Savannah Branon (Swimming & Diving, Boston College) grew up in Jacksonville. HelloNation asks student athletes one question about the place that raised them and records the answer on camera. This is Savannah Branon’s, in full.
The question
Name three small business owners in your community who have had a meaningful impact on others or inspired you personally. Who are they, and why do they stand out as a pillar of your community?
The answer, as recorded
Transcript. What follows is a transcript of the video above, in Savannah Branon’s own words. It has not been rewritten, and no part of it was drafted for them.
There are lots of small businesses in Jacksonville. I see at least a dozen driving to my swim practices every day. However, some of my favorite small businesses recently have been those earned by hardworking people with a passion for what they love. One of the first small businesses I ever knew about was Frosted by Darla. For most of my childhood, birthday parties were the biggest events of the year. For my parents, it was no different. Almost all my birthday parties had face painting stations, craft centers, and bouncy houses. But at the center of my birthday parties would always be a giant, beautifully decorated cake with matching gluten-free cupcakes, of course, from Frosted by Darla. Not only were her cakes gorgeous, but they were so delicious and she always remembered my favorite flavors. No matter if it was my 7-year-old Frozen birthday party cake or my 12-year-old Lord of the Rings party birthday cake, she always remembered my favorite flavor, red velvet. And for that reason, I feel like Darla is a pillar of the Jacksonville community. She remembers people's birthdays, their favorite flavors, and pours genuine care into her work. Similarly, Lily Grace from Lily Grace Boutique loves to welcome everyone into her life and into her shop. Lily Grace has personalized her boutique to the point where you can't go to one corner of her store without seeing her in it. From the hats having her favorite Bible quotes on them to her own daughter's modeling photos on each and every single wall modeling Lily Grace's clothes, she truly has inspired other Jacksonville shop owners to embrace their inner creativity and express themselves in their art. Overall, her shop is a really good reflection of the core personality of Jacksonville, creative, quiet, and full of whimsy. Lastly, when I think of the diversity of Jacksonville in the small business world, I think of Aroma Corner. Aroma Corner was established in 2007 by a young Asian couple who wanted to share their favorite drink with other immigrants like themselves. Ever since, it has been a staple of the Bay Meadows roadside shopping. Every time I've gone to Aroma Corner, there's been so many new and old people with all sorts of different races, ethnicities, and cultures intermingling for a great cup of boba tea. It's where one of my best friends and I go to all the time whenever I'm in town, and it's always an amazing time. There's a genuine sense of care and empathy from the owners, employees, and customers, and I've never met a bad person in Aroma Corner. And I think Aroma Corner's owners represent what makes Jacksonville special, because just like Jacksonville, they don't just run their business. They also build personal, lasting, and tight-knit communities.
Recorded by HelloNation as part of its athlete voices program and published by Hello Newswire, HelloNation’s good news newswire. The words are the speaker’s own.
Reported by Hello Newswire.