In February of 2006, Philip and Shanna Mastrangelo exchanged marriage vows [barefoot] at sunset on a beach in Hawaii. As they honeymooned on the rural island of Kauai, taking in sunsets from a black sand beach, exploring the earthy canyon of Waimea, discovering a surreal solitary beach on the Na Pali coast, investigating farmers markets, making friends with locals, and witnessing the simplified success of Tropical Taco.
It was during one of those sunset conversations from the beach near their plantation cottage, that Philip first proposed the idea of opening up a public establishment that would somehow allow them to distribute that same laid back island vibe that they could never live without again. Now, at first, Shanna didn't take the idea very seriously. "A juice bar/smoothie shop?" I mean, they dug the idea....but would enough other people feel the same? As they boarded their flights home, they took one last deep breath, taking in the overwhelming aroma of falling plumeria and they knew that one day they would share the love and energy that they gathered there.
After coming home they fell back into the routines of life for a while. They worked and worked. They had another baby <3 They looked for opportunities....They looked for signs. Then one day, from the window of Stone Soup Bistro, they spied the tiny little building across the street. "Is that salon still open?...I never see them open.." A few days later, a FOR RENT sign appeared in the window. Phil took down the info and called the landlord. But alas, the landlord didn't want any old food establishment in there...the mess...the greasy smells...he didn't want it. Phil tried to clarify what type of business we wanted to open...but it didnt' fly. Disappointment ensued. "Phil, if it's meant to be, it will be. If we get bummed out it won't change anything", Shanna said. A week and a half later...the land lord called back. "You say it's healthy stuff...drinks mostly? I'm planning on opening a bicycle shop and the more I think it, it might actually work nicely with what I'm doing... if you're still interested." Our hearts raced! We were still interested.
They withdrew the rest of the money from their checking account a few days later to pay for the security deposit and first months rent. It was scary to say the least. Never once did they sit down and consider that they couldn't get open. They got an income tax return shortly after (they were banking on that return) and spent the entire check on paint, molding, a refriderator, a freezer, toaster, sinks, plumbing, an ice machine, an overly loud blender and lots of permits and licenses. They even ended up taking out a very small loan with a very supportive family member to cover some odd things that they forgot to consider.
At 9:30pm the evening before they opened the menu was completed on a whim. "We can always go back and change things like the names of the drinks if we want to later on", was mumbled at some point. The next morning, on April 9th, 2007 they arose before the sun and made the commute down to Shepherdstown. They had no money in their savings account, 79 cents in their checking...and they wrote just under $250.00 dollars in checks that morning to cover the produce deliveries. Greg and Liz at Stone Soup Bistro lended them $50.00 to put in their empty register so they could make change for customers. "Do you think anyone will come?", they said playfully to one another, "If not, we're going to have a whole bunch of overdraft fees!"
Cheryl and Martin Gallary, dear friends of the Mastrangelo family, arrived more than 30 minutes before they were ready to open the doors just to ensure that they would be the very first customers <3. During that first day, they fumbled, they stumbled, and they even stuttered a few times. But they got the orders out! The majority of those orders went to friends and family members who just wanted to help out and show their support. But they even got a few real customers that they didn't know : ) At the end of the day, they counted their register...and drove directly to the bank to deposit the $260.00 they made....just enough to cover the checks they had already written!
For the next few months, Phil worked mostly while Shanna took care of their small children and helped out with odd tasks. Eventually, they were able to afford some help in the kitchen (thanks Sam Kennedy and Annie Alvarez [the originals] and a very very special thank you to Laura Penn [who saved us over and over again])
In the past three years, they have made it their goal to provide quick, healthy, affordable food for the people of Shepherdstown and the surrounding areas while also trying to create an earthy mellow atmosphere. They have focused on becoming more and more friendly to our one and only Earth while supporting local famers and community members.They have watched shy employees blossom into wonderful competent indivduals. They have expanded their menu over and over again They have grown exponentially (the story of how they expanded into their current location is errily similar this one) ....They have made hundreds of sandwiches and over 40,000 smoothies!! They have been humbled by the gratitude of so many beautiful people <3 <3
Sometimes in life, you have to dream big... and never actually write a business plan for fear that it might tell you that you're crazy and there's no way it will work : ) Sometimes you have to ignore the naysayers...those who tell you that "there's not enough interest for that sorta thing in this area." Sometimes you have to go outside your comfort zone, push yourself to the edge, and take the risk. Even if you fail, you will have learned so much in the process and become a stronger person.
Thank you all for supporting us. Thank you for giving us constructive feedback. Thank you for showing up in the cold hard winter months when we, like most businesses in town,still struggle to make it work. Thank you for waiting in long hot summer lines and then smiling big when you it's your turn at the counter. Thank you for walking in and pouring out your hearts content out to us on the days when we just want to throw in the towel. Thank you for being such a righteous commmunity...and loving us back.
Cheers to three years... and many more to come! Good Food * Good Thought * Good Energy!
Namaste,
Phil and Shanna Mastrangelo & Co.
One Love LLC
DBA: Mellow Moods Cafe and Juice Bar
