Welcome Home Lkn

Michelle didn't plan on pivoting. She planned on selling furniture.Then 2008 happened.One day the store was busy and booming. The next day? People got their pink slips and stopped buying sofas. When you're trying to hold onto your home, the last thing you want to do is decorate it.So Michelle did what survivors do. She pivoted. Fast.Gifts. Because no matter what's happening in the economy, people still need to celebrate each other. You cut corners for yourself. You don't cut corners on the people you love.That decision? It's carrying Sweet Grass Boutique into year 20.In this episode, Michelle breaks down:Why she says 2008 hit harder than COVID for small retailHow she buys inventory the same way she designed homes — personal, curated, never trendyWhy she only orders threes and fours of anything (if you see it, grab it)How Sweet Grass competes with Amazon without breaking a sweatWhy the in-person, touch-it-feel-it-smell-it experience is about to make a massive comebackWhat crossstitching, crocheting, and bold c

Jim Gordon has spent 20 years buying and selling food manufacturing businesses. He knows what people are eating before they know they're eating it.So when he bought Peninsula Prime Seafood and Steakhouse in 2021, you'd think it would've been smooth sailing.It wasn't.He handed it to partners, came home on weekends disappointed, and finally said enough. In November 2025, Jim took full operational control and spent 90 days just watching. Talking to guests. Reading reviews. And when the reviews didn't match what guests were actually saying at the table? He believed the guests every time.Then he rebuilt the whole thing.In this episode, Jim breaks down:Why GLP-1s (think Ozempic) are quietly reshaping every restaurant menu in AmericaWhy the center aisle of your grocery store is basically dyingHow he built a spring menu by asking his servers — not just his chefsWhy guest count matters more than revenue (and most owners get this backwards)The three pillars Peninsula Prime is built on: quality, hospitality, and communi

Jeff Long didn't plan on owning a golf shop. He just knew corporate life wasn't for him.So in 1999, a friend had a spare space in Huntersville, and Jeff took a shot. Literally. He opened All Star Golf with component clubs, a passion for the game, and a dad who loved refinishing clubs. That was 25+ years ago.Since then, he's survived the 2008 recession, watched golf almost die, then watched COVID bring it roaring back. He never closed during the pandemic. Turns out a driving range is about as socially distanced as it gets.In this episode, Jeff breaks down:Why the clubs you bought off the rack are probably wrong for youWhy a "stiff" shaft today isn't the same stiff shaft from 10 years agoWhy 3-woods are dying and 7-woods are taking over (even on the PGA Tour)How to actually get fitted without someone staring at you while you shank itWhy golf is the only sport where you can compete against a proJeff runs All Star Golf out of Mooresville Golf Range on 150. Custom fittings, club building, repairs, and yes — he's g

Gabby Reising didn't grow up dreaming about pie.She was a childhood education teacher. Her sister was a nurse practitioner. Their husbands work in NASCAR at Joe Gibbs Racing. And somehow... they ended up owning one of the most beloved pie shops in the Lake Norman area.That's the thing about entrepreneurship. It doesn't always look like you planned.In this episode, Gabby shares the full story behind Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop in Birkdale Village — from losing their SBA loan right when COVID hit, to soft-opening in February 2021 and saving their grand opening for Pi Day (March 14th). Because of course they did.We talk about:What it's actually like running a family business with your sister, your husbands, your in-laws, and your kidsHow they go through 500 pounds of apples in two days at ThanksgivingWhy apple and key lime are always fighting for the #1 spotThe "Pie it Forward" program giving back to local nonprofitsAnd the hard lessons — trusting the wrong people, wearing too many hats, and figuring it out anywayFi

Most people around here think they know coffee.They don't. And Valentina is very politely about to prove it.Valentina is the founder of Caffeto Specialty Coffee — a Colombian-rooted coffee brand now living inside The Outpost LKN in Cornelius. Her family owns the farm in the Andes. The beans ship every two weeks. And the coffee you're drinking at her shop is about as far from a drive-through window as you can get.In this episode, Valentina breaks down:- How a coffee cart in NoDa turned into a full brick-and-mortar at The Outpost LKN- Why the coffee bean isn't actually a bean (yeah, we didn't know either)- What makes high-altitude Colombian coffee different — and why you can taste it- The grandmother's recipe behind their signature "Pili" drink- Why she's launching coffee workshops so Lake Norman can finally learn to brew it right- What real farm-to-cup actually looks like when the farm is YOUR family's farmThis isn't a coffee shop story. It's a culture story. A family story. And honestly, it's going to make yo

What do you get when a former UNC Charlotte event planner sees a "For Lease" sign on an old mattress store and just... goes for it?You get The Outpost LKN.Amy joins us this episode to talk about how she built one of Cornelius's coolest new spots from scratch. We're talking a community space, a curated gift shop, and a specialty coffee partnership she landed with a cold reach out to a Colombian coffee cart she'd never met. (Spoiler: it worked.)We get into what it's actually like going from state-funded event budgets at UNCC to "wait, that's my money on the line" as a business owner. The surprises along the way — like how the event space blew up before she even had a pricing sheet ready. And why she built a kids corner into the floor plan, because not every coffee shop has to be quiet and corporate.If you've been looking for a place in Lake Norman where you can bring your kids, meet your neighbors, grab a great cup of coffee, and actually put your phone down for an hour — this one's for you.Find The Outpost LKN

Trey and Brent from 760 Craft Works share the story behind their Huntersville brewery—from a 10-year journey to opening day, the meaning behind the name, creating their diverse beer menu, and building a warm, community-focused tap room that's become a local gathering spot. Plus, hear about their upcoming three-year anniversary celebration and what's next for this Lake Norman brewery. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A lot of people don't know where we are or what we do," says Jessica Dehart, and that's exactly why we're having this conversation. As Executive Director of Mooresville Arts, Jessica gives us the full tour—without leaving our seats. From the historic train depot location (corner from Epic Chophouse) to the gallery that changes every 6 weeks, the shop with $3-$1,000 handmade NC art, and classes that serve everyone from kids to retirees. Learn about the competitive winter jury show, opening receptions with hundreds of attendees, and how this 70-year-old organization is keeping art accessible and free to the community. If you've driven past and wondered what's inside, this episode is for you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Gahrmann is the founder of Carolina Cruising Charters, and he's basically the friend with the boat—except you don't have to pretend to like him to get on the water.Matt moved to Lake Norman and realized there was no easy, turnkey way to get on the lake without owning a boat, joining a boat club, or dealing with sketchy rental situations. So he built the solution: all-inclusive chartered boat experiences where you show up, have fun, and leave. No cleaning. No maintenance. No stress.We talk about how Matt went from real estate to running a fleet of tritoon boats on Lake Norman, why he refuses to be the "party boat" company (despite what bachelorette parties might request), and the surprising psychology of why even boat owners end up booking charters.Matt breaks down the business model, the challenges of staffing captains who actually want to work every Saturday in the summer (spoiler: they don't), and why Lake Norman's 520 miles of shoreline makes it the perfect place for this kind of business. Plus, he sh

Sara Rubens is a kitchen garden designer, installer, and coach who helps busy professionals grow their own food without adding another full-time job to their plate. And her story of how she got here? Absolutely wild.Sara was in corporate America for years, carrying the medical insurance for her family while her husband ran his businesses. The plan was simple: work until 65, then retire. But at 63, while sitting on a beach in Mexico with her second mimosa, she got the call. They fired her. Christmas week. On vacation.Eighteen months from Medicare eligibility, Sara had a choice: brush off her resume and go back to corporate (which sounded like a root canal), or go all-in on the side business she'd been building—teaching people how to grow food in beautiful raised bed gardens.She chose the garden. And it's been four years of absolute joy.We talk about how Sara went from zero gardening experience during COVID to building 48 custom kitchen gardens across Lake Norman. She breaks down why North Carolina soil is terr

Karen Schmidt is back on We Are Lake Norman, and this time she's talking about her newest venture—Freshwater Shoppe, a curated home decor store in Mooresville that's an extension of her award-winning design and build studio.We dive into how Karen went from designing multimillion-dollar custom homes to opening a retail shop where anyone can buy the same high-end pieces she uses in her full-service design projects. No $30,000 renovation required—just walk in and grab what you need.Karen breaks down what's trending in home design right now (spoiler: gray is dead, plaid is back, and if you're still using gray, we need to talk). We talk about why she opened a physical retail store when everyone said retail is dead, how she curates products that work in any home, and why having designers on-site to help you pick the right pieces is a game-changer.Plus, Karen shares her favorite white paint colors (yes, there's a difference), why communication is the key to avoiding design disasters, and how she's building a busines

In this episode of We Are Lake Norman, host Ryan Webber sits down with Daniel Whitener, co-owner of Pie in the Sky Pizza, a Mooresville institution for over 36 years.Daniel shares how his father—a Davidson College chemistry grad—ditched his degree to open a pizza shop after working summers in Hilton Head. What started as a tiny hole-in-the-wall became a community staple that people literally couldn't find even when they walked right past it.When their landlord gave notice in 2020, Daniel and his sister faced a tough choice: close the family business or reinvent it. The closure announcement went viral, and they sold out of food by 2 o'clock. The community's response was clear—Mooresville couldn't lose Pie in the Sky.Discover how Daniel sketched his dream restaurant on notebook paper and transformed the old Kim's Cleaners building into one of the coolest spots in Mooresville. Learn about their homemade dough, custom sausage from Shop 'n Save, creative daily specials, and why Daniel came back from App State to r

In this episode of We Are Lake Norman, host Ryan Webber sits down with Jack Salzman, owner of The Serve Pickleball & Kitchen, a massive 50,000 square foot indoor entertainment facility that's quickly becoming a Lake Norman staple.Jack shares his incredible journey from running Lake Norman Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram for 20 years—growing it into a top-10 dealership in the country—to selling the business in 2022 and attempting retirement. Spoiler alert: retirement didn't last long.When Jack's wife mentioned there was nowhere to play pickleball indoors in the area, what seemed like a "crazy idea" turned into The Serve—a unique facility featuring 10 indoor pickleball courts, four Topgolf Swing Suites with 30+ games, a full-service restaurant with chef-crafted meals, a cafe, and a private event room that seats 64 people.In this conversation, you'll discover:How Jack traveled the country studying the best pickleball facilities and got guidance from Chicken and Pickle founder Dave JohnsonWhy The Serve had over 600 v

What happens when a mortgage broker from Syracuse takes a sailing trip to Grenada and tastes real chocolate for the first time? For Tyler Cagwin, it sparked a complete life transformation.In this episode of We Are Lake Norman, host Ryan Webber sits down with Tyler, the founder of Nostalgia Chocolates in Huntersville. Tyler shares his incredible journey from working 15 years in his family's mortgage business to roasting cocoa beans and crafting bean-to-bar chocolate by hand.You'll hear about Tyler's chocolate education—from taking online courses to flying to Oregon for a two-week apprenticeship with a respected chocolate maker. He opens up about the challenges of restarting his business in North Carolina after building a loyal following in Syracuse, and why networking in the Lake Norman area has been both difficult and rewarding.But this isn't just a business story. Tyler reveals his philosophy behind Nostalgia Chocolates: creating moments where people can slow down, savor a piece of chocolate, and let their m

Annie Hanson of The Closet Niche shares her journey from working for other custom closet companies to launching her own successful home organization business. In this episode, Annie discusses how she built her company from her garage to a thriving operation with seven employees, offering custom solutions for closets, garages, pantries, laundry rooms, and more—everything except kitchens and baths.Discover the importance of relationship-based selling, the latest trends in custom closet design, and why Annie's boutique approach focuses on quality over quantity. She reveals her unique business philosophy of having all employees participate in installations to understand the full process, and shares details about an impressive six-figure closet project at The Peninsula. Annie also discusses her new 13,000 square foot design studio opening in Talbert Business Park, featuring innovative lighting technology that allows clients to see true cabinet colors based on their home's lighting.Whether you're considering a home

In this episode of We Are Lake Norman, host Ryan Webber sits down with Justin Orders, founder of Queens Orders Honey, to explore the fascinating world of beekeeping and how it became a thriving business. Justin shares his journey from his first experience in a beehive seven years ago to creating multiple revenue streams including his innovative Hive Host Program, where he sets up and maintains beehives in people's yards so they can enjoy fresh honey and improved pollination without the work.Discover the science behind how bees pollinate, why local honey can help with seasonal allergies, and the surprising benefits of having honeybees on your property. Justin explains how honeybees are essential pollinators responsible for about a third of the food we eat, and why pollinator conservation is so critical in today's environment.Learn about the challenges beekeepers face, from managing swarms to dealing with the occasional sting (Justin gets stung almost daily!), and hear Justin's passion for giving bees a voice a

Join host Ryan Webber as he sits down with Martin Cagle, owner of Ride Wake and Surf, one of Lake Norman's premier wake surfing and wakeboarding businesses. In this engaging conversation, Martin shares his incredible journey from attempting to launch a cable wakeboard park to building a thriving water sports company that has taught over 10,000 people to wake surf and wakeboard.In this episode, you'll discover:• How Martin pivoted from his original cable park vision to create the "ultimate day on the lake" experience• The challenges of starting a water sports business in 2019 and investing in brand new Mastercraft boats• Stories from teaching everyone from 4-year-olds to an inspiring 80-year-old Belgian woman who wake surfs weekly• The evolution of wake surfing technology and how it's transformed the sport• Martin's philosophy of creating full-day experiences rather than just lessons• Creative social media strategies, including jumping out of helicopters for viral content• The business model that serves both b

Join host Ryan Webber as he sits down with Jaspen Gray, owner of Lake Norman Athletic Club, to discuss his exciting transition from CrossFit gym manager to independent business owner. After CrossFit 77 closed when the owner moved away, Jaspen took matters into his own hands and opened his own fitness facility, creating something uniquely his own.In this engaging conversation, Jaspen shares his journey from college football player at Catawba to developing a hybrid fitness program that combines the best of strength training, conditioning, and mobility work. Discover how his 15 years of experience in CrossFit and sports training evolved into a more comprehensive approach that focuses on longevity and sustainable fitness.Learn about Lake Norman Athletic Club's three main offerings: personalized one-on-one training, customized programming, and their popular small group classes. Jaspen explains how he's incorporating current fitness trends like running clubs, functional bodybuilding, and HYROX-style training to cre

Join host Ryan Webber as he sits down with Andrew McMillan, partner and fractional CFO at REH CPAs, for an essential year-end tax planning conversation every business owner needs to hear. With tax season approaching, Andrew shares practical strategies to minimize your tax burden before it's too late.In this episode, you'll discover actionable year-end tax tips including equipment purchases, vehicle deductions, retirement planning strategies, and the critical differences between LLC and S-Corp taxation. Andrew breaks down complex concepts like self-employment tax, reasonable salary requirements, and the QBI deduction in plain English that any business owner can understand.Whether you're wondering about that business vehicle purchase, trying to understand S-Corp elections, or simply want to avoid painful tax surprises come April, this episode provides the guidance you need to make informed decisions before December 31st.Andrew also shares insights from his fractional CFO work, including cash flow forecasting ti

Join host Ryan Webber as he sits down with Andrea Gravina, owner of King Canary Brewing, for an inspiring conversation about entrepreneurship, community, and resilience in the Lake Norman area.In this episode, Andrea shares the heartfelt story of King Canary Brewing, which opened in 2018 in a converted house on Williamson Road in Mooresville. What started as a passion project with her late husband Matt has grown into a beloved community hub known for trivia nights, food trucks, and their famous paddleboard club with over 100 members.Episode Highlights:The origin story behind the King Canary name and unique brandingHow the brewery became a community gathering place through creative events and programmingNavigating the challenges of loss, COVID-19, and business growthThe recent expansion to a second location in DavidsonAndrea's background in design from her Ralph Lauren days and how it shaped the brewery's aestheticSignature beers like "Cuckoo Clock" Lime Vanilla Milkshake IPA and seasonal favoritesThe addition