09/02/2026
💗☕️ Since we’re talking about supporting small businesses… let’s REALLY talk about it.
There seems to be this funny little misconception that if you own a business, you must be rich.
😂😂😂
BABY, WHERE?!
Let me introduce you to small business ownership: where the business can make money and somehow YOU are still broke. 😂
The money comes in…and then it turns right around and goes back out.
Payroll. Inventory. Syrups. Milk. Cups. Lids. Utilities. Insurance. Taxes. Equipment. Repairs. Merchant fees. Invoices. Supplies. And about 47 other things nobody sees.
Sometimes owning a small business feels less like being a CEO and more like being a professional at robbing Peter to pay Paul while keeping a smile on your face. 😂
And right now? The economy is ROUGH.
People are watching their money. Businesses are watching their money. Everybody is watching their money. And small businesses are feeling it.
Then there’s the whole “We support small businesses!” conversation…
Okay. 👀
Because everybody LOVES saying support local until corporate comes rolling into town with a shiny new building.
Growth is GOOD. I want our town to grow. I want new opportunities and new businesses here.
BUT…
We also can't scream “support small business” from the rooftops while rolling out the red carpet for every corporation that comes along and forgetting about the locally owned businesses that have already been here investing, donating, employing people, paying taxes, sponsoring events and pouring into this community.
There. I said what some of us were thinking. 🤷♀️😂
And before somebody takes this sideways — this isn't a pity post.
I'm not asking anyone to feel sorry for me.
I'm simply saying small business ownership is HARD.
Do I wish we were busier? HELL YES. 😂
Am I in debt? Yep.
Am I secretly rich because I own a coffee shop? Absolutely freaking not. 😂
Have there been weeks where I wondered how I was going to make everything work? More than I'd probably ever admit.
But am I quitting?
NOPE.
I'm stubborn. 😂
I believe in what I've built.
And I love the little community that has grown around this crazy coffee dream of mine.
So to every person who comes through that drive-thru, walks through our doors, buys a coffee, tips my girls, grabs some merchandise, shares a post, leaves a review, tags a friend or tells somebody, “Go try Top Shelf”…
THANK YOU. Seriously. 💗🩵
You may think you're just buying a coffee.
But you're helping pay someone's paycheck. You're helping pay an invoice. You're helping keep the lights on. You're helping a LOCAL business continue showing up and fighting through another week.
So yeah…
Your local small business owner probably isn't rich.
We're just caffeinated, slightly in debt, stubborn as hell and determined to make this s**t work. 😂☕️💪
And as long as y'all keep showing up…
I'll keep showing up too. 💗🩵
