Laurel Bui cuts a fresh pizza with locally bought cheese and sauce on top.

 

I was able to learn about how Laurel Bui got the idea for her business and write a story about it.

By: Kirk Bassett

 

Laurel Bui grabs an old cardboard box and writes “donations for Food for Lane County” and places it next to the cash register. Bui explains how every few months her restaurant, Whirled Pies, puts on a charity event where customers donate cans to get a discount off their meal. She recently gave a full bin to the volunteers of Food for Lane County and is excited to see how fast this new bin will fill up. Bui explains that a big part of why she is proud of owning a local business is because she can do her part to give back to the community in more ways than one.

When Bui got out of college, she was determined to have a career as a pacemaker technician at Eugene’s local hospital. Working there for ten years, she didn’t feel fulfilled and passionate about her work. Not knowing anything else but working in the medical field, Bui had no options or an idea of what she wanted to do. “I felt like all my hard work was failing me. I was frustrated that I was bored at a career I worked so hard to get.” After trying different career options, Bui came to a sad realization that she was only good at working in the medical field.

Bui decided to go back to school to be a EKG technician. For an assignment, Bui had to attend a leadership seminar across the country. Bui said that if she did not attend that seminar, she probably would not have the life that she has today. Bui’s group leader, Dale Edwards, had a lot of interest in Bui, “I told her that she had all the qualities that would make an excellent business owner. She needed to hear that. She wanted that path, she just needed the nudge.” From then on, Bui was passionate about being a business owner. Having Italian roots and spending a lot of time talking it over with her family, she decided she wanted to own a pizzeria and wine shop.

            Six years later, Bui is now the co-owner of two successful pizzerias. Bui expresses that owning a business has been the hardest but most rewarding thing she has ever taken on. “I honestly do it because I like being a part of the community. I get to actually have relationships with people that produce the food I sell. I feel like I am doing my tiny part to give to local charities and keep local farmers and companies running.” Bui believes that more local businesses will take part in buying local and Eugene will be thriving on small businesses that are willing to make a change.