Savannah Square Pops opened on September 13, 2016. We were at a different location, just across the street from where we are now on MLK Jr. Blvd. The street was very different. Many of our current neighbors were not here yet and our shop looks very different from that first year. We had a different color scheme, different branding, and a different mindset.
As anyone who owns a small business knows, when you reach a milestone such as 10 years, you’ve climbed a mountain. Going from survival mode to how can we keep up mode is an emotional roller coaster. You must have the bravery to jump, the guts to take chances, and the heart to keep going. Our love of experimenting with new recipes still excites us. The joy of serving pops to new clients still warms our hearts. And greeting new faces in the shop every day is still one of the best parts of our business.
We’ve met with so much generosity along our journey. When we first started out, we still had to work side jobs. There’s a brilliant neon sign hanging in our shop in the shape of our first logo. Mark was bartending at 700 Drayton. A side job was still necessary while trying to grow our business. He would bring pops in for the staff and customers to sample. Two guests he happened to be talking to about his business were impressed with his story. Being successful entrepreneurs themselves, they loved to help others and gave Mark $500 toward his dream. Mark put the money toward their first neon window sign.
Ten years later, Girl Scouts who travel from all over the country and attend the pop-making demonstrations love the patches that are modeled after this sign. Although the branding has changed, the sign remains a symbol of the beginning. So, it hangs in the shop and stays on after the shop closes for the day, shining bright because of human generosity. We are grateful for everyone who has ever bought a Savannah Square Pop. Thank you. We hope to see you in another 10 years!