Inspiring Conversations with Akil Ajmeri of Ayras Liqour & Cigar

Today we’d like to introduce you to Akil Ajmeri. They and their team shared their story with us below:

In 1992, when Akil told his family that he planned to come to the United States, his uncle told him he would be back within a month and never make anything of himself because he was too reliant on his father’s money.

Determined to prove his uncle wrong, he left India with only $1500, but before the end of the first month was down to $100 in his pocket. He was forced to work for the first time in his life. He began working in a convenience store, performing tasks that he once considered far beneath him, but he quickly learned that if you want to live the American Dream, you must work hard and work long. And that’s exactly what he did!

Fast forward 25 years, and Mr. Ajmeri’s hard work shows in the form of his very own convenience stores, gas stations, and Subway restaurants. He worked his way up the ladder at that first convenience store and proved to his boss (and his uncle!) that he would do whatever it took to grow a successful business. Many hours of hard work, taking great pride in his business, and providing excellent customer service, have proven the key to his success. After his first daughter was born in 2003, he began opening additional stores and naming them after her. Ayra quickly became a well-known and well-respected name in Racine, and Mr. Ajmeri started to see the joy in sharing such businesses with his community. Just as he enjoyed turning his life 360 degrees, he also has a knack for taking old, dilapidated buildings that once were and turning them into beautiful modern locations for his businesses.

Before long, designing and creating new locations became more of a hobby than a job for him. He currently owns 1992; when Akil told his family that he planned to come to the United States, his uncle told him he would be back within a month and never make anything of himself because he was too reliant on his father’s money.

He currently owns 2 Hotels, 9 Liquor stores, 2 Convenience stores/Gas Stations, and a Subway restaurant in the Racine/Kenosha area, and he’s currently working on more. We recently opened a Bourbon Lounge in the Heart of Oak Creek.

Let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
Determined to prove his uncle wrong, he left India with only $1500, but before the end of the first month was down to $100 in his pocket. He was forced to work for the first time in his life. He began working in a convenience store, performing tasks that he once considered far beneath him, but he quickly learned that if you want to live the American Dream, you must work hard and work long. And that’s exactly what he did!

As you know, we’re big fans of Ayras Liquor & Cigar. What can you tell our readers who might need to be more familiar with the brand?
We own 2 Hotels, 9 Liquor stores, 2 Convenience stores/Gas Stations, a Subway restaurant, and Real Estate in the Racine/Kenosha/Burlington area, and he’s currently working on more. We recently opened a bourbon Lounge in the heart of Oak Creek, WI. We have a beautiful store with a lounge and walking cigar humidors. We are very popular for our Bourbon and Tequilla Barrel Picks.

What matters most to you? Why?
Everyone around you is uniquely important, whether your customers, team, community, vendors or even your competition. They all have hopes and dreams. They all have fears and struggles. They are humans, not units of production. Everyone deserves to be treated with respect, dignity, and a caring heart.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ayras.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ayras.oakcreek
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oakcreek.ayras