Today we’d like to introduce you to Tara Mitchner.
Hi Tara, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My journey in healthcare began in 2003 when I became a medical assistant after attending Remington College in Little Rock, Arkansas. From there, I continued my education at Southeast Arkansas College, where I graduated with honors as a Licensed Practical Nurse in 2005. I later earned my Registered Nurse degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 2008.
Over the years, I’ve built a diverse nursing career working in a variety of settings, including corrections, acute care, and intensive care. I’ve had the opportunity to work with several organizations such as Centennial Medical Center, Vanderbilt Medical Center, Favorite Healthcare, Correct Care Solutions, and currently Premise Healthcare. Each of these roles helped shape my clinical skills and gave me a deeper understanding of patient care across different populations.
While I’ve always been passionate about healthcare, I’ve also had a strong entrepreneurial spirit. In 2018, I purchased a juice franchise, and brought the first location to Nashville. I designed and opened the café in downtown Nashville in June 2020, and it became the first African American female–owned juice café in downtown Nashville. The business has been featured in the Nashville Business Journal, Nashville Downtown Partnership, NowPlayingNashville, and the Nashville Post, and I’ve also had the opportunity to serve as a guest panelist for The Equity Alliance discussing small business and the impact of COVID-19. In subsequent years, I went independent with the business.
My journey hasn’t been traditional. I became a teenage mother and started out on welfare, but I was determined to build a better future for myself and my child. There were many obstacles along the way, including a legal situation that could have ended my nursing career, but I was able to prove my innocence and continue forward. I commuted long distances to school, slept on friends’ couches at times, and worked whenever I could between classes because I believed education would change my life.
Those experiences built the resilience and determination that still guide me today. Whether it’s nursing or entrepreneurship, my focus has always been on creating opportunities—not just for myself but for the next generation. That’s actually why I named my business Alchemy Services, because alchemy means transformation and creation. My goal has always been to create opportunities, knowledge, and ultimately generational impact.
I’m proud of how far I’ve come, but I truly believe this is just one chapter of my story,
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Like most entrepreneurial journeys, there have been a lot of learning moments along the way. One of the biggest challenges was opening the café in June 2020, right in the middle of COVID. Downtown Nashville was extremely quiet, offices were closed, tourism had slowed, and we were trying to launch a brand-new business in an uncertain environment. It required a lot of faith, flexibility, and creativity just to stay open and keep things moving.
Another challenge has been balancing multiple roles. I’m still active in my nursing career while also running a business, so learning how to manage work, family life, and entrepreneurship has required a lot of discipline. As a small business owner, you wear many hats — from operations and marketing to inventory, staffing, and finances. In the beginning especially, it felt like I was learning something new every single day.
There have also been practical lessons that come with business ownership that you really can’t fully understand until you’re in it, like navigating taxes, managing seasonal slow periods, and realizing that sometimes you don’t even know what you don’t know yet. Those moments can be stressful, but they’re also where the most growth happens.
Through all of those challenges, the biggest lesson has been resilience. Even on the hard days, you still have to show up, problem solve, and keep moving forward.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My work really centers around health and wellness from two different angles. Professionally, I’m a registered nurse and have been in the medical field for over 20 years. I’ve worked in a variety of healthcare settings.
At the same time, I’m also an entrepreneur and the owner of a juice café in downtown Nashville. My focus there is preventative health and wellness—helping people incorporate healthier habits into their everyday lives through fresh juices, smoothies, and wellness-focused products. In many ways, the café is an extension of my healthcare background because it allows me to promote wellness before people end up in a clinical setting.
I think what I’m most known for is resilience and the ability to pivot. I’ve been able to maintain a career in nursing while building a business from the ground up, including opening it during one of the most challenging times for small businesses during COVID.
What I’m most proud of is not just opening the café, but the impact it has had in the community. Being the first African American female-owned juice café in downtown Nashville was meaningful, but even more important to me is creating a space that promotes health, community, and opportunity.
What sets me apart is really my journey and perspective. I didn’t take a traditional path to get here, and that experience has given me a strong sense of determination, adaptability, and empathy. Whether it’s caring for patients or building a business, I approach everything with the mindset of creating opportunities, helping others, and continuing to grow.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
I would say the most important qualities that have contributed to my success are resilience, flexibility, and a willingness to keep learning. Throughout my journey in both healthcare and entrepreneurship, there have been many unexpected challenges and moments where things didn’t go exactly as planned. Resilience has allowed me to keep moving forward even when things were difficult.
Flexibility has also been key because both nursing and business require you to adapt quickly. Situations change, new challenges arise, and you have to be able to pivot and find solutions without losing sight of your goals.
Finally, I think having the mindset that you can always learn something
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thealchemycafe/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083559151304&sk=about
