Okan, the new owner of One-Eyed Jack’s Saloon in Sturgis, came to America with very little money. Okan was planning to ride motorcycles in America for one to two years and fly back to Turkey. Okan lost all of his money gambling in Sturgis when he first came to America. Okan decided to stay and now owns millions of dollars worth of businesses.
Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys: How did you get where you are?
Okan: I was invited to travel to Florida from Turkey to ride motorcycles and planned to stay for one to two years. While I was in Florida, I heard about the bike week in Sturgis, South Dakota. I decided to ride my motorcycle to Sturgis, South Dakota, for the bike week. I had eight thousand dollars in my pocket, and that was all I had to my name. I spent the week in Sturgis, and the night before I was supposed to leave, I bought an airline ticket to go back to Florida. I decided to do some gambling the night before I was supposed to leave and lost all of my money in one night. Luckily, I had already purchased an airline ticket, or I would not have been able to get back to Florida.
After returning to Florida, I started a t-shirt printing business. I did not know anything about printing t-shirts but knew I wanted to build a t-shirt printing business. Luckily, I knew people who owned a t-shirt printing business and learned everything I could about printing t-shirts. I bought my first business by borrowing money. I worked hard to build up the business.
After a while, I saved my money and was able to buy more businesses and real estate. I worked hard and was dedicated to my business. Last year I bought the One-Eyed Jack’s Saloon for 5.5 million dollars.
Okan at Bike Event
Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys: What was your first motorcycle?
Okan: My first motorcycle was a Yamaha Virago at 21 years old.
Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys: How long have you been riding?
Okan: I have been riding for over 20 years, but I took a break from riding six years ago because I became a father. I hoped to get back on a motorcycle in the future, but for now, I am happy with raising my child and supporting the motorcycle community.
Okan with his son
Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys: Have you been involved in any motorcycle accidents?
Okan: I was involved in one motorcycle accident at 23 years old. I was coming around a corner and did not see oil on the ground. I lost control of my motorcycle, fell off the bike, and broke my collar bone.
Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys: Anything you would tell people who have dreams?
Okan: Never give up on your dreams, no matter how hard things can get. Success takes hard work, and it’s not easy.
Okan’s success is what the American dream should be about, whether you were born in the United States or came to this country with a dream. Okan is an excellent example of what hard work and dedication to dreams can accomplish. Never let someone tell you, you can’t do something because it would be too hard. Follow your dreams and see where it goes.
Okan in front of the One Eyed Jack’s Saloon
Check out One-Eyed Jack’s Saloon anytime you take a road trip through Sturgis, South Dakota, like for The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, or online at their website and Instagram page.
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