We Are Lake Norman

She Left Colombia, Started a Coffee Cart, and Now She's Changing How Lake Norman Drinks Coffee

Most people around here think they know coffee. They don't. And Valentina is very politely about to prove it. Valentina is the founder of Caffeto Specialty Coffee — a Colombian-rooted coffee brand now living inside The Outpost LKN in Cornelius. Her family owns the farm in the Andes. The beans ship every two weeks. And the coffee you're drinking at her shop is about as far from a drive-through window as you can get. In this episode, Valentina breaks down: - How a coffee cart in NoDa turned into a full brick-and-mortar at The Outpost LKN - Why the coffee bean isn't actually a bean (yeah, we didn't know either) - What makes high-altitude Colombian coffee different — and why you can taste it - The grandmother's recipe behind their signature "Pili" drink - Why she's launching coffee workshops so Lake Norman can finally learn to brew it right - What real farm-to-cup actually looks like when the farm is YOUR family's farm This isn't a coffee shop story. It's a culture story. A family story. And honestly, it's going to make you feel a little bad about that gas station coffee you grabbed this morning. Come for the story. Stay for the mango latte. ☕ Find Caffeto Specialty Coffee: 📍 The Outpost LKN — 20910 Torrence Chapel Rd, Unit D1, Cornelius, NC 📸 Instagram: @caffetospecialtycoffee 🌐 caffetospecialtycoffee.com 🎙️ We Are Lake Norman is hosted by Ryan Webber of Webber Marketing. Know a local business with a story worth telling? Find us at ryanwebbermarketing.com ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Coffee, Community & Cold Reach Outs: The Story Behind The Outpost LKN

What do you get when a former UNC Charlotte event planner sees a "For Lease" sign on an old mattress store and just... goes for it? You get The Outpost LKN. Amy joins us this episode to talk about how she built one of Cornelius's coolest new spots from scratch. We're talking a community space, a curated gift shop, and a specialty coffee partnership she landed with a cold reach out to a Colombian coffee cart she'd never met. (Spoiler: it worked.) We get into what it's actually like going from state-funded event budgets at UNCC to "wait, that's my money on the line" as a business owner. The surprises along the way — like how the event space blew up before she even had a pricing sheet ready. And why she built a kids corner into the floor plan, because not every coffee shop has to be quiet and corporate. If you've been looking for a place in Lake Norman where you can bring your kids, meet your neighbors, grab a great cup of coffee, and actually put your phone down for an hour — this one's for you. Find The Outpost LKN: 📍 20910 Torrence Chapel Rd, Unit D1, Cornelius, NC 📸 Instagram: @theoutpostlkn 🌐 theoutpostlkn.com We Are Lake Norman is hosted by Ryan Webbber of Webber Marketing. Have a local business story worth sharing? Let's talk. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

760 Craft Works: Building a Brewery in the Heart of Huntersville

Trey and Brent from 760 Craft Works share the story behind their Huntersville brewery—from a 10-year journey to opening day, the meaning behind the name, creating their diverse beer menu, and building a warm, community-focused tap room that's become a local gathering spot. Plus, hear about their upcoming three-year anniversary celebration and what's next for this Lake Norman brewery. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

The Coolest Building in Mooresville You've Never Been To (But Should)

A lot of people don't know where we are or what we do," says Jessica Dehart, and that's exactly why we're having this conversation. As Executive Director of Mooresville Arts, Jessica gives us the full tour—without leaving our seats. From the historic train depot location (corner from Epic Chophouse) to the gallery that changes every 6 weeks, the shop with $3-$1,000 handmade NC art, and classes that serve everyone from kids to retirees. Learn about the competitive winter jury show, opening receptions with hundreds of attendees, and how this 70-year-old organization is keeping art accessible and free to the community. If you've driven past and wondered what's inside, this episode is for you. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

We're the Friend with the Boat (So You Don't Have to Pretend to Like Some Creepy Guy)

Matt Gahrmann is the founder of Carolina Cruising Charters, and he's basically the friend with the boat—except you don't have to pretend to like him to get on the water. Matt moved to Lake Norman and realized there was no easy, turnkey way to get on the lake without owning a boat, joining a boat club, or dealing with sketchy rental situations. So he built the solution: all-inclusive chartered boat experiences where you show up, have fun, and leave. No cleaning. No maintenance. No stress. We talk about how Matt went from real estate to running a fleet of tritoon boats on Lake Norman, why he refuses to be the "party boat" company (despite what bachelorette parties might request), and the surprising psychology of why even boat owners end up booking charters. Matt breaks down the business model, the challenges of staffing captains who actually want to work every Saturday in the summer (spoiler: they don't), and why Lake Norman's 520 miles of shoreline makes it the perfect place for this kind of business. Plus, he shares some wild customer requests (no, there are no male strippers on Stripper Island), why locals are finally embracing the "Uber of the lake" concept, and how he's constantly refining what works and what doesn't. If you're a Lake Norman local who's tired of dealing with boat ownership, a business owner thinking about the service industry, or just someone who wants to understand how to build a business around making people's lives easier, this episode is for you. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.