Meet Bruno Costanzo | Longtime Roswell resident and entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Bruno Costanzo and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Bruno, every day, we hear about how much execution matters, but we think ideas matter as well. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
We saw a need for a guys store in the Roswell area. We live right off Canton street and there are no true places for men to go and shop for the things that interest them. There are so many wonderful shops and boutiques for women in Roswell but men need to be represented as well. We thought, why not a store where not only men but women can hangout? While the stores concept was created to mainly fill the needs of men, there are so any unique items for women as well. Grilling, outdoor lifestyle, and unique were at the forefront behind the stores concept.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
We believe that we are a truly unique business in Roswell. We have worked hard at creating an environment that is welcoming and feels like home. We set out to create a social shopping experience. We want Roswell General to be a meeting place where people can come, meet new people and sit out by our fire. Many Saturdays people gather around the grill and exchange ideas and tips about exceptional meals they have made. We love that so many people partake in the many after hours events that we host. We are always looking to bring in local brands. More than half of our rubs, spices, and sauces come from small local startups. It is truly amazing how many talented individuals we have in our community.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would first start by taking them to Martin’s Garden at Coleman Farms to start our day. Martin’s Garden is open to the public on Saturday mornings. If you want organic produce, this is the place to go. Their farm fresh eggs are the best and they even sell their own honey produced from bees on their farm. We love Martin’s Garden not only for their wonderful local products but they donate a large portion of their food to local food banks and charities. We would then head to The Roswell Mill and the Covered Bridge to take a hike to the waterfall. We are so lucky to have such a beautiful space in Roswell. After our hike we would head to Lazaro’s Cuban Cuisine for lunch. People come from all over Georgia for owner Laz Tenreiro’s unique dishes. After lunch, we would head back to Canton Street and hit some of the unique shops like Mojo Vinyl and Evimero Marketplace. Before dinner, we would have to stop in at Deep Roots Wine Market and Tasting Room to sample some truly incredible wines hand picked by owner Dana Gurela. The guys might want to make a quick stop at Gate City or Variant Brewery to taste their large variety of beers. We would end the night at From the Earth Brewery in East Roswell. This place never disappoints. Not only do they have incredible food, beer, and cocktails, but owner, Tim Stevens brings in some of the most talented musicians to perform some amazing shows.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My wife and I decided to partner along with our neighbors Ken and Robin Moncrief to start our business. We spent countless hours together working on not only the concept of the store but the design and remodel of the building. It was both a blessing and a curse that we closed on an old rundown building right before Covid hit in March of 2019. First, we say it was a curse because the thought of opening a brand new business as stores and restaurants were closing around us was terrifying. At the same time, it was a blessing because we had the opportunity to work together as a team and design the building and concept that we had in our minds for so many years. Ken, Robin, my wife Julie and I did almost all of the renovations in the building ourselves. After owning my own business as a residential and commercial builder, it was an easy transition and the challenges brought on by the project made the end result more rewarding.

Website: https://www.roswellgeneralga.com/

Instagram: @roswell_general

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/roswellgeneralstore/