Success Stories

A lifelong resident of Baldwin County, Todd Cassebaum started selling sweet corn from his family’s farm for $1.75 a bushel to earn extra money. Gradually, other farm produce was added and the business expanded to what it is today.

Originally from Bossier City, Louisiana, Brandon Van Hook had a successful career with USA Today before deciding to jump into the restaurant business. With no previous experience, the opportunity presented itself when a place became available to buy and, in 2009, Hickory Pit Too became reality!

Established in August of 2015, Auto Medic Wrecker & Towing offers medium-duty towing and recovery as well as emergency roadside services. Owner Lavon Parr has over 20 years of experience.

Alligator Alley is situated on over 20 acres of natural cypress swamp in southern Baldwin County. It is home to 700 alligators that have been rescued from areas that are considered dangerous to both them and humans and transported to this natural environment…

A dream of having a place to go with their kids to enjoy a scoop of ice cream was the catalyst to opening Aunt Elsie’s Ice Cream Shop in June of 2022. Sisters Amanda Quick and Grace Cannon liked to do this with their families while on trips and realized Brewton needed an ice cream shop of its own.

Dee Probst, owner of Baldwin Feed & Seed in Bay Minette, didn’t originally set out to own a feed & seed store. She had been a UPS driver for many years and loved her job. An untimely accident left her unable to drive for the delivery company. She had patronized the feed store for many years so when she heard it was for sale in 2007 and, without any retail experience, Dee decided that would be the next chapter of her life.

While working as a floral designer, Terri Slay saw an increasing demand for large ferns as decoration for events and weddings. She felt this was a challenge that she could take on, and in 1999, became a wholesale provider. Eventually, the business was expanded to include a retail nursery that offers houseplants, hanging baskets, and succulents, as well as shrubs and fruit trees. Lots of decorative items and yard art can be found, too.

The Holley House Bed and Breakfast was originally built as a private home in 1906. Through the years, it has undergone many reincarnations, including the first hospital in Escambia County, apartments and a retirement home. In November of 2015, current owner Deborah George began her epic four-year renovation of this beautiful landmark in loving memory of her parents, Dr. and Mrs. A. F. Holley. The B & B has been in operation now for over three years.

Before opening the Endless Delights Café, Andriea Watson’s love of cooking was instilled by her many happy memories spent in her granny’s kitchen. Because of that she had always gravitated to cooking and baking. Andriea originally started with catering but in 1999, moved to her current location and Endless Delights Café was born! 

After working in residential and commercial cleaning for several years, Tori Rodriguez and Alfredo Alvizo founded Creek Clean in 2015 to deliver effective and reliable commercial cleaning solutions throughout Escambia and Baldwin County.

Bailey Duos started working as a dog sitter and walker at age 11 and had always dreamed of owning her own doggie daycare business. That dream became a reality when she placed second — and took home $10,000 in prize money — in the 2019 Homegrown Startup Pitchfest.

2U Tire & Wheel’s partners got the idea for their company in 2014 and launched their first iteration of the business that year in Phoenix, Arizona. Soon after, they opened a branch in Daphne, Alabama. Today, the company serves the Mobile area and Baldwin Counties in Alabama.