Small Business Spotlight: Saddle Up Espresso to celebrate one year of sipping success next month

There’s something special brewing at the corner of 515 N Pine Street in Lennox. Nestled in the Sunshine Parking lot, Saddle Up Espresso has quickly become a local favorite — and this June, the drive-thru coffee trailer is celebrating a major milestone: its one-year anniversary.

“Almost one year! June 24th will mark our one year anniversary!” said owner Cassidy Peery. “It has been a year of growth. We have adapted to needs/wants of customers, changed a lot of processes, created some new drinks, added a new menu. We have been hard at work trying to make the shop efficient to better serve our customers.”

To mark the occasion, Saddle Up is planning a celebration later next month. 

“We will be having a ‘One year birthday party’ toward the end of June! Watch our Facebook/Instagram page for the flyer, and come celebrate with us!”

From espresso to lemonade, Saddle Up Espresso offers something for everyone. 

“Espresso drinks, non-caffeinated drinks, a few bakery options, cold brew, specialty lemonades,” Cassidy listed. But what really sets the business apart is its unique and creative drink offerings.

“We really strive to come up with drinks that set us apart. Our biggest challenge is curating beverages you don’t find anywhere else. I think we have really accomplished that with our specialty coffee items,” she said. “We are really proud of the drinks, from the Oatmeal Cream Pie to the Maple Pecan Macchiato, I feel like anyone can find something they will really enjoy!”

Some of Saddle Up’s most popular drinks include the Cinnamon Roll Latte topped with cream cheese cold foam, the Turtle, and the line of Red Bull Ride energy drinks — especially popular among non-coffee drinkers.

Running a small business always comes with challenges, and for Cassidy, the biggest one has been juggling the many hats that come with being an owner.

“The biggest challenge I have faced is managing. Whether it be my time at the shop, the hours I dedicate to the shop at home doing paperwork, or even the staff!” she shared. “I am a quick learner, and that has helped me with adapting and learning how to overcome some of these challenges. I will always be learning though. If you aren’t continuously learning, you will never get better! I have just adopted the mindset that I will never know enough, and that’s okay with me. I look forward to new challenges and growing from it!”

Luckily, she isn’t in it alone. Saddle Up currently has a small but mighty team of three.

“Alaina Young was my first hire. She was an absolute Godsend. I don’t know where I would be without her!” said Cassidy. “Alaina has been someone I can truly lean on for ideas and someone I can count on to help me grow with the business. She has been there from the beginning (seriously opening day she was there to support me). Alaina is an occupational therapist during the week! She loves her full time job, and she helps at the coffee shop on the weekends as her fun job! Alaina has been the best thing to happen to me, she is not just staff, she is one of my very close friends! I thank the coffee shop for bringing her into my life (haha!).”

High schooler Jaelyn Fergen joined the team last fall and quickly impressed her boss with her dedication. 

“There is not many high schoolers who would wake up at 5am to open a coffee shop before school, but she somehow balances working the coffee shop in the mornings, going to school during the day, sports practice after school AND working a second job on the weekends/some week nights. It really says a lot about how driven she is. I admire all the things she has been balancing the last few months!”

Newest hire Austin Stokely recently graduated as a dental assistant and now helps on weekends. 

“She has been a wonderful addition to the team; she is very smart and picks things up super fast so that has been amazing, as there is a lot to learn for the little trailer!,” said Cassidy.

Though Saddle Up Espresso is housed in a trailer, it’s not going anywhere — literally. 

“Although it is a mobile trailer, we are actually not mobile at all. We insulated the trailer to withstand the South Dakota winters, and it did an incredible job staying warm this winter,” Cassidy explained.

While a physical storefront may be a dream for the future, Cassidy is content where they are now. 

“We are hopeful that down the road we can have an actual building, but for now, we are very happy in the Sunshine Parking lot!. We have a lot to learn before we are ready for a responsibility like that, but we are excited for whatever God has in store for us down the road!”

For Cassidy, one of the biggest blessings of the past year has been connecting with the Lennox community.

“The people! I cannot even begin to describe the amount of incredible people in this community. I have lived here for a few years, and through the business I have made so many new friends! This community has been so supportive and kind.,” she said. “I love living in a small town like this. You just get to know the best people, I am very lucky!”

To keep up with new drinks, events, and more, Saddle Up encourages customers to follow them online. 

“Our Facebook and Instagram pages are the easiest way to stay up to date on what is happening at Saddle Up! If you have any questions, messaging through those platforms is the best way to get ahold of us!”

As Saddle Up Espresso gears up for its “birthday,” one thing is clear: a whole lot of heart goes into every cup. Whether you’re a regular or a first-timer, Cassidy and her crew are ready to serve up something special — one sip at a time.