Dave Bruno

Dave Bruno is the owner of The Village CBD Shoppe in Greendale, WI. He is also a proud dad of 3 grown men, a thoughtful husband to his wife, Marlene, a loving grandfather to his 2 granddaughters, a real estate agent, speaker, character actor and author.

Have you seen Dave in the Greendale parades? He’s the guy that wears the tutu and wig and yells “USA, USA” via a megaphone! Dave has a fun, larger than life personality. His energy, jokes and impersonations have brought laughter and joy to many people throughout the years.

Dave also has a serious side. His life experiences have given him great insight. Many years ago, he almost died in a car accident. It was the most serious part of his life. His wife was told he probably wouldn’t survive. For the first three days after the accident he miscast himself as the villain because he believed he may have killed someone that night. Not until he was told no one else was injured did his vital signs suddenly improve and he began to recover. He says about that time, “My thoughts were killing me, literally. It’s amazing the power of the mind.”

After his near-death experience, he became extremely interested in human behavior, personal development and motivation. He had a business for 12 years with motivational quote cards and has authored two books. With his current business, he continues to help people to improve their lives with CBD. He has a true passion for helping others through laughter, motivation and healthy choices.

The Village CBD Shoppe is located at 5632 Parking St, Greendale. Stop by and say “hi” to Dave!

 

Q: What inspired you or led you to your current career?

A: My wife who has autoimmune diseases started using CBD about 2 years ago when my son started using it to help his back. She has a whole bunch of diseases. One of them is called Hashimoto’s disease. One of the symptoms of Hashimoto’s is that when she eats, she has a lot of pain in her muscles and joints. She couldn’t eat during the day because every time she ate it would trigger all the pain. She would wait until night to eat and many times would need to take pain medication. After she starting using CBD, every day it got a little better. She is not completely pain free, but it has changed her life. I also have a son who is type 1 diabetic. He had trouble with his blood sugar for 17 years. After taking CBD for a month or so, his blood sugars have never been better. I’ve always been interested in nutrition, taking flax oil for about 30 years and doing different stuff. I plan to take CBD myself for the rest of my life. Two of my sons started selling it at farmer’s markets and in April 2019 they opened a store on Vliet St called the CBD Cellar. I had been helping them out at their store and one day I saw this location was up for lease. It suddenly hit me that I need to do this! I called and the space was available, so I took it.

 

Q: What is your favorite restaurant in Greendale, and what do you love there?

A: I like them all equally depending on what we feel like eating. Sometimes I like going to Panther Pub, running into people and having a beer. When we want ice-cream, we take our granddaughters to Ferch’s. I really like them all.

 

Q: How long have you lived or worked in Greendale?

A: I added it up and I lived in Greendale for a total of 40 years between moving here when I was a kid, leaving after I was done with school and then moving back when we had kids. The Village CBD Shoppe opened on July 31st, 2019.

 

Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in Greendale?

A: Al Emmons. He really is a very interesting person. He is very sincere and passionate about helping people. He does workshops for seniors. He also has a business that does the decorated chimneys on the Greendale Originals. His business is really artistic.

 

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be? And why?

A: Have you ever seen those commercials where there is a house on the water and they have glass floors and it looks like it’s in the Caribbean or someplace like that? Wherever that is, that’s where I want to go.

 

Q: What is your favorite movie OR what is the first movie you remember seeing in a theater?

A: My favorite movie is the movie Airplane! It was the first movie that I saw with my wife. The first movie I saw in a theater was Blue Hawaii starring Elvis.

 

Q: What advice would you give a crowd of people?

A: Be in the moment and get involved.

 

Q: What is something on your bucket list?

A: About 20 years ago, I was big into juice extraction and I told one of my sons that I’d love to have a shop in the Village where I would be making juices for people. I’d like to add nutritional items like that to what I am doing here at the Village CBD Shoppe. I really love what I’m doing here because it helps people and I’d like to expand. Maybe even do some seminars and workshops.

 

Q: What is your favorite music/ 3 bands you would like to see (dead or alive)?

A: Elvis Presley, The Dave Clark Five (my favorite group) and I have a bunch tied for third. When I as in 6th grade, The Dave Clark Five was on The Ed Sullivan Show. They came on after The Beatles. Dave Clark was so cool! He was a drummer. That week I signed up for drum lessons! They are still my favorite group.

 

Q: What current / former local business makes you the most nostalgic about Greendale?

A: The Post Office because it hasn’t changed. I remember going there as a kid.

 

Q: Choosing anyone alive and a non-relative with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? Where would you like to have lunch?

A: Dave Clark. I’d have lunch with him at Ferch’s because they’ve got 50’s and 60’s music.

 

Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about Greendale?

A: The way it was laid out is unique, of course, but I really think the connection and the bonds people have here are really cool. Many years ago, my son was a pitcher for the high school baseball team. He was seriously injured by a line drive that shattered his jaw. So many people supported him. They were dropping off meals and Blockbuster gift cards. What was amazing to me was that a lot of it was from people that we didn’t even know. The bond between people in Greendale is very unique.

 

Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years?

A: I wouldn’t really want to retire. I would always want to be involved doing something like this. Just likely with less hours.

 

Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?

A: I’ve been doing transcendental meditation for about 45 years. It’s something very important in my life and that I’m really serious about.

 

Q: What 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?

A: First, my wife, Marlene. Second, our 2 granddaughters. They spend 3 over nights a month with us. We’ve been doing that since our 9-year old granddaughter was just 3 months. Third, retreat. When I come home it’s like a retreat.

 

Q: If you were cast into a major motion picture and had your choice of anyone to be your co-star, who would you choose?

A: Mike Myers. He’s funny and seems like a pretty cool guy. If Chris Farley was alive, I would also choose him.

 

Q: If you had a full-time staff member that was fully paid for, who would you choose? Chef, Housekeeper, Driver, Coach, Physical Fitness Trainer, or Nanny?

A: I would have a Chef who prepares healthy stuff that tastes good.

 

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