Citizen Frederick Wins $20,000 Microsoft Contest

ED WATERS Jr.
The Frederick News-Post

FREDERICK, Md. (AP) -- A downtown Frederick store has won a $20,000 award from Microsoft.

Citizen Frederick, 112 E. Patrick St., has won the Microsoft Small Business Contest.

"We made a video in the store that shows the ups and downs of a small business," said co-owner Antonio Rico. "We talked about the lessons we learned."

The store, opened in April of last year, features menswear and grooming items. The owners also own a barbershop at 25 E. Fourth St.

With the money won from Microsoft, Rico and his partner, Nolan Kulbiski, are looking for another location to combine the apparel shop and barbershop.

"My husband is a lawyer turned news analyst," Rico said. "I was in architecture and construction."

When they moved to Frederick, Rico and Kulbiski were inspired to open a business.

"It has gone pretty well. It has been really great," Rico said.

In the video, Rico explains that he cashed in his 401(k) and the two used their savings to "bet on ourselves and bet on Frederick."

"Not every idea is a winner, but we can pivot out of a concept if it isn't working," Rico said on the video. "There are no weekends, no time off, no 9 to 5."

But the reward is building something in the community, Rico said.

(Copyright 2015 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)