Today we’d like to introduce you to Sara Skolaski.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Sara. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I am the owner of The Spot Coffee. After a somewhat lengthy career in teaching, I decided I was ready for something a little different. I had always had a passion for not only coffee, but coffee shops. There is something about walking in and seeing all of these people having conversation over a lovely cup of coffee. I knew that I too wanted to be a part, in owning a little piece of heaven, on Earth, known as a coffee shop! I posed the idea to my husband and he quickly turned my idea down, saying that this was too much of an investment for our family, at the time. I respected his answer and stance, but this did not make me quit dreaming. I then asked if we could start a food truck, but for coffee. He said paint me a picture of your ideas. I tried to paint the most beautiful, yet detailed image I could. I would pull pictures of color pallets, wood colors, and coffee equipment to truly show my vision. He said that this sounded like something we could do! I was soo excited for the opportunity. Within a week I had ordered all of the equipment that I would need, and bought an old vintage camper! My husband promptly started re-habbing our 1960″s trailer to bring life back into it’s beautiful soul! A month later, he had my camper ready to roll!!! My friend Stephanie decided that she wanted to hit the road with me, so it was two gals in a camper, traveling around Central Illinois, serving up delicious coffee and smiles. As my business grew, I began to get more and more excited. I knew this was going to change my life, I was able to leave my teaching job and hit the road full time. I was able to hire my first employee and best friend, Stephanie, and then a year later, open that brick and mortar, that I had always dreamed of! The Spot brick and mortar has been open for 6 months now, and has been everything I desired in a coffee shop, but I’m not sure that’s where it stops. Life is exciting, and so is the journey of entrepreneurship!
Has it been a smooth road?
It has not been a particularly smooth road, but when you are determined, nothing get’s in your way! I feel that the only way I’ve been able to achieve this dream is through Christ and the support of my family and friends!
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into The Spot Coffee story. Tell us more about the business.
At The Spot, we specialize in our lattes. I have created homemade syrups that we use for the latter. Some of them are staples that never leave our menu, while others have become seasonal and will come and go like the seasons!. The thing I am most proud of is our employees and the way that they love on our customers and community. I think that this is what I’m most proud of. I feel that I’ve been able to pour my vision into our employees and now they’re pouring that into our customers. I truly love the team that I have working for me!
What do you feel are the biggest barriers today to female leadership, in your industry or generally?
I cannot say that I feel that there are any barriers. I have been embraced by other coffee shops in the area, and small businesses, and have just not noticed any barriers!
Contact Info:
- Address: The Spot Coffee
9901 N. Knoxville
Peoria, IL 61615 - Website: www.thespotcoffee.com
- Phone: 309-686-0898
Image Credit:
Jake Sutton Media, Libby at Of Creation, Justin Price Media
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