06/28/2025
āØ Peace āļø Out with a Full Heart š āØ
The Neighborhood Slush ā Final Day: Saturday, June 28th
As I pour my final slushy this weekend, Iām filled with more gratitude than words can express. What started as a bold, slightly ridiculous dream became something truly magicalābecause of YOU.
To my customersāyou were never just customers. You were my sunshine on the hard days, my biggest cheerleaders, and the soul of The Neighborhood Slush. Your laughter, your loyalty, your support kept me going. Youāre the reason I held on this long. Iād name you all if I couldābut let me just say: I hope every sip you took here felt like a little moment of joy.
To my momāfor the endless cleaning, decorating, pitching in on a momentās notice, and for being Employee of the Monthā¦ basically every single month. You held me (and the mop) up more times than I can count.
To Tonyāfor the hours (and hoursā¦ and hours) of building, designing, fixing, hauling, and listening to every single breakdown and breakthrough. You were the quiet force behind every big idea that came to life.
To my team of angels who stepped in when I needed a breather, a break, or backup during the chaos: Emily, Liz, Holly F., Josie, Rindieāthank you for showing up and showing out. Iāll never forget it.
To my sister Saraāthe official Slush Accountant (whether she liked it or not). Your support and spreadsheets meant the world.
To my girlfriend Reneeāmy spiritual mentor, soul-soother, and safe space. You were the one who reminded me to trust my gut, to breathe through the chaos, and to believe in the magic of it allāeven when I couldnāt see it myself. Thank you for your insight, your wisdom, your guidance, and maybe just a little bit of that āØ extra magic āØ too.
To my girlfriend Tracyāone of my longest, most loyal friends and Cassvilleās brilliant tourism director. Thank you for always believing in this little slushy dream, for cheering me on, and for the behind-the-scenes work you do to make this town (and my business) shine. Youāve been part of this from the very beginning, and your support never went unnoticed.
To my fellow bar and small biz ownersāyour advice, collaboration, and encouragement made me feel like I wasnāt doing this alone. I see you, and I thank you.
To all the incredible businesses I got to partner withāthank you for saying YES to the fun, funky, and sometimes absurd. You made this place feel alive with possibility.
To Charlie, our very own ferry captain and the biggest slushy hype man Cassvilleās ever knownāthank you for always shouting us out from the riverbanks.
To my kidsāHailey, Cyan, and Chanceāthank you for the ideas, the advice, the modeling, the strategy, the everything. You inspire me more than youāll ever know. I love you always.
And yes, to my customers & again. And everyone who has supported me again. And again. I could say it a hundred times and it still wouldnāt be enough.
This may be the end of The Neighborhood Slush (for now)ābut itās not the end of the joy we created here. Iāll carry it with me wherever the next adventure leads.
Letās raise one last glass together. Come in for your final slushy, your final laugh, and your final shenanigans like only we know how.
With all my heart,
Carrie š
