Meet Michael Belochi | Owner, BOCO Cider

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

Hi Michael, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Many call me a risk taker and/or entrepreneur, but I don’t look at it that way. I just don’t want to be boring or bored. I’ve been just clever enough to get off the paycheck hamster wheel and allow myself the luxury of trying to build a start-up from scratch while not mortgaging the house or putting my family at risk. With the loving support of my wife, I now have the pleasure of working 60 hours a week towards an unknown future learning many hard lessons on the way without a single boring moment.

What should our readers know about your business?
I’ve done well in Corporate America, loved law school, and earned/sold ownership in a few companies. This latest venture is more a labor of love and a true start up from scratch. BOCO Cider is my way of testing myself and being a plugged in part of the community providing a creative natural product, a space for music & laughter, and connections with other businesses. Covid arrived a few months after I opened to the public and has devastated all my growth projections, but in challenge there is also opportunity … I just have to figure out what it is in this case. As I say to my staff, “We don’t sell booze, we sell experience.” The BOCO Cider experience includes innovation in taste, a fun vibe, and an alignment with the ethos of Boulder in being inventive, clever, fun and natural.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Boulder is loaded with fun spots: The Pearl Street Mall, Dushanbe Tea House, the tour at Celestial Seasonings, hiking around Chautauqua, and the CU campus with its Natural History Museum just a few feet away from its bowling lanes. Further away are Rocky Mountain National Park & Estes, the National Western Stock Show in Denver, and Red Rocks Amphitheater. BOCO cider is one of those hidden gems for people to find kind of like how Avery Brewing used to be before they created a more commercial experience.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Michelle, my supportive and hard-working wife deserves my infinite appreciation. She has her own full-time demanding professional job and yet also plays full role as mother and cheerleader to all. We have two older busy kids, Gwen (15) and Carsen (12), and our cute 3-year-old Benji-Bear. The older kids pitch in and we all pursue individual pursuits as well as family activities.

Website: www.bococider.com

Instagram: @bococider

Facebook: @bococider

Yelp: BOCO Cider