Andy Rieger, President of J.Rieger & Co.
Andy grew up as the last male in the Rieger family line. Throughout his childhood, he knew of the storied past his family had - the forgotten distillery known as J. Rieger & Co. A storied past was all it had since the business shut down in 1919 at the onset of federal Prohibition. Life came fast in 2010 while living in Dallas and working for an investment bank. Andy got a call one day that his father, Tom, had terminal cancer. Despite this, his dad encouraged Andy to carve out his unique career path and not return home to Kansas City because of his diagnosis. Sadly, Andy's father passed away just nine weeks after his diagnosis. But before he died, he gave Andy lasting advice - only ever move home if you have a reason, and only you will know what that reason is. In addition, his father gave him instructions, "I won't make it, but with the Rieger restaurant opening in the historic Rieger Hotel in the Crossroads, be sure you go say 'hi' to represent our family. Because of his instructions, Andy met bartender Ryan Maybee, and the discussion about reviving the historic brand was reborn. Andy's then-girlfriend, now wife, reminded Andy of his dad's advice on moving home and helped him see that he was indeed being inspired to carry on the family business. In 2014, they moved to Kansas City to begin the revival of one of Kansas City's most storied businesses. Today, Andy and his wife have two sons who will proudly carry on the family name.