We were lucky to catch up with Gayla Parks recently and have shared our conversation below.

Gayla, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea

I run at art studio in downtown Clarksville, TN. Being part of the downtown scene you get to meet and know a lot of the other business owners. I became friends with one of the local coffee shop owners that was located right around the corner from the art studio. When he put out that he would be moving to Florida and selling the coffee shop, the idea came into my mind to own a coffee shop.

Since I was little I had always wanted to own a coffee shop and thought that would be pretty cool! So, I talked to my business partner about it and asked if she would like to go in on owning a coffee shop with me. My husband and I got together with her and her husband. We had a meeting and discussed what the coffee shop would be like. We talked over dinner and chatting about the ideas we had.

Her husband had the idea of having a place that not only locals but also tourist could visit while in town. So he came up with the idea of Mug Shot Coffee Co. The idea was to have famous people’s mugshots on the wall and a line up backdrop to take photos against. As the plans sunk in, it really started to grow on all of us.

We all had certain roles. My partner would be the financial director, her husband would be the designer, I would be the coffee guru, and my husband would help with all repairs and shop duties.

Within a month we have the coffee shop running and customers buying our coffee! It’s been stressful at times but it seems so surreal at the same time.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am a local of Clarksville Tennessee, who grew up in a large family. My family consists of entrepreneurs, business owners, and hardworking folks. I am a medical assisting instructor, and art lover, and a crafter. I am now a business owner of a coffee shop! I would consider myself a coffee snob lol. I love coffee and have a certain taste for it. I help manage a non-profit art studio in downtown Clarksville Tennessee. I am also part owner of a coffee shop. I own my own business called Parks Creations. I would say I’m one of those girls that looks at something and would rather make it than buy it. I enjoy everything that I do and make sure I give my time to my family as well.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I started my career in the medical field as a medical assistant and grew to be a medical assisting instructor. I felt like that was my career path at the time until I discovered art again. I grew up loving art but had fallen away from it as time went on. When I became part of a non-profit art studio it seemed that my direction has changed. I felt more comfortable in the art studio.

Managing an art studio is a lots of work, but it’s fun work. Not as highly stressful as it was in a medical field. I did enjoy teaching in the medical field and I love learning about all medical things. But, my stress level could get so high that it would put me in a funk. So, being part of an art studio it seemed to bring more joy into my life and make me a better person to my family. I was toggling between being an instructor and managing an art studio. Then, the opportunity came around to own a coffee shop with my best friend.

Once we got the coffee shop up and running, I was toggling between owning my own business and the crafting world, managing an art studio, being a medical assisting instructor, and now being a new business owner of a downtown coffee shop. I decided it would be best to put the medical assisting instructor position on hold and solely focus on running the coffee shop. Once I got comfortable running the coffee shop I am now able to toggle between the coffee shop and managing the art studio. Life is so much more fun! Yes I still stress, but the stresses are different. It’s a different feeling and vibe. It’s a more manageable stress and easier to handle. Who would have thought?

How’d you meet your business partner?

I’m at my business partner on a normal day working at a vinyl studio. She came in to tell us about artsville Fest. The Artsville festival is a big festival she throws every year and the month of October. It’s hosted by a non-profit art studio called ArtLink.

I showed her some of the things I do and what caught her eye where the resin gummy bear earrings that I made. She said that I should be a workshop post. I inquired and became one of her hosts at the studio. It was so much fun and I was able to teach, which I love to do! We became really good friends and after 2 years of working together and opportunity came along to open a coffee shop. And here we are two months later, running a coffee shop in downtown Clarksville Tennessee, and a non-profit art studio around the corner from it!! We are also in the middle of getting ready for this year’s Artsville Fest!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.artlinkclarksville.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100010834260635&mibextid=ZbWKwL