Meet Leah, a Columbus area Mom of 3 and owner of Joy Local Coffee Company!
How many kids do you have and what are their ages?
I have 3 children- 2 boys and a girl! Madden (11), Sam (9), and Penny (6)
How long have you lived in the Columbus area and what brought you here?
I grew up in Auburn, Ohio and moved to Columbus in 2005 when I started college at Ohio State University. I ended up really loving Columbus and the energy here. I also met my husband here! He is originally from Worthington and we have lived in Gahanna for the past 10 years.
What does your family enjoy doing together in your spare time?
My family loves to get out and explore Columbus! We love to walk around Creekside Gahanna or grab lunch at North Market. At home we enjoy sitting outside at a bonfire and playing with our dog Jeffery.
Tell us about Joy Local Coffee Company and how it came to be.
Joy Local Coffee Company all started almost two years ago when I fell in love with vintage campers and began dreaming of turning one into a coffee trailer. I had started getting into coffee more at home and was making my own syrups and making fun drinks for friends and neighbors. I have also always loved farmers markets and craft markets and when I visit them my first mission is to secure a latte! So, I came to my husband with the idea and he was all in! I found a 1960’s Shasta camper on Facebook marketplace and when we got it home we started to realize how bad of shape it was in. With very little building experience, we decided to take it all the way down to the metal chassis and rebuild it! We finished building at the end of August 2024 and celebrated our grand opening on September 6th! It has been nonstop ever since!
What was the process like in getting the camper converted into a shop that was ready to sell coffee?
As I mentioned, we did not have a lot of building experience so the process of converting the camper was a GIANT learning experience. We started with framing the camper, staying true to the vintage shape but we added about a foot onto the height. We learned how to install new siding, insulation and interior walls. My husband actually learned how to install the plumbing and my dad, who is an electrician, helped us with the electrical. I did a lot of research on grinders and espresso machines and put a lot of trial and error into making a delicious fall menu! Building this camper has been a labor of love and I could not be happier with how it has all turned out!
Where can people find Joy Local Coffee Company?
I set up the trailer during the week in the parking lot of CrossFit Gahanna at 145 S. Stygler Rd. and on the weekends we move it around to different events and markets. However, in November we will be moving to our winter location inside of the greenhouse at Hoover Gardens in Westerville! You can try out our Holiday Menu while picking out a Christmas tree or visiting the Gift Center!
What is your personal favorite item that you have on the menu?
My personal favorite item from the fall menu is the Brown Sugar Apple Shaken Espresso. It is a combo of apple, cinnamon and a little nutmeg. It is like fall in a cup!
What do you love about your business and what you do?
I love being able to be creative whether it’s creating new items for the menu or decorating the camper. I also love meeting new people who are just as excited about coffee and community as I am.
How do you juggle your work and being a mom?
I feel very grateful to be able to be flexible with my work schedule. We have had a few inevitable sick days pop up already this year! But I open the trailer 8-1pm during the week while my kids are at school. On the weekends, they like to come along and help us at events or we have wonderful family and friends that are willing to spend the day with them when needed!
What does a typical day look like for you?
On a typical day, I drop my kids off at school and make my way to the trailer to open by 8am. I have to be sure that the water tank is full and the generator is gassed up. I spend the morning serving coffee and visiting with customers who have quickly become friends. During down time, I work on any marketing or printables we may need for events. I also keep track of inventory and plan shopping trips to be sure we have enough supplies for busy weekends. I close up the camper around 1pm and do the evening run around of school pickups, sports drop offs and making dinner.
What is one piece of advice you would give to a new mom?
One piece of advice I would give a new mom is to give yourself some grace. There will be times when you feel like you are failing and not getting it right. But as my mom told me, the fact that you care and you are trying your best everyday proves that you are not failing. Tomorrow is another day to try again.
