Making It: Pop Culture CLE brings handmade frozen desserts to Solon

Maker: Nicole Dauria, proprietor & ‘popreneur’

Enterprise: Pop Tradition CLE, a gourmand dessert store in Solon that includes ice cream on a stick within the form of a popsicle

My enterprise background, I spent over 20 years as an government search, serving to companies discover high expertise. On the time of desirous to get out of search, I wanted to have again surgical procedure, so it was a superb time to make a swap. I hosted a brunch on the home proper earlier than my again surgical procedure and had made a strawberry basil popsicle. I actually wished to make it with alcohol however it stored popping out slushy, so I settled for a popsicle and caught it into Prosecco, and it was superb. Considered one of my pricey mates had talked about to me that it was the most effective factor she ever had and stated, ‘You need to actually begin a enterprise.’ So I took a few of my financial savings and acquired some gear, purchased the substances and actually immersed myself into being a pastry chef with an emphasis on frozen desserts.

Considered one of Pop Tradition CLE’s bestsellers is s’mores on a stick, that includes a chocolate custard frozen dessert with marshmallow cream and a graham cracker coating. [Jean-Marie Papoi / Ideastream Public Media]

There’s a little bit of an artwork tie-in with Pop Tradition, particularly evident in your store. What’s the backstory?

After we have been arising with the identify of our enterprise, we wished to play on the phrase to tie the logos in. However the phrase ‘popsicle’ is a commerce identify owned by Unilever, so we could not use ‘popsicle’ anyplace in what we do. That is form of why I name it ‘ice cream on a stick within the form of a popsicle.’ The underside line, we got here up with the phrase ‘Pop Tradition.’ My daughter on the time was 10 years outdated and is a budding artist, so I believed it will be a extremely enjoyable approach to tie artwork and the eagerness of meals collectively. So the art work is an enormous a part of the shop.

Illustrations paying homage to famed pop artists equivalent to Keith Haring and Andy Warhol add coloration and whimsey to the partitions of the Pop Tradition store. [Jean-Marie Papoi / Ideastream Public Media]

In Could of 2021, you opened your brick-and-mortar location in Solon. That needed to have been an thrilling second for you and your rising enterprise.

I at all times wished to begin searching for my very own house, and there is this nice space of Solon with these century properties on the nook of Bainbridge and Solon Highway. I’ve at all times admired this space. I reside locally and beloved these outdated homes. Considered one of them got here in the marketplace, and I jumped on it. I’ve an eye fixed for design, so I used to be capable of stroll by way of the constructing and see if it was one thing I may change. And the earlier than and after photos are simply superb. We took a really darkish basement and made it right into a brilliant industrial kitchen. We’ve got service space, after which we’ve got eating on the higher flooring with our loft and we’ve got eating exterior. We constructed a deck within the entrance and we’ve got a deck within the again.

Dauria’s brick-and-mortar location on Solon Rd. opened in Could of 2021. [Jean-Marie Papoi / Ideastream Public Media]

Now that you just’re settled into the Pop Tradition dessert store, what are you wanting ahead to subsequent?

Oh, I like what I do, however I sit up for October after we’re accomplished as a result of it is exhausting. I might say mid-April by way of mid-October we’re simply slammed. Our manufacturing schedule is nonstop. Every single day we’re simply making. The following steps are what I take into consideration on a regular basis. My addition this 12 months is our meals truck and a liquor license. We’ll be constructing a bar downstairs and it’ll be known as the ‘Ice Cream Barlour.’ I do know I am corny however, ‘Poptails,’ ‘Beercicles,’ tipsy ice cream and boozy milkshakes. So we’ll get that up and operating after which perhaps a second location or a second meals truck.

The Pop Tradition meals truck has a jampacked schedule, making appearances at many native summer time festivities this 12 months. [Jean-Marie Papoi / Ideastream Public Media]

There appears to be a robust sense of camaraderie between small enterprise homeowners in Northeast Ohio. Has that additionally been your expertise?

I imply, we’re right here to assist one another. If any individual cannot present up at an occasion, we’ve got a extremely good group of meals truck operators and we name one another in a pinch if any individual wants one thing. It is nice to have a crew of like-minded people. The native eating places within the space are very supportive. They’ll name me in to assist cater an occasion if they do not do desserts. So it is very nice. It is refreshing. And it makes the day-to-day lots simpler figuring out you could have a assist group.

It’s not at all times straightforward operating your personal enterprise. What have been some challenges alongside your journey that you just’ve skilled up to now?

Being an government search all these years, I employed a whole lot and a whole lot of individuals, however I by no means managed anybody. This was my first time managing folks, and that was a problem in itself — studying tips on how to work with a crew and make it a cohesive unit. I by no means fastened an ice cream machine earlier than or needed to repair a dishwasher. I used to be by no means in a kitchen and had to determine the nuances of the gear. I used to be truly the overall contractor on the buildout of this property that we purchased. Studying to cope with all of the totally different nuances of codes and understanding what I can and may’t do. Plenty of challenges, issues that I’ve by no means accomplished earlier than. However I like rising. I like being challenged on daily basis.

“I like operating my very own enterprise,” Dauria stated. “It is simply been in my genes and are available to seek out out, my organic father was additionally an entrepreneur, so it got here full circle.” [Jean-Marie Papoi / Ideastream Public Media]