a sweet renovation
HAAAY, friends! As a family, most of our Sunday dinner conversations revolve around a lot of different things. And as small business family, it is embedded in our DNA to think BIG! We are constantly coming up with elaborate business ventures we would love to pursue. Some ideas we utilize for the candy company, others we stick in our back pockets, waiting for the perfect opportunity. So, when I suggested choc-go-latier, a mobile candy cart, I never thought that in just a few short weeks we would be the proud owners of a horse trailer! Here it goes... Meet Maxine!
Here it goes... Meet Maxine!
Our soon-to-be mobile candy cart!
Our 1970 Stidham horse trailer, and (soon-to-be) mobile candy cart for choc-go-latier! Maxine is a little rusty, but underneath her old exterior are some trusty bones. We are excited to document this journey from start to finish, and we hope you will follow along as we renovate good ol’e Maxine from top to bottom, inside and out! We can’t wait to get this sweet cart out and about, Pittsburgh! Follow us on Instagram @chocgolatier & #asweetrenovation for updates, or check out our Facebook page!
a sweet start
Oh what an adventure we’ve had so far! After bringing Maxine home (and losing a window somewhere on the road…oops), we were eager to get started. If you know our family, you know that anything involving tools isn’t our forte, but that didn’t stop us from heading out to stock up on several things we thought we needed, may need in the future, and definitely will never use. I’m talking paint scrapers, cleaning supplies, a sander, protective goggles, a broom, a ruler, at one point I was just throwing things in the cart. Needless to say, we were very prepared… prepared to come home and stand in front of Maxine with no clue on where to start.
After a few minutes of organizing our thoughts and debating whether we should wait for a professional, I got to work sweeping out the inside of the trailer. As for my dad, well he plugged that sander in and sanded the same spot for a solid hour. Then his phone rang. Our new best friend Tom, aka sandblaster extraordinaire, called to let us know he was very interested in helping us with our project. And even better? He was in the neighborhood and was hoping to stop by to take a look. PHEW! Because looking back, while I love our confidence, one of us would have definitely sanded a hole right through poor Maxine.
When Tom arrived, he walked around and around our Maxine. He sat on the ground and inspected her floor, her tires, her front end, her back end. The anticipation was nerve-wracking. We had just assumed we bought a trailer sturdy enough to be reinvented into our idea, we never thought there may be the possibility that she was just too far gone. AMATEURS! Finally, Tom assured us that Maxine had a strong foundation, A LOT of rust, a few holes and spots that would need to be welded, but a strong foundation. What a relief! Now, where to find a welder?
Luckily, we know someone who knows someone (like most Greek families) who would be able to help piece our Maxine back together again. And the best part? They are planning on helping us with a few other bigger steps, too. Then, it’s back to Tom to sandblast and paint! These next steps may take a few days or a few weeks, it really all depends on hidden damage, the ordering of supplies, and time. Until then, scroll through the photos below to get a glimpse of Maxine before her make-over.
