Secret’s Out
A few months ago, I was talking with my daughter Hannah on the phone. It wasn't one of those calls where we set out to change our lives. It was simply two people chatting about this and that, letting the conversation wander wherever it wanted to go.
Somehow, the topic of starting a business came up.
Hannah and her boyfriend, Lorenzo, had been tossing around the idea of creating a coffee and cannoli cart. Lorenzo is first generation Italian, so the idea certainly fit his roots. But the more we talked, the more we realized there would be a lot of regulations surrounding food, and coffee carts seemed to be popping up everywhere.
Then the conversation shifted.
We started talking about the growing popularity of dirty sodas, but wondered if there might be a way to create something a little different. A little fresher. A little more us.
The funny thing was, without even realizing it, all three of us had already been experimenting at home. Hannah and Lorenzo had been creating Italian sodas in their kitchen for months, while I had been happily making my own versions all of us using club soda as the base.
Before we knew it, ideas were flying. Names were being suggested. Dreams were getting bigger by the minute. And somewhere during that phone call, a little spark became something much more.
Originally, my role was simply going to be helping them out. I figured I would happily work a few events, cheer them on, and enjoy watching their dream unfold. But after a couple of days, I couldn't stop thinking about it. I wanted to be part of it. Not just as an employee. As a partner. I wanted some skin in the game and asked Hannah how she would feel about that, and without hesitation she said she thought so too.
That simple conversation changed everything.
For the past three months, we've been immersed in a world none of us knew much about. We've researched permits, licenses, recipes, equipment, health department regulations, point of sale systems, branding, marketing, and more YouTube videos than I care to admit.
It's been exciting.
It's been exhausting.
It's been one giant learning experience.
Like many dreams, our original vision didn't quite unfold the way we expected. We had fallen in love with the idea of using a vintage Kei truck. It perfectly matched the vision we had in our minds. Unfortunately, shortly after we began planning, we discovered the state changed the rules, making those trucks unusable for what we wanted to do.
So we pivoted.
Next came the idea of finding a vintage pickup truck. After weeks of searching, we realized that option wasn't going to work either. Then someone suggested a popup camper.
At first, we weren’t so sure. Now? I can't imagine it any other way. She's become part of the family. We've even named her Olive.
Over the past several weeks, Olive has been transformed one brushstroke, one cabinet, and one creative idea at a time. There has been sanding, painting, building custom fold down cabinets, cutting down the pull out sides and creating two end counters, polishing, cleaning, tiling, and more painting. Making her look shiny and new.
It has truly become a family affair. We’ll be rolling out the Stay Dirty Italian Soda Co. (handcrafted Italian sodas & specialty drinks), a one-of-a-kind mobile soda bar.
Hannah and Lorenzo have poured countless hours into bringing the vision to life. My son Andrew has jumped in to help. Their dad, Jerry, has been incredibly generous with his time, talents, and willingness to tackle whatever project needs to be done next.
Watching everyone pitch in has been one of my favorite parts of this entire journey.
Of course, it hasn't all been smooth sailing. When you put three passionate people together, everyone has ideas. Early on, Lorenzo and I both had a tendency to make decisions independently and then report back to everyone else afterward. Poor Hannah found herself trying to connect all the dots while wondering why no one had talked to each other first.
To her credit, she reminded us that communication actually works better when everyone is included. Imagine that. So we made a change.
Hannah naturally stepped into the role of project manager, and honestly, she's been wonderful. We communicate better, make decisions together, and everyone understands where we're headed.
We've learned that building a business is one thing. Learning how to build it together is something entirely different.
Then there was the great taste testing incident.
One afternoon we were sampling recipes, trying to perfect the balance of flavors. I took a small sip and then decided I needed one more tiny taste just to confirm what I was thinking.
Hannah looked at me with complete panic. "You took too big of a sip," she said. "Now the ratios are off!” Lorenzo and I looked at each other before bursting into laughter.
Two tiny sips.
Apparently, I had completely thrown off the scientific precision of our recipe testing. Now, every time we're creating something new, I jokingly announce, "Don't worry... I'll only take one little sip.” Somehow, it has become one of our running jokes.
As much work as this has been, I have loved every minute of it. Have I questioned myself? Absolutely. There have been moments when I've wondered if I was too old to begin something completely different. Moments when my inner voice whispered, "Can you really do this?"
Then one afternoon, while I was sitting on the floor inside Olive, painting cabinets, Hannah stopped what she was doing, looked at me, and simply said, "Mom, I'm really proud of you for doing this." Those words meant more than she probably realizes. They reminded me that growth doesn't have an age limit. That learning something new keeps us alive. That saying yes to an unexpected opportunity can lead us somewhere we never imagined.
The truth is, this journey has already given me far more than a new business. It has given me more time with my daughter. A wonderful partnership with Lorenzo. The joy of watching our family work side by side. A reminder that reinvention is always possible. And the confidence that sometimes the best adventures begin with one ordinary phone call and the willingness to say, "Why not?"
So now that the secret's out, I hope you'll follow along as this dream continues to unfold. If you happen to see Olive at a local farmers market or community event, I hope you'll stop by, say hello, and introduce yourself. I have a feeling this is only the beginning of one very sweet adventure. Stay Dirty Italian Soda Co.
Ciao bella, Sheryl
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Introducing Olive. We still have a little work on her but here she is.
