Pamela Bardhi 

 Welcome, everyone to another episode of underdog today is a very special day. I have two of my most inspirational people in my life, my mentors, my everything. My parents are actually here today, Eva and Sokol Bardhi. Mom and Dad, thank you So, much for being here today. I know you’re not used to like interviews in this kind of thing. It’s all good. So, we’re gonna make it fun. Yeah. So, if you want to introduce yourself to everyone and sort of who you are your name, what you do now and that sort of thing.

 

Eva Bardhi 

Okay, I’m Eva and I’m Pam’s mom. And right now, me and Sokol and my son, Enea we work at a pizza place. We own a pizza place for about 22 years. And I’ve been working there for almost 18 years. It’s a lot of work, but I’m enjoying it. As long as I do it for my family for my kids. I’m happy to do it. Yeah.

 

Sokol Bardhi 

My name is Sokol Bardhi. I’m Pamela’s dad. And I have my lovely wife here. And both of us, we start working into that pizza place, which is even more important, and that thing. And both together, we raise our kids and Pamela and Enea. And like Eva said it’s a hard work. But we got all the satisfaction, then you can get from one job, like, financially the second one, but we happy we got our place. And we work for our family. So, that is our goal.

 

Pamela Bardhi 

I know you both very well, because I was born from you, mom. But I You always talk about the family. And that’s one thing that I always remember is everything you do is for family. And I’m the same way too. Now I want to hear a little bit more about you. Each of you and sort of your journey, your story where you came from, like mom, like where, where you were born, where you grew up, what you studied in school, that kind of thing. Up until you met daddy. Okay,

 

Eva Bardhi 

So, I was born in Albania, Tirana. And then, I went to school there and I finished the college for Finance in Albania. And after I was graduated from college, we both got married. And after a year, we were married together you were born in November 1. So, after that, after four months, Dad has to go to Italy to work because in Albania at this time wasn’t too much work. And then for better life, he just went to Italy, where his uncle was living at that time. So, me and you,we stayed in Albania for about 10 months. And then finally we got the visa to go to Italy. And we went to Italy and we’ll live there for about like five years. I didn’t work much over there because I was raising you. And then after five years in Enea came, 1996 and I was doing some little jobs like when they used to come home, I used to go take care of one old lady in Italy. I mean it was hard, but we got through it. And then when Enea was born, the day that he was born, my mother in law, dad’s mom, she called us and says she said that we won the visa lottery to come to America on Enea’s birthday. The day that he was born.

 

Pamela Bardhi 

Oh my gosh. Wow.

 

Eva Bardhi 

So, I said, we were like we learn Italian and we are we’re used to that life over there. So, I told Sokol, now we’re not going to America, we’re all set in Italy, we already moved from Albania to Italy. No more. He said, No, we got to go there because America like, is dream for everybody to come and realize their dreams. And that’s how we came here. In 1997

 

Pamela Bardhi 

1997 wasn’t the end of 1996, something like that?

 

Sokol Bardhi 

No ’97, June. Like we come at the end of the June. And there was that snow, famous snow then there wasn’t to April, and big, big snow. So, we all we had our jacket and everything, we put it on top, because we said we’re going to go into summer, So, we need them was that goal we thought was going to be cold. And when we came here, that was 90 degrees. So, we have to put the jacket back again, where we get them from.

 

Pamela Bardhi 

So, Dad, you got to introduce your story now.

 

Sokol Bardhi 

So, my name is, Sokol Bardhi. And I’m born in Austria, because my father used to work for the country as ambassador. So, and then my life, you know, it was between Albanian and Austria and Germany that my father continued to do that for 30 years. So, there was back and forth.

 

Pamela Bardhi 

He was an ambassador. Right?

 

Sokol Bardhi 

Yes. For the Congress, So, and So, basically, I see what happened out, Albanian, you know, and, but I’ve come back to Albanian and I was going to school there. And I finished college. Like Eva said, I was playing basketball for almost 17 years. So, basically, I go to the school, and they used to call that time, Physic Education Institute. And from there, I graduated, and then we married together. At that time, an Albanian, they changed the system from communist, the communist goes down. So, there was a really confusing over there what you had to do. So, like, the other of my Albanian people, they went out of the country. So, I decided to go too, So, I can build something better for my family. And I went to Italy, where my uncle was, which is like, my, you know, it’s everything. For me. It’s, we are almost the same age. So, we leave our life together in Albania. So, I went to Italy and we start working every job that comes. I work construction because I feel I learned Italian and then after that I start to distribute the medicines on a pharmacy with a motorcycle. That was two jobs, and I did there. And then like Eva said, when Enea was born, there came the visa lottery. And Eva says, We’re not going to go, right? I said, why not? We never talked about that. I said, we never talked because I don’t want to go illegally over there. I want to go legal. And this is the way we can all family go there. And we can build our life.

 

Pamela Bardhi 

 Nana, Nana put in your name. But we don’t even know that because everybody put in the names of it there but doesn’t mean everybody has to win.  Right. Right.

 

Sokol Bardhi 

But we got lucky. Probably led a little Enea came in life and he is say, hey, you got to do something better for me. And that’s why I decide to come. So, all of a sudden, after eight month we’ve been to America. We came here and now what are we going to do because we can’t speak English. We’re looking for the house. Nobody give us the house because they say and Where do you work? So, you can bring your check and what check I had to bring him a check from Italy. So, just, you know I find the house you know after with a lot of problems. There has to be cosigner people. So, I have all my friends and looking, you know, to be to give like a warranty, then we’re going to pay the rent and we came to this country and we are good people. So, let’s, I ended up to buy, to go in Chelsea to one building over there. And we are in a room waiting to come all the furniture and everything. And that was another stress because we said at least bring something where the kids going to sleep. And then, that thing go by too. And what comes after the job. Everywhere I go, nobody can understand me because I don’t speak English. So, that was very hard. And I wanted to work construction. So, do you make more money to pay all the bills. After a while, I started working on one pizza places delivery driver, I go part time, but then the guy decided to keep a full time. So, that was my thing. Then I had to do till I bought my own place. So, the guy that I used to work for he helped me with a money to put them down to buy that place. And that’s what I did. So, I go to buy my place. I was speaking very little English

 

Pamela Bardhi 

For the pizza place, right? Yeah. So, I bought that place. And I work with some other guys. Then Eva, come on the board. Since Eva, come on board and work with us everything changed. And we start doing good. And I cannot move from the place that I used to live in Chelsea because Pamela was a school. So, I don’t want disturb the kids bring them. You know, I’m allowed to change the school and everything. So, I stay a couple of years going back and forth. And then, we decide to move to Westeros where when my places. And then Pamela since she was 10 years old, she used to cry to come to work, which is I used to tell her don’t come to work, just learn and go to college and do this, then this but she came and that was her start. She can talk about that. More than me. So, I have a few questions for you guys. How did you meet? Where did you, where did you meet because you guys never tell me these things. So, I’m interested. So, Eva can say first.

 

Eva Bardhi  Hey, So, I was in high school when I met Sokol, So, my house was next to his grandma’s house. So, he used to stay all the time has this said earlier with his uncle that is almost his age. And because his parents at that time were in Germany, So, all the time he was hanging around with his uncle in next to to my building like my house. So, that’s where I met him and then we talked then yeah, we were friends for a long time all high school and then like when I was senior in high school, no, when I was in college, first year we got engaged and when I graduated, we got married.

 

Pamela Bardhi 

So, we took it step by step You took it step by step. Dad, I heard you were like a bad boy, you know? 

 

Sokol Bardhi 

You can consider the bad boy. Everything you do in your age, mostly all that nobody like it. Motorcycle. I used to have a motorcycle when you know when nobody has a bicycle, So, I have a motorcycle. You know So, I used to be good because my father not for me. So, the you know, I got more support from them. And of course, I don’t know what she saw on me but she like me and we took it like I said step by step. We finish everything, you know, the school and everything we get married. And after one year and a half you came and that I figured out that I now I’m responsible for the family because it’s not anymore joke like you know Go with play basketball, go with a motorcycle all day and everything go to school when I was a teacher, but since we play professional basketball, we used to go only one day at school. So, we have a class, then we go just one day and the old other days for six hours a day, six hours and a half. We used to practice. So, I used to have very good life. But like I said, everything comes down in on that country. And then, I have to be responsible for my family. And then that’s how I ended up going to Italy. And everything started there. And Barbara, I said to you before that work was.

 

Pamela Bardhi 

Now in basketball, that how many years you played for the national team of Albania? 

 

Sokol Bardhi 

We play. No, I play for the national team. Of course, you know, they are since it’s was closed for 45 years. All the talent people, they used to be in one place. So, there was very hard to be the best of the best, you know, because everybody is not like, right now, then everybody can go another country can play. If it’s good, they can play you know, So, he would leave your space to play more. But I was, you know, one of the six teams that are in this area A So, I used to, I used to play, I wasn’t a 10 people then playing and let them sell.

 

Pamela Bardhi 

So, who was your biggest teammate? Because Eddie is the prime minister of Albania now. Right.

 

Sokol Bardhi 

Eddie was playing with other team because they used to be four teams in the game. So, one was Tirana which was the team of the regular. One was the police team, which is Eddie used to play. And one was military team. Then there was another one and one was student. All students University they play in in one team. So, four of those teams, they are in a covered call. And they are very, they are good, very, very competitive. And but there was there was good. I was playing with Eddie that was a Prime Minister of Albania now

 

Pamela Bardhi 

What do you remember from it? 

 

Sokol Bardhi 

From Eddie? I mean, I will tell you, everybody plays sport. He not going to play sport, if it’s not crazy. Yeah, I mean, you know, you can be like, you know. But Eddie was a good player. And but I would he was very individual person. He was very dedicated, you know, in his things. And that’s why he’d become a Prime Minister of Albanian because he was saying something, I need to do 1234. And that’s what he used to do. So, even now, he took the country from the everything was bad doesn’t go right. And he, he’s working very hard to bring it on the system. And I think he did. Of course, with all the help of world, you know, them, they like it, Albanian to be different. To be the country, then everybody can work there again, live their last go around the world. And it’s going well, I guess. Yeah.

 

Pamela Bardhi 

Now, another question for you. So, you grew up in the communist times? Yeah. What was that like in Albania because I think, because we’re, it was Hoxha. And then it was Ramiz Alia after that.

 

Sokol Bardhi 

Yeah, she can say it out first. With experience was for me.

 

Eva Bardhi 

I mean, for me, it wasn’t just the only thing. I remember was when we came from Italy, to get the visa to Tirana, Albanian American embassy. And that time was a war because it was just changing. was like, very difficult 19 before we came here, 1996.

 

Pamela Bardhi 

Because that’s when everything was changing.

 

Sokol Bardhi 

But says the communists, they are still 50 years holding the country. They still strong, they now have no more power on the government, but they used to be very strong on the other system. So, basically, they split those people. They used to be communist and all of a sudden just to do career. They go another side they become democrats change their name, they change not change the name. But oh, I was young, I didn’t know too many things. So, basically, they change them too. And that was fighting very bad at that time. And that’s why the embassy was closed, but it opened, like, probably I don’t want to lie, but like, three, four days before my time was to go and take the visa. And you and mom and Enea you’ve been in Albania, and when those people fighting, you’ve been there.

 

Pamela Bardhi 

Yeah.

 

Sokol Bardhi 

And I was in Italy still working, because I want to make as much money. So, I can pay for the ticket. And for everything that we’re going to go to one country that we don’t have no, no support, we don’t know what’s going to get to be there. So, but it open, we got lucky, and it open. So, that’s why, we, when we take a visa, and as soon as you know, we get ready, like, you know, like, they were like, probably two weeks, three weeks, we just fly to America. When I came here. I said, Now I’m saved and I can start my life. But living in communism, I told you, my father used to be a very good position. So, I never had a problem.

 

Pamela Bardhi 

Yeah.

 

Sokol Bardhi 

But wasn’t that the system they can follow all the generation or all the people there wasn’t good for everyone. Like it’s here in America who got the opportunity, but you got it. Everybody can do it. Over there, you have to be to one side of the party, whatever they call that time. I mean, I was So, you can do good. The other side of the dictator used to banish them bringing jails or wherever. For them was hard for me was never hard. But I realize when my time was when I had my father is do very good life. Now what I’m going to do for myself to make better life for my family. And So, I decided to leave the country to don’t deal with those things that happened over there. Just for the family. Family was my goal. And still are and still going to be till I’m going to go away from this world.

 

Pamela Bardhi 

Yeah. Oh, definitely. But like, in the communist, communism environment, they couldn’t go to church. Right? You couldn’t do…

 

Sokol Bardhi 

No. That was that was the worst thing that they did to people. I mean, I would say there was the worst thing and I would say there was 25% was good because people learn how to live with each other. And no fighting for religion like they find in half of the world. No, we don’t they don’t make you. So, religion is good. But not till you’re going to go after that without looking left out. Right, you know. So, that was then everybody was the same. Everybody living together they had no problem. They have no fighting and even now in Albanian, they don’t fight for religions.

 

Pamela Bardhi 

Yeah.

 

Sokol Bardhi 

At all. So, that’s it’s only good thing that was about that, but they destroy a lot of people and a lot of people. Then they want to go to church they want to and still some people they hold it even there was that system, or they hold everything. So

 

Pamela Bardhi 

Now, how did you make the decision to just come to the United States because I remember I was five and now it was like Enea was six months old.

 

Sokol Bardhi 

You are five but I will tell you didn’t say I want to go to America, but you need space. I would say that, and I remember they came two have my friends, they came to visit because for Enea and to see you. So, we used to have our house you know like a building So, there was closed and those guys they brought you umbrella. How they go umbrella for the rain. Yeah, for the rain. And you know in Albania, I don’t know, for whatever reason you cannot open inside the house.

 

Pamela Bardhi 

Oh, yeah. I don’t know. It’s something bad, bad thing, you know, old wives’ tale. So, you want it to open and we say no. And then you find the ways that I maybe it’s raining outside. So, I want to check that take the umbrella and my friend told me if she’s going to go outside which was closed wasn’t all the rains going to come in? This is to me if she’s going to say, Oh my god, it’s raining too much. She’s going to be smart. And then as soon as you go out to say, Oh my god, it’s So, rainy. And this and that. And then the open umbrella is my friend says, Sokol, you can have problem with this girl. And then like too, in Italy, we were with that idea. And we were in Rome,

 

Sokol Bardhi 

Rome. Oh, yes, we’ve been in Rome.

 

Pamela Bardhi 

For five years, right? Almost five years? Yeah. So, I was like, there back and forth. And then I permanently moved here when I was a year and a half old. Right? Yeah. And then, but like, how did you make the decision to just go, Dad? Did you just say, We’re going because it sounded like mom didn’t want?

 

Eva Bardhi 

I was used to Italy.

 

Pamela Bardhi 

We never talked that we never talk. But I see people then paying $20,000, $30,000 to come to America. And they used to go through Canada.

 

Sokol Bardhi 

I don’t know. But to bet, you know, to use every way to come here. And they come here, and they had no paper. They had nothing. And So, why are you doing that? I mean, but some people that oh, I have to go to America to go to my I never talked about that. But when I see the opportunity to go, I said, I’d like I said before it’s we go, we go over there legal. And we’re going to be like everybody else. Only thing you had to do you have to go over there. So, I come here, of course, you know, I don’t come to Hollywood, you know, So, I would see what I see in TV. I come to the real life. But I never blame America. Why I am in this position. I blame myself because I don’t speak English. So, I had to learn English. I mean, and then that’s how it started. I never say oh, I was happy in Italy, I got a job and why now here or I used to be basketball player. Now I had to work construction. I never put my head back. And from that time, Eva can say that all the time is America is the best. Problem is the people have to find themselves what they can do. And wherever we did, together, it’s very, very good. What we did, we work. We got your kids at school and everything. We got business. Of course, they took more than most of our time to do that. And we really did it very hard. I tell him you, Eva, it’s, I can say with you know, the she’s 80% of the store than we do in there. She’s in charge for everything. And I do my part. But without Eva, I cannot go and we still have to do more ‘till you guys going to do better. And I don’t want to run all our job to go for nothing. Because then you know, we don’t do anything if you don’t want to do the next step. For your family and your case. You’re going to have two more on our thing.

 

Pamela Bardhi

Now, what did what did it feel that like, when you first came here because you pretty much took everything that you knew in Europe. Yeah. And just like, completely started fresh. Yeah, you know how to look back? Yeah, no, I know. But like, what, what was it? What was the struggle like? At that time? Like, were you scared? Like, were you like, how?

 

Sokol Bardhi 

Scared? I was never scared that for sure. And no, I don’t say that. Because I’m a man and I cannot say oh, I was scared only thing you’d be you’d be not scared. But you worry about is your family. Because we came here with some money but the money, we spent for furniture we spent for this. There’s this and you know, you going to pay around you were a baby.

 

Eva Bardhi 

Oh, yeah, one second. I just remember that time that we will leave the building right. So, we had to pay rent and the due date was Friday. But then this time was working some construction job. And then the check would arrive like Friday. So, we didn’t have enough money to pay the rent, the due date. So, we were So, Worried and we asked my cousin, can we just borrow $300 from you, for the pay rent, and then Friday, we can give it to you back? And he was of course, sure. And then I remember that day every second here, no, like, oh my god. So, we start from minus and we tried hard to have a better life for you. And then since Sokol was raised without his parents most of the time because they lived in Germany, and they leave the four of them in Albania. That’s why I’m always trying to keep you guys you are an air close to us. So, because dad was having this thing that he didn’t stay spent So, much time with his parents, at least you can spend a lot of time with us.

 

Pamela Bardhi

Yeah, no, definitely. I just like, more than anything. I admire how you guys like, just sacrificed everything. You put everything on the line. I like, that would scare me, you know, to just say, you left everything, you know, to come here and just…

 

Eva Bardhi 

What you’re going to do? Sometimes you’re like, these been days that I’ve been very, very tired. And I just wanted to cry because, like, I was So, like, full stress and everything, tired. But then when I was thinking that you guys like, okay, I’ll do this, because this is all for my kids.

 

Pamela Bardhi 

You both built something beautiful. So, and when did we buy the business? It was 2000, right? 1999? I think you were working there, though. So, you were here? Not even three years?

 

Sokol Bardhi 

Yes.

 

Pamela Bardhi 

And you guys bought the business in West Roxbury?

 

Sokol Bardhi 

Yeah.

 

Pamela Bardhi 

How did you go from not speaking English to getting to that point?

 

Sokol Bardhi 

You going to go, Pam. You got to do that; you know. It’s like, when I learned English, that I meant, if you know, I know basic English, you know, things, then I’m going to stay in the middle of the road, to ask on one road to ask for my things, or just to speak normal. And you got to do it. And when you take the store, it’s more responsibility. Because that’s your life. Before you take the store, basically, we buy the store, you buy the problems of somebody else. So, you have to deal with it, it’s completely new. So, you got to make it to work for you. So, you’re going to find the strategy, how to make it, how it works. And but never better, make it better, to make it better. And to soil, to stay in business. To stay in business is not easy. It’s hard. But for example, when I went to that store, I see people, they give me ideas, Oh, do this, do that, do this. And what I did, I said, I’m never going to advertise. And suddenly, how are you going to bring your business up. I said instead I spend money for the papers. And everybody’s just take a look at like this and put in the garbage, my money. I’m going to give more food to people. So, I make my sizes of sandwich a little bigger. I buy all the time quality food, I still do now. And everything. So, the people that was word of mouth, and slowly, everything start coming. And since when I told you that Eva, it’s 80% of the store. I don’t say that as a compliment to her. I say that she really is. Because I spend time go out the store when I deliver. And I’m not there. It’s all on her. But this way, I meet people, I see people. And my philosophy on the business was this. Don’t put the dollar in front of people. Put it on the back. So, you see more how to make people happy, and to work with them and to make it you know the relationship or relationship. Then you see the money because if you’re going to see only the money, you’re not going to do it for yourself. Just to take care of people they don’t know what they need, or you don’t know what you’re doing, you know, So, that was like I kept it that way. And So, far, you know, everything went fine.

 

Pamela Bardhi 

Yeah, I remember that’s what you taught me in business. I remember when I called you guys after my junior year in college, and I told you I was going to open a business. And I didn’t know what it was. yet. Mommy freaked out. And then, the first thing you told me that you were like, Pam, you going to understand if you’re going to own a business, you have to have a big heart.

 

Sokol Bardhi 

Of course.

 

Pamela Bardhi 

That was like the number one thing that I kept. And like, I always focused on the relationships and everything since I heard that.

 

Sokol Bardhi 

 You have to have a big heart because not everything. I mean, money is there. But not all the money is for you. You’re sharing and you’re working and you’re doing everything with people. People are more important than money.

 

Eva Bardhi 

Oh yes, summertime. The Door of pizza place is always most of the time open. So, you see dad going outside, with bottles of water people, they walk around. Oh take a water.

 

Sokol Bardhi 

So, it happens for us to be the YMCA in the back. So, they are all people, then they go in over there, but they are coming out and they’re exercising over there. And you see them all red in the face. And I said, you know, take a water, you know, and it and then it’s, I said water should be free. I said shame on London, they put in a bottle and they start laughing. No, it’s just like, oh, you see construction, when you drive, I drive to bring food to them. And I see them working in the middle of 90-degree heat, they go and I’m working inside, you know the road and doing things. And I see how many people are and all the time I bring them water or Pepsi or wherever. And they say what is promised? It’s no problem you can drink it. So, I mean No, it’s everything you got to share with people, and you’re going to have better business and better life.

 

Pamela Bardhi 

I remember I was like 10 years old when I was at the pizza place and I would watch you, like chase people down the street to take a walk.

 

Sokol Bardhi 

Because what this guy needs, but then I see on the bus stop. I see old person waiting for the bus and staying there and sweating and doing everything. So, it doesn’t cost me anything to cross the street and give one water to them. And I all the time, I tell you. I say those people, they work and they pay taxes. So, we come from another country. And we have everything built. We know what it means to don’t pay taxes. But you have nothing.

 

Pamela Bardhi 

Right?

 

Sokol Bardhi 

And some people they tell me Oh, you almost you are happy you pay in taxes that I come from one place that they don’t pay in taxes, they have nothing. And you complain about paying taxes, and you think you love your nephews and you grandkids? You don’t because how those are going to live after if you stop paying, or they don’t have anything. And they say yeah, you’re right. Make sense? Does that make sense? But we all have to contribute and make it. Look, listen to the way this. That’s why it is like that.

 

Pamela Bardhi 

What’s been like the best piece of advice that you’ve ever gotten?

 

Sokol Bardhi 

From?

 

Pamela Bardhi 

Anyone.

 

Sokol Bardhi 

See here? No, that’s, I came from different worlds. So, nobody can give me advice here for that world that I came from. And here, I tried to do everything to work for this world here. But there wasn’t advice there was just into it. You know, like I work with my, how to make everything around me to work for me. I mean, to work on the relationship and everything, not just the work, making money and but just to do be a normal person. And then you’re going to do everything, you know, do everything right. Try to do not, you know, because you do bad things, or everything comes back to you. You know, you do good things, comes back to you. So, treat somebody else the way you want to be treated. This is the best advice and I hear in America. How you want to be treated that you treat somebody else and then everything would be fine.

 

Pamela Bardhi 

For you, Mama, what’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever given? or advice you would give?

 

Eva Bardhi 

If you work hard then you have something in your mind, yeah. And then everything can be possible if you work hard.

 

Sokol Bardhi 

Nothing in America is impossible. But you don’t have to jump from one place to place. Everything has to have a nice Foundation, which you do. And then, you know, you can go forward forever thing, you know, because Don’t forget that we do something our way, maybe it’s old timing, you know, not what we’re doing. But you all the time, you’re going to take that experience and put it on your life and your kids tomorrow. So, you’re going to watch what kind of experience you give to your kids by doing things. So, I think family is the best thing you can do all those things to go through our than that, you know, I know thing, anything work as to be family, consistent, listen everybody’s opinion, see what they want to do. Give your advice and see. going to happen because you are 30 years younger than me, of course, you are a way updated for me. But the basic things are the basic things. Family, honesty, and work for everything you have, or you want to do.

 

Pamela Bardhi 

Now, up until date, you’ve made all these sacrifices, you bought the business and you bought the building. And now everything is expanding, and my role of the real estate development and the construction stuff. But you know, what is next for you

 

Sokol Bardhi 

For the parents is not next. Parents is just all the time for you So, you doing good what you’re doing in real estate, and I told you, it’s not the money. You have to see, you have to see people, when you’re dealing with, you know, it’s you do just the right thing for people and everything, and you’re going to get better. And this is the way you can go more around to your family tomorrow. Because if you’re going to be like us spending all day in a business, you’re not going to have time for your kids. And God bless, you have been two good kids. So, we never had a problem. But some families then seeing only the work and they don’t see in the kids; the kids go in a different way. So, even this one is to support you and Enea to do better life to add more time to stay with each other, help each other. And in our we are bigger family than that, you know, we are just four of us. But we got Eva sister, we got her niece and her husband. So, we are seven people working together. And I want to mention that Monica was very great help for Eva to do that business. And we are a family with seven people. And we got now because both are old men, they passed away. Her father and my father. So, we got two more in this my mother and my mother in law that we have to take care and we stay in all together and doing the right thing. And hopefully it’s going to be like this all the time. And don’t forget our niece, Kayla. She’s watching all the time. What are we doing? And she’s going to be one day like you. Yeah,

 

Pamela Bardhi 

I hope. That would be awesome.

 

Sokol Bardhi 

Yeah. So, you’re going to be both doing you know, and we’re going to be just happy to see how you’re doing great. And next step is to support you with everything and anything. And we have more time to help you.

 

Pamela Bardhi 

So, that means you’re going to be getting out of the restaurant business

 

Sokol Bardhi 

we just going to sell the business, but we got the building. than they are not. So, of course you know, we want to what we start somebody follow that and he can do you know, he got more energy and got more things to do that one. And everything else, everything else is going to work for you guys.

 

Pamela Bardhi 

Now, now, now that you’re kind of like going to be semi retired, what are like, What’s something that you want to do that you’re passionate about? I know that you have the birds.

 

Sokol Bardhi 

So, yeah, that is not understandable for everyone. Because when you say I want to deal with my pigeons, everybody first thing come and read mind, it’s pigeons from the street. Oh and say what he wants to do. But I am in the clubs then from California. And I know that I got all my friends all those clubs are more bigger. So, they are fancy birds and it’s different. Some people probably never hear of it. But in 300 some million they are in America people we are probably 500 people dealing with that. So, and but you know, I travel, when I say My passion is this, I want to travel, because the clubs, I mean, the shows, they are all around America, but sometimes they are in Texas, sometimes they are in California, sometime they are they going to be in Louisville, Kentucky this year, which I can be driving, they’re not to fly to California. So, it’s this is, you know, I need more time for that whole week than I have. And that’s what and I’m spending time with my lovely wife. Because people ask us is how come you work together? And you have no problem, I said, who said we have no problem? No real problem and are like, because I said no, we basically, she does her job and I do my job. Because when you say you own the store, it’s a lie. Store owns you. Because he needs you there every day. But we work family. So, we have trust inside So, everything goes smooth. But it’s not like this for everybody. So, but time, it’s the time to go for another step. And we’re going to do that. And let’s see how it’s going to work.

 

Eva Bardhi 

I mean, I just want at least to practice my what I finished for finance So, I can help you with some stuff. And that’s it.

 

Pamela Bardhi 

To have your dad and mom, bosses, you learned. Now, I’m going to see how I’m going to be when I have my dollar boss, who’s going to treat me same thing? So, that’s going to be it. very interesting. Yeah, no, no, Dad and Mom, I knew both are on Facebook, because you going to tell everyone how they can reach you. Because you’re famous. Now that you’re on the show, you know?

 

Eva Bardhi 

My Facebook, I just got Facebook pages. Eva Shukle with my maiden name. Yeah. Sokol has the same.

 

Sokol Bardhi 

 For me, for me. You come to this country, you going to work. But I mean, work and enjoy it. You know, depends from where you started? Where do we start? They need a lot of work to make to go through it. Because it’s everyday thing, dealing with people dealing with people do this. And that you got to do kind of, to have your personality in there. Because some people don’t understand then you do that to respect him or just to be because it’s a customer. And some time when they asked me and they say me Oh, yeah, customer is all the time. All right, as I don’t think so. They say, how come? I said I’m working 15 hours over there. I have no rights. I get to do my job. And I will tell you what you want me to do for you to make you more happy. And if you’re not happy, you go to another place. Please, there are 50 places over there. You can go anyplace you want. But not to make it like customers. All right. So, you have to please Him when you don’t have to. So, keep it that way. What you do you try the best. You can take all advice from somebody how to do better. Like there was one Spanish guy. He says to me Can I give you advice and he says to me why don’t dip those chickens on a hot sauce. I said I can give you a gallon dividend there and take it home if you want to. But not everybody like it. So, when you try this as the best asset for you, but if I do to somebody else might not like it. So, and that was it. We’ve been like we know each other for a long time. So, you got those things at the store.

 

Pamela Bardhi 

I’m excited for your next chapter though. Like you guys have worked.

 

Sokol Bardhi 

I told you I want to see what kind of boss you’re going to be.

 

Pamela Bardhi 

I’m not going to be that bad, Dad, I probably don’t know. I’m going to take it easy on you.

 

Sokol Bardhi 

I don’t know

 

Pamela Bardhi 

you weren’t easy on me that I wanted to go to middle school dances that and I’d had to work. You’ve said, No, it’s Friday. You can go after eight. After you work. And I would go there, and I would smell like French fries.

 

Sokol Bardhi 

 going to be from this place, then we take it we’re doing that interview to you. First person there was there wasn’t that good bus? So, probably you’re going to do that. Remember that now? I was going to say What did I do. I tried to do my job. Like you keep talking here. In my job, everybody has to do his job. So, that’s what I did. But you know, as soon as I’m you know, has must be at the store. You are free guy for life. So, did I pay you back for this? what they say about you? another guy there was so.

 

Pamela Bardhi 

So, I thank you both So, much for coming today. As you know, you’re my number one inspiration and motivation. You know, when everybody asked me, Pam, why do you work as hard as you do? I always say, well, it’s for my parents, and my family. And you know, So, everything. Everything you’ve sacrificed and everything you’ve done is more than appreciated. And I thank you both So, much. And the next chapter is going to be exciting. I promise I’m not going to be too hard on you, Dad. Bam. It’s all depends from you. I understand my position So, I’m going to do the best. Thank you both So, much for coming, everyone. Thank you So, much for tuning into underdog. next episodes will be out soon. Special shout out to our sponsors.