08/07/2026
Yup, that’s me. You’re probably wondering how I got here...
The very kind Brent Boswell invited us to come talk to the Cape Fear Rotary - Jungle Rapids about Sweet Marie’s and Feed A Neighbor.
Husband Brent said it was a great opportunity. I agreed to do the presentation.
That was my first mistake. 😂
I made it through about two slides, and then immediately lost my passion for public speaking and handed it off to my pro.
After stumbling through two jokes that were written specifically from a waitress’s point of view, he ditched the script and, in true salesman fashion, took us all on a ride.
And honestly, it was better that way.
We got to just talk about Sweet Marie’s. Where it came from, what we’re trying to build, and why it means so much to us.
The dream of having my own diner was planted in me even before I realized it, when I took my first job at Shirley’s Diner in Leland.
I learned a lot about food and restaurants there, but more than anything, I learned what a diner can mean to the people in it.
That’s what I want Sweet Marie’s to be.
We want to serve the Carolina food we grew up with, bring back some of the dishes you just don’t see much anymore, and share the history, people, and cultures behind the food that makes this place home.
And, of course, we talked about Feed A Neighbor.
That really got people talking.
Several members asked how they could get involved and wanted to know more about how FAN works. They asked questions, and genuinely seemed to care about what we’re trying to build.
Everybody was incredibly friendly and supportive, and we left feeling pretty darn good about the whole thing.
And I can’t forget Jason Ezzell, who warmed everybody up with a little less-than-impromptu stand-up comedy before we started.
I’d say he got about 30% of the room.
Don't worry, we were in that 30%, Jason. 😂
We don’t want Sweet Marie’s to just be somewhere you come buy food. We want to be part of this community. We want to know our customers, work with our neighbors, and be the kind of place that shows up for people.
Getting to spend a little time with a room full of people who feel the same way meant a lot to us.
Thank you, “other” Brent, for inviting us, and thank you to everybody at Cape Fear Rotary for making us feel so welcome we could barely get to the pictures Jason was asking for. Y'all were great!
Turns out, they’re really nice people.
Even to waitresses who lose their passion for public speaking two slides in. 😂
—Amber
