Joseph Haj was studying marketing at the University of North Dakota when his father, Sami Haj, died in November 2005. He quickly finished his degree, and immediately went from fun-loving college student to owner and operator of the the Best Western Inn in Thief River Falls.

    Haj said it was difficult, but he managed to find his stride. In finding his stride, he quite improbably became a representative of a new age of entrepreneurs. Recently, the Thief River Falls Chamber of Commerce recognized Haj as its Entrepreneur of the Year.
    Haj credits his family and friends for a lot of his success. Haj said their assistance was the most helpful aspect of taking over the operation of the bar and lounge, which was renamed Yose’s Bar and Grill. (Yose is Joseph’s nickname.)
    Haj put his college education - his academic as well as his “extra-curricular” education - into use immediately. He gutted the bar, remodeling it, and took steps to improve traffic flow in the bar. Today, Yose’s Bar and Grill includes two pool tables, two projector televisions, a sound system for a DJ, and a contemporary dinning area.
    But Haj recognized that it’s not enough to just have a nice bar. The bar has to be promoted.
    “The most difficult challenge was getting more people to come to the bar,” said Haj.
    Haj went from bar to bar to see what was working and what wasn’t. He started applying some of the lessons he learned, like hiring special acts to come and marketing special events and activities at the bar. Soon he had hypnotists, dueling pianists, theme parties and many other events scheduled at the bar.
    Friends and admirers noted his “unique” techniques of marketing the bar as a major factor to his success, and reason for becoming a member of the “new age of entrepreneur.”
    Cody Hempel, who was one of the people who nominated Haj for the award, pointed out that not only did he improve the bar, by renovating it, bringing in acts and hosting and sponsored activities, he made great use of both MySpace.com and Facebook.com. Using these Internet tools, which have become important methods of communication for the younger generation, he sent event information to over 1,000 contacts.
    “This tool has proven invaluable, as event invitations are able to be sent along with an RSVP option that allow Mr. Haj to determine the advertising required to meet his goals and objectives, as well as keep personal contact with past, present and future patrons and past performers at the bar,” said Hempel.
    Hempel noted that Haj is currently developing a Web site that will also contribute the future success of the bar and grill. The Web site, he said, will allow him to target and involve a much greater group in the activities and events at the bar than previously thought possible.
    Haj said it has been gratifying to see the bar become successful, and become a bar that everyone is talking about.
    A lot has changed for Haj since he took over the operation of the bar and grill. He said the biggest challenge was the amount of responsibility that he accepted. 
    The truth is that long hours and hard work were challenging, but the reward has been a successful business - and one in which, he said he could put a lot of trust in his employees.
    When Haj graduated from Lincoln High School in 2002 he couldn’t have foreseen what was going to happen. At the time, he knew that he didn’t want to live in Thief River Falls because most of his friends were leaving. So, combined with the death of his father, the first year he returned to Thief River Falls, everything seemed difficult. Today, Haj says living and working in Thief River Falls “is a blast.” He likes what he’s doing. He likes the people he’s working with. He likes the community.   
    In the future, Haj said he plans to continue to promote his bar and grill to get even more people to go to the bar. He said he also will soon build a large patio with a fire pit.
    Haj is the son of Fodda and the late Sami Haj. When Sami passed away, a large part of operating the family business fell to Joseph and his brother George. Joseph said George would like to return to Thief River Falls, but is currently teaching sixth grade math in Minneapolis.