When Chad Greenway announced his retirement from the NFL in 2017, he wasn't sure what was next. He had just finished a successful 11-year career with the Minnesota Vikings, where he earned two Pro Bowl selections and helped the Vikings to three NFC North titles. Then a former Iowa teammate connected him with a new business venture in the Twin Cities.
Gray Duck Vodka was founded in 2018 by Jerry Schulz, Mark Cotter and Jamie Quesnel, along with former Minnesota Vikings All-Pro Linebacker #52, Chad Greenway.
It turns out our game represented much more. It was about pride. It was about competing. It was about identifying things that uniquely define you and are important to you. A tradition that spoke about where you are from matters. It reminded us of friends and family and sharing good times. It was a game that felt like it was uniquely us, that we had put our own personal touch on it.
“We wanted to create a spirit that truly embodies what it means to be from the Midwest. Since his retirement, Greenway has loved filling his time working in the spirits business and getting to spend more moments with his family. “It is so refreshing for this small town South Dakota boy to walk down Lake Street and see so many faces that you know and can chat with. It truly feels like a small town.
While it's a for-profit business, they also wanted to do things the right way. That's why Greenway decided to join the ownership group of Gray Duck in 2018, where he handles marketing, public relations, and community events. He's proud to be the public face of a company that keeps everything localwhether it's buying its corn from a co-op in west central Minnesota or raising money for organizations such as the Masonic Children's Hospital at the University of Minnesota or Toys for Tots.
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Gray Duck has grown immensely since its inception, doubling sales last year and launching a new seltzer line.
“What I lean most into from my life is forming relationships and relationship building," says Greenway.
For Greenway, his time at Iowa was incredibly successfultwo All-American and first-team All-Big Ten honors and two co-Big Ten Conference titlesand he's proud to help other Hawkeyes find success. "I met so many people at Iowa who grew up differently than me and had different opinions and viewpoints," says Greenway. "It was a great place to learn and grow.
The company was inspired by an end-zone celebration led by Vikings Kyle Rudolph on the biggest stage: national TV. It sparked a nationwide debate on how Minnesotans play Duck, Duck, Gray Duck instead of Duck, Duck, Goose.
"For our brand, we're more than a spirits brand, we really are. We want to be community-based, we want to give back. It's been a part of my career all the way through since 2007," Greenway said.
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Greenway said they've been able to create several opportunities to give back through their Gray Duck brand.
Community Involvement and Charitable Initiatives
Greenway said for every bottle that is purchased, $2 will go to St. David’s Center for Child & Family Development. He added their goal is to raise a total of $50,000 for St. David's.
John and Candace have been involved with St. David's after their son Jonathan had problems speaking early in life.
Randle said he is forever grateful for the help St. David's provided.
"For me being an ex-football player, these hands have kind of helped me get out of situations. But at that point, my hands couldn't do anything, so I had to rely on somebody else and someone else's good faith," Randle said.
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Greenway also has a connection with St. David's. His daughter, Beckett, went there for a year and Greenway said the Randle family helped get her into St. David's.
Randle said the impact of St. David's continues to spread not just in Minnesota, but everywhere he goes.
It's also been important for Greenway and his wife, Jennifer Capista Greenway (05BBA), a former UI women's track star, to give back. The couple started Chad Greenway's Lead the Way Foundation in 2008, which provides daily support and life-changing experiences to seriously ill and physically challenged children throughout the Midwest.
The Greenways have also given back to Hawkeye athletics through the Greenway Family Athletics Excellence Fund, which provides yearly support to a Hawkeye athletic program or initiative of their choosing.
Where to Find Gray Duck Vodka
Gray Duck Vodka is available at various locations, including:
- Minnesota: Appleton, Apple Valley, Big Lake, Blaine, Bloomington, Burnsville, Cologne, Duluth, East Grand Forks, Inver Grove Heights, Lake Vermilion, Lakeville, Medina, Minneapolis, Prior Lake, Shakopee, Woodbury, Winona, and Eagan.
- Wisconsin: Balsam Lake, Rice Lake.
- Iowa: North Liberty.
Many establishments offer special promotions, such as signature pint glasses with Gray Duck cocktail purchases.
Promotions and Specials
- Appleton, MN (Shooter’s Bar & Grill): Buy a Gray Duck cocktail and receive a printed Chad Greenway/Gray Duck signature pint glass (one per customer).
- Apple Valley, MN (Wild bill’s Sports Saloon): Buy a Gray Duck cocktail and receive a printed Chad Greenway/Gray Duck signature pint glass (one per customer).
- Balsam Lake, WI (The Thirsty Otter): Gray Duck is now the house vodka. Enjoy patio drink specials all summer long!
- Big Lake, MN (3rd Rail bar and grill): Buy a Gray Duck cocktail and receive a printed Chad Greenway/Gray Duck signature pint glass (one per customer).
- Blaine, MN (Wild bill’s sports saloon, X-Golf): Buy a Gray Duck cocktail and receive a printed Chad Greenway/Gray Duck signature pint glass (one per customer).
- Bloomington, MN (CW’s Bar & Grill, Northstar Tavern): Grab a “Duckin’ Right” cocktail and keep the rubber duckie! HH specials on Gray Duck daily! Bomba Juice Seltzer now ON TAP! Buy a Gray Duck cocktail and receive a printed Chad Greenway/Gray Duck signature pint glass (one per customer).
- Burnsville, MN (Buck Hill, Lucky’s 13 Pub): Gray Duck Cocktail Cabin drink specials. Buy a Gray Duck cocktail and receive a printed Chad Greenway/Gray Duck signature pint glass (one per customer).
- Cologne, MN (Cologne House): Enjoy daily Gray Duck drink specials!
- Duluth, MN (Social House): Now serving Gray Duck vodka! Ask for The Duck by name.
- East Grand Forks, MN (The Spud Jr. Public House): Buy a Gray Duck cocktail and receive a printed Chad Greenway/Gray Duck signature pint glass (one per customer).
- Inver Grove Heights, MN (B-52 Burgers and Brew): The “Mother of All Bloodies” featuring Gray Duck vodka served every weekend! Get a printed signature Chad Greenway/Gray Duck pint glass with purchase (one per customer).
- Lake Vermilion, MN (The Landing): Enjoy Gray Duck specialty cocktails all year round!
- Lakeville, MN (B-52 Burgers and Brew, Goodfella’s, Carbone’s Bar & Grill): The “Mother of All Bloodies” featuring Gray Duck vodka served every weekend! Get a printed signature Chad Greenway/Gray Duck pint glass with purchase (one per customer). Buy a Gray Duck cocktail and get a free branded rubber duckie! Gray Duck cocktail and seltzer specials daily!
- Medina, MN (Medina Entertainment center): Bomba Juice Specials EVERY Twins Game! Mon-Fri Gray Duck Happy Hour Specials!
- Minneapolis, MN (Fhima’s): Get their signature Gray Duck cocktail “Sunny Night”, a unique spin on a classic Cosmo.
- North Liberty, IA (Club 76 - The Lodge): Buy a Gray Duck cocktail and receive a printed Chad Greenway/Gray Duck signature pint glass (one per customer).
- Prior Lake, MN (Charlie’s on Prior): Bomba Juice cocktails ON TAP! Also enjoy amazing fish bowls featuring Gray Duck vodka, or grab a Gray Duck seltzer all year long!
- Rice Lake, WI (Big Smitty’s): Buy a Gray Duck cocktail and receive a printed Chad Greenway/Gray Duck signature pint glass (one per customer).
- Shakopee, MN (Shakopee Bowl): Gray Duck is now the house vodka! Also play the Gray Duck crane game to win cocktails and prizes!
- Woodbury, MN (Wild Bill’s Sports Saloon): Buy a Gray Duck cocktail and receive a printed Chad Greenway/Gray Duck signature pint glass (one per customer).
- Winona, MN (Lucky’s on Third, Port 507): Gray Duck happy hr at Lucky’s on Third! $3.50 Gray Duck mixers 5-8 EVERY day! Gray Duck specials Mon-Fri $3.00 (2-7pm), Sun-Wed $2.00 (10pm-Midnight)
For those interested in partnering with Gray Duck Vodka, contact them to become a Hot Spot!
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