The Faces of Suwanee – meet Rutesh Shah, Owner of Schlotzky’s Deli
Schlotzskys is a great place to find delicious, fresh food and is a favorite lunch spot in Suwanee. Today we caught up with one of the owners, Rutesh Shah, and his brother Girish to get to know them a little bit better.
Please tell us a little about your family. I have two grown children who are married, we are grandparents, and my wife’s name is Parul. My brother Girish shares the business with me.
Tell us about your current and past career. What do you love most about it? I came here from India on my own in 1982 and attended college, majoring in computer science. I worked in corporate America in Texas for 10 years and in Cleveland, Ohio, for 20+ years. We greatly enjoy this community.
What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community? I like Your Pie and Talay Thai in Suwanee.
How long have you lived or worked here? My family and I moved to Suwanee in 2010 and have had our restaurant now for ten years. I love the freedom that I have in my business and I enjoy our many customers.
What is your favorite thing about Suwanee? I would say the nice people. The city feels clean and safe.
What current or former business, or place, makes you feel the most nostalgic about Suwanee? Town Center Park. We are happy about the new park that opened last summer, too.
If you could take anyone to lunch, dead or alive, who would that be? It would be my wife and I would take her to Talay Thai.
What is the most beautiful place you have ever been? Australia and New Zealand. Both are absolutely beautiful.
What was the first movie you remember seeing in a theatre? I have no idea! I am not much of a movie buff.
Tell me something that’s on your bucket list. I would like to skydive. I signed up to do it last year but had to cancel because of bad weather.
What advice would you give to a crowd of people? I would discuss the power of positivity and the opportunity it presents.
Who is the most interesting person you have ever met? One person whom I met, Bill Britt, who changed my thought process about the rewards of always thinking positive and how it can change yours and other people’s lives.
What type of music do you like? I enjoy classical music and hits from the 1980s and 1990s.
Tell me something interesting about you that most people don’t know. When I was sixteen years old, I went mountain climbing at 17,000 feet.
Would you rather sing to a crowd of 50 people or speak to a crowd of 500? I could talk all day long! No singing!
For more interviews, go to TheFacesOfSuwanee.com
