09/16/2026
I’ve always had an entrepreneurial heart. As a child, I loved playing “storekeeper,” and I suppose I’ve always had a knack for dreaming up a new venture.
A little over a decade ago, we opened a humble little country store. We loved that store—the customers, the conversations, and especially watching families grow through the years.
During that time, I had the pleasure of meeting another entrepreneurial woman who was working hard to build a business of her own. Two women chasing big dreams—me with my home remedies and her with her food truck.
We eventually closed the country store, but we never slowed down. We continued full steam ahead, expanding into wholesale, online sales, Silver Dollar City, and eventually Dollywood. Along the way came rentals, Airbnbs, and an event venue.
Through all of these crazy ventures, there has been one common thread: **preserving the past while growing the future.** Whether it’s an old building, an old-fashioned skill, or a family tradition, I have always had a deep desire to preserve it and pass it on to the generations coming behind us.
That other powerhouse of a woman? She kept moving forward too. Her little food truck grew into multiple brick-and-mortar restaurants, rentals, Airbnbs, and event venues. And just like me, she has a heart for preserving the past while creating hope and opportunity for the future.
In fact, she has been a driving force behind the revitalization of our little hometown’s downtown.
There’s something pretty special about the fact that the names of our businesses reflect the foundation on which they were built.
**Two women who embraced their heritage and honored their ancestry by naming their businesses after strong women—their grandmothers.**
**Two women who started small businesses more than a decade ago with little more than big dreams and a whole lot of determination.**
**Two women who have worked hard for their families, their teams, and their customers.**
**Two women that have have their strong, beautiful daughters working alongside them.
**One woman who has poured herself into keeping our little town thriving.**
**And now, one woman joining forces with the other to do her part in helping keep our beautiful hometown growing.**
And so, after more than a decade of dreaming, growing, and building…
**Grandma Bea’s is OVERWHELMINGLY excited to announce that we will soon be opening a new location—just TWO DOORS down (insert Dolly’ song) from MARY JANE!** 🤎
What a full-circle moment.
Carissa, thank you for being such an inspiration, for believing in the beauty and potential of our little town, and for allowing us to bring new life to your beloved J Street building.
Here’s to preserving what makes our hometown special while building something beautiful for the future. 🌾🤎