vino as a haven for wine enthusiasts, akin to a "Cheers" atmosphere. Thanks to an excellent location, a dedicated staff passionate about wine and customer service, this dream has indeed come to life.
The Interview…
Recognition by TMMBA Alumni 07 Mar 2015
After competing in the UW Business Plan Competition and graduating from the Technology Management MBA (TMMBA) Program in 2006, Rick McMaster caught the entrepreneurship bug. McMaster made an unconventional shift from a career in technology at Intel to pursuing his passion for the local Washington wine industry. Today McMaster has put his TMMBA skills to work and is the Owner and General Manager of the thriving Vino at the Landing in Renton.
What’s next for McMaster? In January 2015, he purchased a second location, Reds Wine Bar at Kent Station, and sees even more growth in his future. Much to the delight of McMaster’s patrons, more chardonnay, merlot and syrah possibly await! Read more about McMaster’s story below.
On Career
What is most rewarding about your job? What makes it all worthwhile?
I love the community atmosphere that we’ve established at Vino through great food, delicious wine, and wonderful service. We have a lot of regular customers who patron Vino on a daily or weekly basis. It’s great to know our customers on a personal level, learn about their personal lives, and know that Vino is the place that they go to relax and unwind.
What have been the biggest challenges in your career?
Growing Vino from a staff of 3 to 20 has been extremely challenging. When we started there were no policies and procedures in place. We now have an employee manual in place with a more disciplined performance management process. Resourcing has also been challenging. As we’ve grown it has been difficult figuring out when to hire and how many people to hire. There is a lot of turnover in the restaurant industry so it’s also challenging to retain good employees.
What is your biggest professional accomplishment?
We were honored by the Renton Chamber of Commerce for Outstanding Customer Service for 2012 and 2014. And we were just recently honored by the Washington State Wine Commission with a Grand Award for our locally focused wine program.
Who has had the biggest influence on your career?
My first boss at Cummins Engine, Mike Carney, was the biggest influence on my career. He was a huge proponent of The 7 Habits and building highly effective teams.
What are you most excited or passionate about?
I am most excited about the personal development of my employees. Most of my staff started at Vino in their early 20s. It’s been wonderful to see them grow into management positions.
Where do you want to be in 5 or 10 years?
I purchased a 2nd location, Reds Wine Bar at Kent Station in January 2015. I’d love to open a 3rd location in the next 5-10 years. I’ve also been working on a business plan for a cocktail bar and would love to open that concept in downtown Renton as part of the city revitalization efforts.
On TMMBA
What were your goals upon entering TMMBA?
I was working at Intel when I entered the program. I had worked primarily in program management and had an engineering background. I knew that I needed the business education if I ever wanted to advance my career at Intel. I thought the TMMBA program would help me to achieve this.
How has TMMBA impacted your career?
There is no doubt that I never would have had this opportunity with Vino at the Landing & Reds Wine Bar without my experience in the TMMBA program. As a small business owner, every part of the TMMBA program curriculum is used on a daily basis.
On Life
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I’m an avid golfer. Vino opens at 11am so I’ve been known to get 18-27 holes in prior to opening. My girlfriend is an avid runner and running coach so I see many 5K races in my future too.
Are you involved in any community organizations?
Vino contributes to many local charities including the Renton Clothes Bank and we are heavily involved in the Renton Chamber of Commerce. I just began mentoring with the Renton School District.
Business book recommendation?
I’m going to go old school with this one… Stephen Covey’s The Seven Habits Of Highly Effective People.
The Past Few Years…
Amidst the challenges of COVID-19, owner Rick McMaster and manager Tara Andrews demonstrated remarkable ingenuity by crafting an unforgettable online experience for Vino's customers. Their efforts resulted in a plethora of exciting tastings, including a memorable exploration of Riesling (don't forget to inquire with Tara about this) and a dynamic session featuring Morgan, the winemaker for Two Vintners. Tara truly excelled in orchestrating these events, providing patrons with a space to savor wine and reconnect with friends they hadn't seen in months. Laughter, tears, and joy were shared among our cherished Vino clientele. Through initiatives like these, owner Rick McMaster recognized Tara Andrews' invaluable contributions, leading to her receiving a stake in the business.
Today I'm excited to announce Tara Andrews has been promoted to co-owner of Vino. I was lucky enough to hire Tara in December of 2009 as Vino struggled through our first year of business. Thanks to Tara's passion for customer service, organizational skills, and love of wine our business instantaneously took off (her wine-pushing skills certainly helped too) and has continued to grow over the years.
One thing that I came to appreciate as we all have struggled through this pandemic has been Tara's great connection to all of our Vino customers. She cares about all of you as much as you do for her and she genuinely wants everyone to have a great Vino experience. Tara has earned her ownership position at Vino which I'm excited to share with all of you today.
- Rick McMaster, Vino at the Landing Owner
OK back up…
In 2014, Rick McMaster crossed paths with Janna Theriault, a running coach, after one of her races at the landing. It was a serendipitous encounter, as Janna had been working next door for quite some time, unbeknownst to Rick until then. Their conversations revealed that Janna possessed a background in marketing, which piqued Rick's interest. Subsequently, Janna began spearheading the marketing efforts for Vino, a role she has since embraced wholeheartedly.
Amid the challenges posed by COVID-19, effective marketing became paramount for keeping customers informed about specials, wine club updates, and online tasting experiences. Janna played a pivotal role in ensuring that Vino maintained a strong online presence and stayed connected with its clientele during this crucial period. and later during the rebuilding after the fire.
Then What …
Rick and Janna were married July 3, 2021
Rick became a step dad of 4 and grandfather to 2 boys with one I DO. They spend their time working at Vino, traveling, working out and of course they both LOVE to golf.
But What About The Fire?
by the Renton Reporter
The Renton Regional Fire Authority (RFA) responded to a structure fire at The Landing shopping and dining center on July 6.
Security officers at The Landing reported seeing flames on the roof of a building across from the Rock Wood Fire Pizza at 830 N. 10th St., according to Sara Morris, a spokesperson with the department. The fire was noticed just before midnight.
The security employees called 911 and reported the fire on the roof of the business Vino at the Landing at 800 N. 10th Pl., which they believed was caused by fireworks. The employees reportedly attempted to extinguish the fire before responders arrived.
According to Morris, when the first fire engine arrived and confirmed the roof was on fire, the situation was quickly upgraded to a “working commercial fire.”
Morris said crews first did a primary search of the building but did not find anyone inside.
At 2:14 a.m. on July 7, a second alarm was requested for additional units from the department after the crews fought the fire for nearly two hours.
“We had a total of 18 units respond, with approximately 23 Renton RFA firefighters responding,” Morris said in an email. “We also had assistance from Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority, Bellevue Fire Department, King County Fire District #2, King County Medic One and Renton Police Department.”
According to Morris, a ladder truck was able to knock down most of the fire from the roof. Crews remained on scene for several hours to extinguish any hot spots and check for any additional extensions before a fire investigation began to determine the cause.
The fire was determined by investigators to be caused by fireworks that ignited the roof of the building, the department estimated the damage to be approximately a value of $1 million — with $200,000 in fire damage and $800,000 in water damage to the buildings.
Now We Are Back …
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our loyal customers, dedicated staff, reliable contractors, supportive friends, and cherished family members for standing by Vino during the challenges of the past years. Thanks to your unwavering support, Vino has emerged stronger than ever before, and we are deeply appreciative.
As we look ahead, we are committed to upholding our tradition of delivering excellent customer service. Whether you're seeking a relaxing evening with dinner and a glass of wine before catching a movie, picking up a special bottle for a dinner party, or eager to explore the latest vintage from a renowned Pacific Northwest producer, we invite you to continue making Vino At The Landing your preferred gathering place. Together, let's toast to the enduring spirit of community and the joys of sharing great wine and cherished moments.
With Gratitude
We look forward to celebrating with you!
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