Daily Inspiration: Meet Marilyn Doore

Today we’d like to introduce you to Marilyn Doore.

Hi Marilyn, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I landed in Franklin in 2020 after 14 years on the East Coast where food trucks and carts were a thing. One hot summer day while strolling Franklin’s historic Main Street, I wondered why no one was selling popsicles there. I didn’t give it much thought until my fiancé, Steven, and I were hiking in AL and had a refreshing gourmet popsicle afterwards. It was so delicious that Steven and I immediately started talking about revisiting that long forgotten thought about selling popsicles in downtown Franklin. It was also the right time because I’m a private voice teacher and my student base falls off by about 20% during the summer months as people are on vacation and touring so I wanted something to fill out my work schedule. Steven discovered this small, family-owned business called Lolly Gourmet Pops in Jonesboro, AR. When we called the owner to discuss Lolly’s marketing strategy and how they had gotten started, we were delighted to discover that Lolly Gourmet Pops was for sale!

As we set about finding a new location for Lolly, we drove down a side street in the Grassland area of Franklin and found several businesses had space for lease. The first one I saw was a small space that had been a smoothie bar and quesadillas shop and I knew immediately that it was perfect! Our lease actually includes the smoothie and quesadilla making equipment so we continued to run that side of the business and added our popsicles to something that was already working quite well!

I continue to teach voice privately 5 evenings a week, Steven does his plumbing work during the day and we tag-team at the shop. Building a business requires a good deal of juggling and commitment so we work a lot of nights and weekends right now but we know it’s going to grow into something we are very proud of and the Franklin community loves it!

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The POS system has been really challenging to figure out and the answers to our questions are always a phone call to another country. Getting the proper licensing, health inspections, park permits, vending permits, registering the business with the state etc, was big undertaking and I felt like I had no road map. I just did things one at a time and kept asking questions of the people I spoke to and there were happy to give me direction. Time has become a precious commodity to both of us. This was supposed to be a “side hustle” but it’s become another full time job! We no longer have the luxury of a free weekend. We might have a Sunday off, but many times we are making pops on Sundays so time that we have away from the shop, from our other jobs, is time we try to spend enjoying life outdoors and with our families. Learning to juggle life in creative ways has made me more tech savvy and I appreciate how technology can aid my daily struggles!

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am definitely a creative person. I’ve been a vocalist my entire life and I probably sang more than I spoke when I was young. One of the things that has lead me to enjoy the popsicles we create is the ability to make up the recipes. We try to add a new flavor every month or so. I’m attracted to the intriguing designs and flavors and we are learning more about making the pops eye-catching, like a small work of edible art. Since we make the pops on-site, we have the ability to do custom flavors for special events as well. We try to use local and fresh ingredients whenever possible and a few months ago, Steven purchased over 60 fresh pineapples from someone through a charity. We had to core, cut and freeze these 60 pineapple in just a few days before they spoiled. It was alot of work, but WOW! Our Dole Whip pops taste like Hawaii! We want to infuse wonderful flavor and beautiful color into our pops so they please all of the senses. I like to do the same in the shop. I change out the decorations for the seasons, we have a candle burning so it smells like coffee or baked bread, and we have a basket of plastic ducks that the kids can play with in the creek that runs along our front patio so everyone is occupied and it’s a happy experience to be here. There is also a small playground with a table and chairs so adults can be close to the little ones as they play and eat. We have a very unique spot here in the Grassland community of Franklin.

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
There are so many things to love about Franklin but I think the access to the open spaces and beautiful scenery is my favorite. I enjoy driving down Hillsboro or to Leipers Fork and seeing the beautiful split rail fences and rolling hills, the horses and the well manicured homes. Harlinsdale Park is the best place to catch a sunset or take an easy hike and I frequently take my Aussiedoodle to the dog park there. Sometimes we just walk around the historic part of Franklin and take in the old homes or enjoy the bike path that goes along Harpeth River. It’s so accessible and welcoming.

I guess the thing I like least about our city, and Nashville in general, is the increase in traffic. Growth is inevitable and the growing pains that come with it sometimes take awhile to work out. That’s going to be the case for our traffic issues until the roads can be widened. It’s a work in progress, just like my business!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://lollygourmetpops.com
• Instagram: @lollygourmetpops
• Facebook: @lollygourmetpops