Deeply Connected

On August 14, Cassie and Tommy Orduno were awarded Business of the Year by the Carbon County Board of Realtors.

The Ordunos own and operate several businesses in Saratoga including Bella’s Bistro, opened in 2011; Saratoga Sandwich Company, opened in 2020; Sunny Cup, opened in 2022; and The Lucky Pearl, opened in 2023. Across all four businesses, the couple employ a total of 28 locals while also raising their two young children.

“It was an honor for me and my wife to win this award,” Tommy said. “Doing business in the Platte Valley has benefited the community, and our businesses have become successful by providing both locals and visitors a place to dine and shop.”

Cassie is an Encampment native. After the two married, Tommy said his wife wanted to move back to the Platte Valley and open a restaurant.

“We opened up Bella’s Bistro almost 15 years ago,” Tommy said. “We wanted to expand and there were opportunities for us to open another business. My wife and I opened the Saratoga Sandwich Company, SunnyCup and then we opened the Lucky Pearl where we sell gifts [and] men's and women’s clothes.”

Tommy said listening to what the customers want is what helps him stay competitive in business.

“Word of mouth is the best way to produce a good product, Tommy said. “Suggestions are always open for us and if a customer wants something we do not provide, we are willing to accommodate them.”

Tommy said he is originally from Santa Barbara, California and moving to Wyoming was the best decision he made.

“Coming out to Wyoming was quite a bit of a shock at first,” Tommy said. “After being here for almost 15 years, I can't think of moving or living somewhere else because being in the right place is the best way to do business.”

Cassie said she was honored the Carbon County Board of Realtors recognized her and her husband for their customer service. Cassie said she and Tommy faced a big challenge when they opened their second business, the Saratoga Sandwich Company, during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Cassie said it was a tough time because she was expecting her second child when they had their grand opening in 2020.

“In addition to running Bella’s Bistro through the pandemic, I was pregnant with my second child when we purchased the Saratoga Sandwich Company,” Cassie said. “I had my son three weeks after our grand opening. It was a scary and challenging time because we didn’t know what the future would hold for our family or for our businesses. Opening another business with a baby on the way was a big gamble but we felt it would be a safer bet in the changing dining landscape shaped by COVID-19.”

Cassie said she met Tommy at a restaurant and they knew it was their calling to own a restaurant in the future. She said one of many reasons why they have been successful in their four businesses is because of great communication as a team.

“We're a strong team and we have a good system of yin and yang, and we respect each other’s roles,” said Cassie. ‘We both juggle a lot of tasks, wear different hats and put in long hours to make it all come together but we are truly blessed with the amazing teams at all of our businesses. They help us accomplish the goals we set.”

She said her employees’ hard work and dedication are why she and Tommy are able to run their businesses so successfully.

“Our employees play a huge role, especially our team leaders like April Prehn, Ciji Bauer, Carolyn Terry and Jennifer Davies,” Cassie said. “These ladies shoulder a lot of responsibility and make it possible for us to take our hands off the wheel sometimes. All our team members are very strong and we absolutely couldn’t pull it together without their dedication. We’re grateful for the hours our folks put in. Many of our crew have been with us for years, and they are definitely thought of as family. We want to say a huge thank you to our team.”

Cassie said the best part about running different businesses in Saratoga is having a change of pace and not staying in one place.

“I love switching gears,” Cassie said. “It keeps the long days from being too long when I get to switch hats and go do something different. I feel fortunate that we can contribute to the diversity of the Valley.”

When it comes to business work ethics, Cassie said she thanks her parents for setting the right examples for her to follow. She said they worked hard and their hard work gives her encouragement to be successful.

“My Dad is a rancher and my mom is a retired school teacher,” Cassie said. “I grew up watching them work incredibly hard. I learned from their dedication and I still work hard in the hopes of making them proud.”

Cassie said the most rewarding part about living and doing business in the Platte Valley is watching how both her parents and grandparents built a good quality of life. Because she saw what her family had built, she wanted to do the same thing and own her own business in the future.

“My grandparents ranched in Carbon County their whole lives,” Cassie said. “My kids will grow up here and I feel deeply connected to the Platte Valley. Tommy has also grown to love it here and I love the people and the landscape. I love feeling like I am giving back to the community that has raised me. I feel very lucky that my businesses have been well-received here because it allows me to continue to live and work in the places that will always feel like home.”

Along with being awarded Carbon County Business of the Year, the Ordunos’ nomination will go onto the Wyoming Realtors. The state winner will be named during the convention in Casper in September.