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A fresh addition, "The Hive Coffee House," is emerging on the corner of Highway 24 and Homestead Road, Fort Wayne, IN, 46814, catching the attention of those driving by. As the end of 2023 draws near, this coffee house prepares to take the stage in the Fort Wayne Coffee and Beverage market. "The Hive" is gearing up as the go-to spot for Fort Wayne locals to unwind, connect, and enjoy their favorite handcrafted beverages. Tucked away at 7120 Homestead Road, 46814, this soon-to-be hotspot is warming up! Whether it's a cup of freshly brewed coffee, a soothing tea blend, a delicious shake, or an energy drink, "The Hive" promises to deliver a delightful experience. They offer a wide range of food items by partnering with local vendors like Wild & Free Gluten Free, The Bread Guy, and Utopian Roastery. By sourcing their menu from local suppliers, The Hive reflects their dedication to supporting and promoting local businesses and talents. The Hive Coffee House is truly bound to live up to their saying, "We are more than coffee. We are a community." With a profound commitment to customer satisfaction, The Hive aspires to create an inclusive space where individuals can not only relish in various food and drinks but also engage in a range of fun activities. They provide a kid’s play area to entertain children while adults can work or socialize, offer friendly yard games, and most of all, a warm and inviting space to do anything from remote work to simply relaxing. As the anticipation for The Hive's grand opening builds their thoughtful approach to beverages and food, their commitment to sourcing locally, and their dedication to supporting the local economy, it's clear that this upcoming coffee house is more than just a place to grab your morning pick-me-up. Plan your visit today and be part of the buzz that's set to make The Hive a cherished local favorite.

As the holidays are quickly approaching the weekends will be filling up with all types of holiday cheer and we're here to ensure you know all about the events happening around Fort Wayne! Fort Wayne Village Marketplace: 3946 Ice Way Fort Wayne, IN 46805 Restaurant Week on the Landing: 116 West Columbia Street Fort Wayne, IN 46802 Christkindlmarkt 2023: 3355 Elmhurst Drive Fort Wayne, IN 46809 Holiday Craft Show: 11521 US Highway 27 South Fort Wayne, IN 46816 If you like being in the loop of everything happening in Fort Wayne every weekend and beyond, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, so you're always in the loop with everything happening at the Fort Wayne Business Journal.

As you drive down West Jefferson Boulevard, heading towards or away from downtown Fort Wayne, IN, you can't help but notice Sweetcars, located at 2404 W Jefferson Blvd, Fort Wayne, IN; a luxury car dealership formed in 2010. For those who have grown up in Fort Wayne, IN, or have been here for many years, you may remember Westwood Lanes bowling alley. The bowling alley was located directly behind Sweetcars and has been around since 1962. In 2017, Westwood closed their doors indefinitely and put the building up for sale. If you’ve passed this area recently, you will notice the outside of this 30,000-square-foot building is now painted to match the Sweetcars building and proudly displays a Sweetcars sign in place of the old bowling alley display. If this building were bought, it would provide Sweetcars with a conjoined parking lot, allowing significantly more parking, extra lot space, and adding value to the company as a whole. We reached out to the team to learn more about what their hopes are for the building, but we have not received a response at this time. Once we know more information, we will keep you updated!

In a world where mass-produced furniture dominates the market, some artisans defy convention and embrace the art of custom furniture making. These individuals have a greater understanding of woodworking techniques and an excellent eye for design that allows them to create beautifully crafted pieces that blend traditional craftsmanship with modern aesthetics. Many start these projects out of a need for a piece of furniture that doesn't exist elsewhere, so they use their imagination and raw materials to create the items themselves. Some only commit to completing a few pieces for their homes, and others choose to use their unique abilities and turn their custom furniture making into a business, creating pieces for clients nationwide. This holds true for Fort Wayne entrepreneur Lee Hoffmeier, owner of Fort Wayne Industrial Revolution. When he described what his business is today, he said, "I started out working with black iron pipe. I had an apartment that had black iron pipe shelving and concrete countertops, so to keep the theme, I added additional shelves with a similar black iron pipe, and then I made a black iron pipe coffee table, end table, and lamp. I liked doing that and challenging myself, and the more I got into it, it started moving to more of a modern style. Over time, I kept growing and growing to the point I was making 30-foot tables and working with multiple restaurants at a time. What it is today isn't what it was intended to be. It wasn't supposed to be a business; it was just a purpose to fulfill my free time and challenge myself, but now I'm sought after. I've had the opportunity to work with celebrities and many people across the country." Lee Hoffmeier grew up roughly 15 miles south of Fort Wayne in Ossian, Indiana. When we started talking about his childhood, Lee explained that the way he grew up was really unique. He spoke about how his grandfather started a private airport on farmland, and when they decided to sell the property, Lee's parents bought it. So he grew up in an environment surrounded by airplanes, not only by those who chose to land at their airport, but because his grandpa, uncle, and dad were all pilots as well, so their family flew all the time. Outside of the airport, his father owned his own company. Lee said, "Growing up, my dad also was a business owner; he built custom homes, so we grew up working with him. We knew all about how to use tools; we knew how to work with fractions and decimals way before other kids learned any of that stuff. My childhood was much different than my friends. We would work all day and then come home, and because of the airport, we would have obligations there, like mowing the 13 acres of grass on the runways. We were always busy." We asked Lee if the airport was still in his family today, and he said the land and airport are still on their property, but after 9/11, Fort Wayne Airport was expanding its airspace to the point that it was interfering with their ability to run their airport. He said that between the airspace restrictions, flying expenses, and increase in fuel prices, they decided to shut it down. After Hoffmeier graduated from high school, he enlisted in the Air Force and left for basic training. In 2002, he moved to Fort Wayne to go to IPFW and has been a resident of the area ever since. We asked Lee if he ever thought he would own a company, and he said, "I don't recall. I always wanted to be a pilot, but I never thought of things being this way. I just stumbled across this by pure accident. I couldn't find the things I wanted online, so I decided to make it myself, and it just kept growing." He went on to say that the way the business was formed was really due to the influx in income he was receiving from all the people coming to him to make them a piece of furniture for their home or business. He wanted to ensure he was doing everything properly since this was initially intended to be a hobby. Still, it quickly became a custom furniture building for other people business. We asked Hoffmeier what the most significant challenges were at the beginning of Fort Wayne Industrial Revolution, and he said, "One was space because I was doing it out of my apartment. In the beginning, I wasn't just doing tables; I was doing industrial-style lamps where I would take some big metal fans from the 50s and rewire them and do clusters inside the cage with long bulbs, and it would look like a fan blade. I've taken old airplane RC parts and taken the propeller out, put a different light cluster in there with long light bulbs, and it would look like a propeller. So that was all in my apartment. Now we have a house, and I wanted to make a dining room table for us, so I had this space in my garage that I used. Once I did the whole Hoppy Gnome restaurant, that turned into a space nightmare. I also did a 30-foot table, and that was a nightmare. Sometimes, you need a brick-and-mortar place, but I use my three-car garage, and thankfully, my wife is really understanding. At one point, tools were also an issue because I didn't have all the right stuff, but as you grow in a business, you're working to invest in the business, and then once you get all the investing in or paid off, you can start making a good income." He went on to say that it's also been challenging to find good sources for materials. He's experienced many contacts who say they have a quality piece of lumber, but it turns out it's not as good as described. Lee is an expert in his field and only wants to provide his clients with the best, so ensuring he has good sources is essential. Today, Fort Wayne Industrial Revolution offers a variety of custom products, including cutting boards, uniquely designed clever-shaped charcuterie boards, clocks, and a variety of tables. These items include beautiful finishes or rivers of epoxy that come in various colors that pair nicely with whatever color theme you choose. Lee is open to many ideas his clients have, and he enjoys trying new things, but he also knows what his strengths are, so if a project goes beyond his means, he isn't afraid to turn it down. Lee's primary mission is to create beautifully crafted functional pieces of art for his clients and to ensure they get exactly what they're looking for. Lee is in constant communication with them from the day of sketching the design through delivery. When we went over what the process is for a client who is inquiring about one of his pieces, he said, "It varies a lot, but in short, when a client contacts me, we talk about their basic needs; for example a table, Okay what's the shape you're looking for, what's the measurements you need, do you have inspiration from something I've done or that you have seen on Etsy? If so, send me pictures so I can work with you better. Most times, people don't know the different types of wood, so through photos, I can see and work with you to get the right type. We talk about all the things, including the legs. It can be overwhelming, but I have a checklist I run through. If the client wants to come with me to my supplier and pick out what they want and pay the supplier directly, that's great. I don't upcharge materials. I want them to be a part of the process and experience." Swipe right to see the full gallery. After all the materials have been selected, Lee begins the project. He explained that every piece requires a lot of work to get it down to a raw slab. Once the slab is ready, he prepares everything for epoxy if the client chooses to have any epoxy rivers or finishes to their piece. Once the epoxy is poured, he waits ten days for it to cure to the wood completely. Once this step is finished, he can sand everything down, which typically takes several hours, and add the finishing oils to the piece. This final step takes an additional seven days to cure. When all the steps are completed and the piece is ready to be delivered, it takes about a month from the time the item was started through completion. Although everything Lee creates holds a special place in his heart, his current favorite piece was created for the owners of the ObiCai Restaurant Group. It was a table made out of a beautiful slab of wood from Pennsylvania, and Lee was asked to be as creative as he could be with it. He said that after he posted pictures of the table to his social media account, many doors started opening for his business. He was contacted by a designer in Chicago, a famous heavy metal musician, and several others from the surrounding areas after they saw his work. Since the conception of Fort Wayne Industrial Revolution, Lee has been steadily growing. He is the only person who works for the business, and he has a full-time job at L3Harris, so there are times he has projects booked months out. He says if there is ever a time he needs an extra hand, his wife is always willing to help. He doesn't have any intentions of hiring anyone into the company, but he has allowed others to come to see what he does and teach them about all the steps that are required in creating custom pieces of furniture. As for the company's future, he said, "I like what I do full time, and I don't see myself quitting that, so as for the business, I look at it as something I can retire into and maybe learn new things like cabinetry. I was asked to quote out the Bradley hotel, but space was an issue, so if I could get more space one day, I would like to try new things and keep evolving." Lee is an excellent example of a person who not only loves what they do full-time but also finds great fulfillment in the freedom and creativity that entrepreneurship offers. While his primary occupation brings him joy and satisfaction, Lee recognizes the unique opportunities of being an entrepreneur. He embraces the chance to explore his passions, pursue innovative ideas, and create a unique business of his own. To finish our conversation, we asked Lee what his advice would be for other entrepreneurs hoping to start their own business, and he said, "First, follow your instincts and intuitions and have a business plan. It doesn't have to be formal, but you must know your objective. I've always had this objective of, hey, people are asking me to do something; It's my responsibility to give them the best product. Whereas I've met others who I've offered services to let them come watch and learn from me, and they only ask about how much things are. It felt like they just wanted to do it for a dollar, and that's fine; you never want to lose out on anything, but when I'm giving out really solid advice and telling them some mistakes I've made so they don't do the same it's still just about how much can they make. So, I always caution people who are going into an industry like this that you can make great money, but if you are doing it for the wrong reasons and you speed up turnaround times to get to the next project, you're going to fail. This stuff takes time. You have to be patient and accept the process. So for anyone starting out, whatever that may be, just make sure the business model aligns with what your real passions and intentions are." We want to send a huge thank you to Lee Hoffmeier for taking the time to speak with us about his journey through life and entrepreneurship. His story was so fun to learn about, and hearing the passion in his voice as he spoke about the projects he's completed, you can tell he has great admiration for the industry that he is in. If you are in need of some beautifully crafted furniture pieces, contact Fort Wayne Industrial Revolution. Lee will take great care of you and your project. Thank you to Nikeshia with Creative Roots Media for taking all of these photos displayed throughout the article. If you enjoy reading these stories about entrepreneurs shaping Fort Wayne, one business at a time, subscribe to our newsletter so you never miss anything happening here at the Fort Wayne Business Journal.

Now that Halloween has passed are you finding yourself unsure of what to do this weekend? Do not worry we have everything you need to know to fill your weekend with activities. Science Central Mixology Monster Mash: 1950 N Clinton St Fort Wayne IN 46805 Pumkin Compost Fest: 924 Ewing St Fort Wayne IN 46802 Grain and Berry Grand Opening: 9821 Lima Road Fort Wayne, IN 46818 Wood Carving Class: 2449 Broadway Fort Wayne IN 46807 If you like being in the loop of everything happening in Fort Wayne every weekend and beyond, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, so you're always in the loop with everything happening at the Fort Wayne Business Journal.

Not so long ago, starting a business in the early 1990's and 2000's was significantly different than today. It consisted of complicated administrative processes, a sea of paperwork, and poorly managed communication systems. Establishing a brand presence took much work and was also an expensive affair. Imagine trying to start a business or brand without the internet. Did you know the internet has transformed how we shop? The first online purchase was on August 11, 1994. Consumers did not trust the internet with personal information because rules and regulations were new to this industry. It also needed to be established because, at this time, it only offered a few services. Businesses had to resort to time-consuming tasks. It took more work to scale and get fast results, such as physical mailing, knocking on doors, passing out fliers, and persistent cold calling, which took much work for most people to find the time or money. The tedious nature of these practices significantly impeded and slowed the starting of a business, launch, and growth. Fast forward to the present, where the digital landscape has revolutionized the very essence of entrepreneurship. Starting a business has become remarkably streamlined, with the ability to register a limited liability company (LLC) or a "doing business as" (DBA) entity online within minutes. The evolution of social media platforms has enabled entrepreneurs to test business concepts, create brand identities, engage with audiences, and enable online shopping to become a part of everyday life. Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube emerged as powerful tools for cost-effective marketing, allowing businesses to engage with a vast audience effortlessly. Additionally, business applications like Microsoft Excel, Salesforce, and QuickBooks streamlined data management and analysis, empowering businesses to leverage data-driven insights for informed decision-making. What was once a novelty has become a way of life as e-commerce platforms continue to expand, offering consumers and businesses the convenience of purchasing and selling goods and services from the comfort of their homes. The adoption of online payment systems, such as PayPal, Stripe, and others, has further revolutionized how businesses are run by providing secure and seamless financial transactions. The digital landscape shift has reshaped the foundation of entrepreneurship, making it more accessible and efficient than ever before. The previous maze of paperwork and slow communication has transformed into a user-friendly online domain, empowering budding entrepreneurs to materialize their ideas effortlessly. Email us if you have a business topic you would like to heard: fwbusinessjournal@gmail.com

Are you not sure what to do this weekend as Halloween quickly approaches? Don't worry we have all the events you need to know about happening here in Fort Wayne for the whole family to enjoy some spooky fun before Halloween next week! Friday Trunk or Treat Locations -Parkview Family YMCA (5pm-7pm): 10001 Dawsons Creek Blvd Fort Wayne, IN 46825 -Life Bridge Church (6pm-8pm): 12719 Corbin Rd Fort Wayne, IN 46845 -Fort Wayne Toyota (5pm-7pm): 5900 Illinois Road Fort Wayne, IN 46804 2. Saturday Trunk or Treat Locations -St. Joseph Township (1pm-3pm): 6033 Maplecrest Rd Fort Wayne, IN 46835 -Fort Wayne Nissan (4pm-6pm): 4919 Lima Rd Fort Wayne, IN 46808 -BrightStar Senior Living (4pm-6pm): 11430 Coldwater Road Fort Wayne, IN 46845 -Hysterium Haunted Asylum (4pm-6pm): 4410 Arden Dr Fort Wayne, IN 46804 -Unity Martial Arts (5pm-7pm): 5980 Stellhorn Rd Fort Wayne, IN 46815 -Head Waters Church (2pm-5pm): 2000 N Wells St Fort Wayne, IN 46808 -Maples Inn (5pm-8pm): 8225 Franke Rd Fort Wayne, IN 46816 -Harley Davidson (11am-3pm): 6315 Illinois Rd Fort Wayne, IN 45804 3. Wild Zoo Halloween: Witch and Wizard Weekend: 3411 Sherman Blvd Fort Wayne, IN 46808 4. Fall Allen County Fairgrounds Craft Bazaar: 2726 Carroll Rd Fort Wayne, IN 46818 5. FantastiCon: 120 W Jefferson Blvd Fort Wayne, IN 46802 6. Garden Trick or Treat: 1100 S Calhoun St Fort Wayne, IN 46802 7. Sunday Trunk or Treat Locations -Faith Baptist Church (2pm-4pm): 6600 Trier Road Fort Wayne, IN 46815 -Zion Lutheran Church(5pm-7pm): 2313 S Hanna St Fort Wayne, IN 46803 -Jungle Georges (5pm-7pm): 4610 Parnell Ave Fort Wayne, IN 46825 8. 5th Annual Brooks Family Trunk or Treat: 1020 Swinney Ave Fort Wayne, IN 46802 If you like being in the loop of everything happening in Fort Wayne every weekend and beyond, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, so you're always in the loop with everything happening at the Fort Wayne Business Journal.

As entrepreneurs, when we think back to our childhood, many of us may have fond memories of wanting to start our own business. This may come from the desire to be like a loved one who had their own company or from our creative minds thinking up different products or services we believed would significantly impact the community. As this may be true for some, it is not the case for every business owner. For others, entrepreneurship never crossed their minds as kids; instead, they had other plans. Typically, those plans would include a career path that provides a more stable source of employment and income. It is only when unexpected events or influential people enter their lives that their perspective of entrepreneurship undergoes a transformative shift. For Adam and Molly Ross, both of these perspectives are true. Today, Adam and Molly own Ross Restoration and Zesto at Coldwater Crossing here in Fort Wayne, but if you had asked Molly back before she met Adam if she would have ever owned a business, she would have told you, no way! On the other hand, Adam would have expected nothing less than to have his own business. With both of them having different perspectives on business, we asked what the word business meant to them, and their answers couldn't have been better. Molly said, "I am not a business person. To me, business does not mean making money; it is not monetary. Business means taking care of other people. It's a servant model. It's meeting new people and learning what they like, what they need, what they love, and serving them. To me, business is serving others." Adam followed this up by saying, "It means family and tradition. Its heritage, its legacy. I barely graduated high school and still made a wonderful life for myself with my wife and kids. It's not been without heartache and hard work, but it's my business acumen that I learned as a child has helped me create a life that I wanted down a different path that most people wouldn't have taken. And to me, I'm proud of it. It brings me great joy. Business, to me, is something I want to impart on my children. It's more important than anything that my kids understand business. It teaches you math, it teaches you courtesy, it teaches you pride, it teaches you joy, it teaches you so many things you wouldn't be able to learn in this world, I believe, and I think that stuff is important. It's a way of life, and I think it's huge." Adam Ross was born in Chicago, Illinois. Throughout his early childhood in Chicago, his family lived on the southside, and his dad owned a Breyslers Ice Cream shop in the Lincoln Mall. In 1986, the week of Adams' 5th birthday, the Ross family moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana. His father opened a caramel corn shop in Glenbrook Mall, and Adam and his two brothers spent most of their childhood helping out around the store. When we discussed this time with Adam, he said, "My childhood was wonderful. My friends didn't understand why I liked being at work with my two brothers and my mom and dad, but we would be at work on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and every day everyone else was doing nothing. We would work until ten at night and then go have dinner at Cheddars. We would eat there at least five times a week. We were always working and hanging out together. I loved it! To me, it was amazing. I would be handing out change to adults, and people would come in and start yelling at my father for making his 7-year-old son work, but he would tell them, "Call the EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission); the kid wants to be here! I can't do anything about it. He loves it!" We had a blast. I can't even describe to you how lucky I was to have those experiences as a kid, starting at five years old." He followed this up by saying he knew from the time he was in second grade that he would be an entrepreneur just like his father was. Adam went to Homestead High School, and during his final years there, he managed to get a job at Zesto on Broadway. Here is where he would meet Molly for the first time and fall in love. Molly Ross was born and raised in Fort Wayne, Indiana, growing up off Old Mill Road on the south side of town. When we talked about what it was like for her growing up, she said, "My childhood was fun. My parents imparted on us that we had to work hard but to always have a lot of fun and follow our dreams. My childhood was not without heartache, though. I lost my older brother to cancer, but I think that instilled in my parents to cherish every moment and make every moment count, and that was ingrained in me to live every day to the fullest and have fun and work hard." She went on to talk about how she went to Bishop Luers High School and got her very first job working at Zesto. After Adam and Molly met in 1999 and the Zesto season came to a close, they continued to date. After graduation, Molly was accepted into the Saint Francis Nursing Program, where she would get her Bachelor's Degree in Nursing and work in the critical care and burn unit within St Joe Hospital. Although Molly loved helping people, she did not enjoy working in the hospital environment. She despised being confined within the same four walls for 12 hours a day, so she transitioned her career into healthcare sales. Through this new career path Molly wore many hats and gained new experiences in many areas. Throughout this time, Adam graduated from Homestead High School and started working with Stanley Steamer, a local carpet cleaning service. From there, he transitioned into working with Carpet One, a carpet and flooring store. While working here, the itch for entrepreneurship was still in the back of Adam's mind, and in 2002 the opportunity to purchase a steamatic franchise in Las Vegas, Nevada, was brought to his attention and he began to consider making the move. His father lived out there and was willing to go in on the purchase with him and be his business partner, but Adam ultimately couldn't leave Molly behind. Instead, his dad moved to Fort Wayne, and they started a company called Steam It—a carpet, air ducts, upholstery, grout, and tile cleaning service. Unfortunately, Adams' dad hated the area and desperately wanted to get back out west, so after two short weeks, he moved back to Vegas, and the company was now entirely under Adams control. We asked Adam what it was like after his dad left, and he said, "I remember crying at night thinking about how I was going to pay rent or for the vans, but in hindsight, I thank God it happened. When my dad left, we created a plan of how I would pay him back for the business, and that forced me to figure it out, and I did. Molly has been the person that grounds me, so before I make big decisions, I bounce it off of her, and she's very detailed in her thinking, and it's been a wonderful partnership in marriage and in business." In 2005, Molly's cousins approached Adam about purchasing Steam It, and after much consideration, they decided to sell it. After the sale, in 2006, their first baby girl was born and throughout the next two years, Adam began thinking of all the areas he wished he could have perfected in Steam It. He also thought of other services he wished he could have offered. In 2007, once he had these services wholly thought out, Ross Restoration was formed. At the company's beginning, Ross Restoration offered most of the services that Steam It did, but the company's primary focus would be restoration services caused by fire, water, or mold damage. Over the course of the next decade, Molly and Adam would bring two more children into the world, creating a family of 5, two daughters and a son. When their son was born, Molly decided she would step back from work and put all her focus into being a stay-at-home mom until he was old enough to start kindergarten. She continued to help with the back-end side of Ross Restoration, handling payroll, managing the books, and doing any other behind-the-scenes tasks that needed to be done. Then, in 2020, the Ross family decided to take another leap into the business world by starting a popcorn company called Harry's. After doing all the research and building out the kitchen, they began searching for people to help with trade shows, and then COVID hit and put everything to a halt. Due to this, they had to shut Harry's down completely and cut back on a lot of services at Ross Restoration due to staffing issues. When we asked Adam what Ross Restoration is today post-COVID, he said their primary focus is now solely on restoration services. They decided to make this change because, with dwindling staff, they knew they needed to ensure whatever services they did offer could be completed to the best of their ability, ensuring every job received a five-star review in service and customer satisfaction. Throughout COVID, the Ross family didn't stop thinking about their next business venture; around this time, their son was almost old enough to start kindergarten, and Molly was ready to return to the workforce again. She knew she didn't want to return to bedside nursing or sales but wanted to do something else within the community that felt right for her. She just wasn't sure what that looked like just yet. Throughout Molly and Adam's marriage, they continuously discussed how cool it would be if they could one day return to their roots and own their own Zesto. This idea always seemed far-fetched because a Zesto location had not been sold in years, but they never stopped dreaming about it. In fact, during a trip to Clearwater Beach, Florida, in June of 2023, the Ross' even half-jokingly discussed opening a location down there to finally have their own ice cream shop. Once they returned home, life went back to normal, and the thought of the ice cream shop went back to being a fun dream. That was until one day when Adam received a call from his daughters to go out to lunch. He said, "We got back from Clearwater, and a few days later, my daughters called me and asked to go out to lunch. They never call me for lunch because they know I'm always busy, and I never get to take a lunch break, but on this day, I got a lunch. So, on my way over, I stopped at BP gas station to get gas, not knowing my wife and son were on their way (to lunch) too, and I'm at the gas pump and I started googling 'business for sale in Fort Wayne.' I don't even know why I'm googling this while pumping gas, but here I am, literally holding the gas handle down, and at the top (of the listings), there is a business for sale. It said something along the lines of an independent, family-owned, stand-alone building that was seasonal and was for sale, and I'm like, that sounds a lot like Zesto! So I went to lunch and talked with my family, and I said we needed to get something sent over today, so we put together a package of our finances and our story about how Molly and I met and about our girls working at Zesto, and we sent that over. They had 3 or 4 other potential buyers, but with our story about Zesto, how we met there and fell in love, and our kids working there, they picked us. Like they could've picked someone else from that pile, and we would have missed out on our big dream, but we got it!" On September 28th, 2023, the Ross family officially took ownership of the Zesto at Coldwater Crossing. Their dream finally came true, and Molly knew this was the perfect venture for her to take on. As Molly spoke about Zesto, we could hear the love and passion in her voice as she told us about her hopes for the future of the location now that they've taken over. She said, "I want the tradition of an ice cream sundae or ice cream cone on a hot sunny day to continue for generations to come. I have so many memories as a kid going to Zesto on a summer night, and I want that for my grandkids and their kids. There's just something very special about going to an iconic ice cream shop, and I want that to continue for years and years to come." Adam added, "I think Molly and I share the same dream of pouring into our staff. We want to love on them and create a fun work environment, and teach the kids what we learned working at Zesto. There's no shame in working a hard day, but there's a lot of joy in serving ice cream and shakes to people and putting a smile on their face, and there's something special and nostalgic and awesome about that." We asked Adam and Molly if they have any plans to change anything at their location, and they told us they are currently building out a patio in the back to provide more seating and shade to their customers. They have plans to add lighting and stereos throughout the space to ensure their visitors have a fun and welcoming experience. Since they took ownership of the company late into the season, they decided to keep their location open until Sunday, October 22nd, 2023. They are the only location still operating in Fort Wayne, and they've had so much fun running the shop the last few weeks. As we discussed how things have been going since they took ownership of the location, Adam said, "Zesto to us is a love story. If Zesto didn't exist, Molly and I wouldn't know each other. To us, that is the biggest blessing." He went on to talk to us about how, back in 2020, he kind of forced the idea of Harry's on Molly because he was trying to find a way he could teach their kids about business like he learned from his dad. He said, "I was hoping through Harrys I could teach my kids what I learned growing up, but they hated it. They didn't like being in the kitchen. There were no other people, no interaction, they didn't enjoy it. So that didn't work as I hoped, but now, with Zesto, the five of us will go down and work at Zesto and serve people, have fun, laugh, make a mess, and then clean it all up together. I feel like Zesto does what I was hoping Harry's would have been, like how the popcorn stop was for me. It provides that family bonding, unity, and environment, and I feel like I have it for my kids now for their lives and their families. It will continue to be a generational impact for the Ross family tree." Adam and Molly's stories serve as an inspiration to aspiring entrepreneurs, demonstrating that the path to business ownership can happen in unexpected ways. Whether through being born into a family of entrepreneurs or being inspired, motivated, and sometimes nudged into the journey igniting a newfound passion for the business world. Together, they have created an extraordinary partnership in life and in business, providing each other with their unique perspectives and shared vision for the future of their companies. When we asked what their advice would be for others hoping to take on the path to entrepreneurship, Molly said, "I would say to not be fearful. If it wasn't for Adam, there are a lot of things I wouldn't have done in life because anxiety would've gotten in the way, so I would say to my younger self or another entrepreneur to not be afraid and take calculated risks. One of the motos I've lived by for the last several years is rejection is God's protection; if you're doing everything for the right reasons with the right intentions and if it's meant to be, it's meant to be. Don't be fearful, and just trust that what you're doing is the right thing to do." Adam followed this up by saying, "Surround yourself with great people and always ask them what they're reading." We asked Adam what his favorite book was, and he said he has two, The E-Myth and Profit First. We want to send a huge thank you to both Adam and Molly Ross for taking the time to speak with us about their journey in life and in business. We are so excited for them as they take on this new venture into owning their very own Zesto, and we can't wait to see the Ross family live out their dreams. Thank you to Nikeshia with Creative Roots Media for capturing the photos presented throughout the article. If you enjoy reading these stories about those helping shape Fort Wayne, one local business at a time, subscribe to our newsletter so you never miss anything happening here at the Fort Wayne Business Journal.

Seasons changing and the holidays approaching, the Fort Wayne Business Journal is here to share the new/exciting events happening in Fort Wayne, IN. Every Wednesday, we publish events and happening in Fort Wayne, so that you can book your next event. 1) Gem and Mineral Show: Friday 20th - Sunday 22nd, 2023 at 10am Located at the Allen County Fair Grounds 2726 Carroll Rd Fort Wayne, IN, 46818 2) Fright Night 2023: Saturday 20th, at 3 pm Located Downtown Fort Wayne at the Allen County Public Library 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, IN 3) Safe Trick or Treat: Sunday, October 22nd, at 1 pm Located at the Black Forest 8965 Auburn Rd Fort Wayne, IN, 46825 4) Wild Zoo Halloween: Pirate and Princess Weekend, Saturday 21st - Sunday 22nd at 11 am Located at Fort Wayne Children's Zoo 3211 Sherman Blvd, Fort Wayne, IN 46804 5) YMCA Trunk or Treat: Sunday October 22nd at 2 pm Located at Jorgensen YMCA 10313 Abotie Center Rd, Fort Wayne, IN 46804 6) Lights on Haunted Castle: Sunday 22nd at 1 pm Located at The Haunted Castle 8965 Auburn Rd, Fort Wayne, IN 46825 7) Last Day of the Season for Zesto's Coldwater Crossing Located at Coldwater Crossing 210 E Washington Center Rd, Fort Wayne, IN 46825 If you or your company is having an event or gathering in Fort Wayne that you would like the Fort Wayne community to know about, contact our Email at info@businessjournalfw.com

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