We Are Lake Norman

Ryan Webber
  • 4.9 (12)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to "We Are Lake Norman," the podcast that's as irresistible as a sunny day by the lake! Join your host Ryan Webber as we dive headfirst into the heart of North Carolina's vibrant Lake Norman region, where we'll be reeling in the most captivating stories from some truly legendary locals. We're serving up a delicious slice of Lake Norman's history, culture, and unique experiences. Whether you're a seasoned local or just dipping your toes into the community, our podcast promises to deliver stories from our local community and insights into businesses that are making a splash. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 5D AGO

    She Opened a Furniture Store in 2007. Then 2008 Happened. Here's How She's Still Standing 20 Years Later.

    Michelle didn't plan on pivoting. She planned on selling furniture. Then 2008 happened. One day the store was busy and booming. The next day? People got their pink slips and stopped buying sofas. When you're trying to hold onto your home, the last thing you want to do is decorate it. So Michelle did what survivors do. She pivoted. Fast. Gifts. Because no matter what's happening in the economy, people still need to celebrate each other. You cut corners for yourself. You don't cut corners on the people you love. That decision? It's carrying Sweet Grass Boutique into year 20. In this episode, Michelle breaks down: Why she says 2008 hit harder than COVID for small retailHow she buys inventory the same way she designed homes — personal, curated, never trendyWhy she only orders threes and fours of anything (if you see it, grab it)How Sweet Grass competes with Amazon without breaking a sweatWhy the in-person, touch-it-feel-it-smell-it experience is about to make a massive comebackWhat crossstitching, crocheting, and bold colors tell us about where retail is heading And the gift wrapping thing. Don't get her started. Michelle believes a gift someone actually picked out, wrapped, and handed to you beats anything that shows up in a brown box on your doorstep. Every single time. That's not just a philosophy. That's the whole business model. Oh, and her home at Christmas? Full of boxes headed to the store. Zero decorations. You'd be disappointed. Twenty years in retail is rare. Twenty years in retail that started right before the worst financial crisis in a generation? That's something else entirely. Connect with Michelle & Sweet Grass Boutique: Website: sweetgrassboutique.netInstagram: @sweetgrasshomeLocation: Mooresville Town Square, 146 Mooresville Commons Way Ste H (near Lowe's Foods — skip the 150, take Brawley School Road)Hours: Mon–Fri 10–7, Sat 10–6, Sun 11–4 Connect with Ryan Webber: Website: webbermarketing.comInstagram: @ryanwebbermarketing We Are Lake Norman is produced by Webber Marketing. New episodes weekly. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    26 min

  2. APR 20

    The Food Trend Expert Who Owns a Steakhouse (And Why GLP-1s Are Changing His Menu)

    Jim Gordon has spent 20 years buying and selling food manufacturing businesses. He knows what people are eating before they know they're eating it. So when he bought Peninsula Prime Seafood and Steakhouse in 2021, you'd think it would've been smooth sailing. It wasn't. He handed it to partners, came home on weekends disappointed, and finally said enough. In November 2025, Jim took full operational control and spent 90 days just watching. Talking to guests. Reading reviews. And when the reviews didn't match what guests were actually saying at the table? He believed the guests every time. Then he rebuilt the whole thing. In this episode, Jim breaks down: Why GLP-1s (think Ozempic) are quietly reshaping every restaurant menu in AmericaWhy the center aisle of your grocery store is basically dyingHow he built a spring menu by asking his servers — not just his chefsWhy guest count matters more than revenue (and most owners get this backwards)The three pillars Peninsula Prime is built on: quality, hospitality, and community And then there's the autism-friendly program. Jim has a 28-year-old daughter with autism. After 25 years of stressful dinners out, he decided to do something about it. Sensory bags. Fidget spinners. Puzzles. Lights turned down. Music lowered. No questions asked. Three dozen families have shown up since October. The look on their faces when they leave told him everything he needed to know. Oh, and the food? A 12-hour slow-roasted short rib over goat cheese fagottini. A parmesan crusted chicken that guests demanded back. A 12-ounce ribeye with redskin smashed potatoes. And if you want a 48-ounce tomahawk, they've got you covered too. Dinner is the show. And these guys are ready for it every night. Connect with Jim Gordon & Peninsula Prime: Website: peninsulaprimelkn.comReservations: peninsulaprimelkn.com/reserve-your-table Connect with Ryan Webber: Website: webbermarketing.comInstagram: @ryanwebbermarketing We Are Lake Norman is produced by Webber Marketing. New episodes weekly. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    21 min

  3. APR 13

    From Corporate Life to Custom Clubs: How Jeff Long Built a Golf Business He'll Never Retire From

    Jeff Long didn't plan on owning a golf shop. He just knew corporate life wasn't for him. So in 1999, a friend had a spare space in Huntersville, and Jeff took a shot. Literally. He opened All Star Golf with component clubs, a passion for the game, and a dad who loved refinishing clubs. That was 25+ years ago. Since then, he's survived the 2008 recession, watched golf almost die, then watched COVID bring it roaring back. He never closed during the pandemic. Turns out a driving range is about as socially distanced as it gets. In this episode, Jeff breaks down: Why the clubs you bought off the rack are probably wrong for youWhy a "stiff" shaft today isn't the same stiff shaft from 10 years agoWhy 3-woods are dying and 7-woods are taking over (even on the PGA Tour)How to actually get fitted without someone staring at you while you shank itWhy golf is the only sport where you can compete against a proJeff runs All Star Golf out of Mooresville Golf Range on 150. Custom fittings, club building, repairs, and yes — he's got an eBay store if you want to browse before you show up. Oh, and retirement? He laughed at the question. Connect with Jeff Long & All Star Golf: Website: mooresvillegolfrange.com Connect with Ryan Webber: Website: webbermarketing.comInstagram: @ryanwebbermarketing We Are Lake Norman is produced by Webber Marketing. New episodes weekly. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    28 min

  4. APR 6

    She Left Teaching to Sell Pie And Now Her Family Makes 1,500 of Them in Two Days

    Gabby Reising didn't grow up dreaming about pie. She was a childhood education teacher. Her sister was a nurse practitioner. Their husbands work in NASCAR at Joe Gibbs Racing. And somehow... they ended up owning one of the most beloved pie shops in the Lake Norman area. That's the thing about entrepreneurship. It doesn't always look like you planned. In this episode, Gabby shares the full story behind Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop in Birkdale Village — from losing their SBA loan right when COVID hit, to soft-opening in February 2021 and saving their grand opening for Pi Day (March 14th). Because of course they did. We talk about: What it's actually like running a family business with your sister, your husbands, your in-laws, and your kidsHow they go through 500 pounds of apples in two days at ThanksgivingWhy apple and key lime are always fighting for the #1 spotThe "Pie it Forward" program giving back to local nonprofitsAnd the hard lessons — trusting the wrong people, wearing too many hats, and figuring it out anyway Five years in. Thousands of pies. And that Wednesday morning Thanksgiving line still humbles her every single time. This one's good. Like peanut butter chocolate 4-inch good. 🥧 Find Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop: 📍 16836 Birkdale Commons Pkwy, Huntersville, NC 28078 📱 Instagram: @buttermilkskypieshop 🌐 buttermilkskypie.com 🎙️ We Are Lake Norman is hosted by Ryan Webber of Webber Marketing. We sit down with local business owners, hear their stories, and make sure the Lake Norman community knows who's out here doing the work. 🔔 Subscribe so you don't miss the next one. 🌐 webbermarketing.com 📱 @ryanwebbermarketing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    26 min

  5. MAR 30

    She Left Colombia, Started a Coffee Cart, and Now She's Changing How Lake Norman Drinks Coffee

    Most people around here think they know coffee. They don't. And Valentina is very politely about to prove it. Valentina is the founder of Caffeto Specialty Coffee — a Colombian-rooted coffee brand now living inside The Outpost LKN in Cornelius. Her family owns the farm in the Andes. The beans ship every two weeks. And the coffee you're drinking at her shop is about as far from a drive-through window as you can get. In this episode, Valentina breaks down: - How a coffee cart in NoDa turned into a full brick-and-mortar at The Outpost LKN - Why the coffee bean isn't actually a bean (yeah, we didn't know either) - What makes high-altitude Colombian coffee different — and why you can taste it - The grandmother's recipe behind their signature "Pili" drink - Why she's launching coffee workshops so Lake Norman can finally learn to brew it right - What real farm-to-cup actually looks like when the farm is YOUR family's farm This isn't a coffee shop story. It's a culture story. A family story. And honestly, it's going to make you feel a little bad about that gas station coffee you grabbed this morning. Come for the story. Stay for the mango latte. ☕ Find Caffeto Specialty Coffee: 📍 The Outpost LKN — 20910 Torrence Chapel Rd, Unit D1, Cornelius, NC 📸 Instagram: @caffetospecialtycoffee 🌐 caffetospecialtycoffee.com 🎙️ We Are Lake Norman is hosted by Ryan Webber of Webber Marketing. Know a local business with a story worth telling? Find us at ryanwebbermarketing.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    19 min

  6. MAR 23

    Coffee, Community & Cold Reach Outs: The Story Behind The Outpost LKN

    What do you get when a former UNC Charlotte event planner sees a "For Lease" sign on an old mattress store and just... goes for it? You get The Outpost LKN. Amy joins us this episode to talk about how she built one of Cornelius's coolest new spots from scratch. We're talking a community space, a curated gift shop, and a specialty coffee partnership she landed with a cold reach out to a Colombian coffee cart she'd never met. (Spoiler: it worked.) We get into what it's actually like going from state-funded event budgets at UNCC to "wait, that's my money on the line" as a business owner. The surprises along the way — like how the event space blew up before she even had a pricing sheet ready. And why she built a kids corner into the floor plan, because not every coffee shop has to be quiet and corporate. If you've been looking for a place in Lake Norman where you can bring your kids, meet your neighbors, grab a great cup of coffee, and actually put your phone down for an hour — this one's for you. Find The Outpost LKN: 📍 20910 Torrence Chapel Rd, Unit D1, Cornelius, NC 📸 Instagram: @theoutpostlkn 🌐 theoutpostlkn.com We Are Lake Norman is hosted by Ryan Webbber of Webber Marketing. Have a local business story worth sharing? Let's talk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    15 min

  7. JAN 26

    760 Craft Works: Building a Brewery in the Heart of Huntersville

    Trey and Brent from 760 Craft Works share the story behind their Huntersville brewery—from a 10-year journey to opening day, the meaning behind the name, creating their diverse beer menu, and building a warm, community-focused tap room that's become a local gathering spot. Plus, hear about their upcoming three-year anniversary celebration and what's next for this Lake Norman brewery. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    29 min

  8. JAN 19

    The Coolest Building in Mooresville You've Never Been To (But Should)

    A lot of people don't know where we are or what we do," says Jessica Dehart, and that's exactly why we're having this conversation. As Executive Director of Mooresville Arts, Jessica gives us the full tour—without leaving our seats. From the historic train depot location (corner from Epic Chophouse) to the gallery that changes every 6 weeks, the shop with $3-$1,000 handmade NC art, and classes that serve everyone from kids to retirees. Learn about the competitive winter jury show, opening receptions with hundreds of attendees, and how this 70-year-old organization is keeping art accessible and free to the community. If you've driven past and wondered what's inside, this episode is for you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    17 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.9
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

Welcome to "We Are Lake Norman," the podcast that's as irresistible as a sunny day by the lake! Join your host Ryan Webber as we dive headfirst into the heart of North Carolina's vibrant Lake Norman region, where we'll be reeling in the most captivating stories from some truly legendary locals. We're serving up a delicious slice of Lake Norman's history, culture, and unique experiences. Whether you're a seasoned local or just dipping your toes into the community, our podcast promises to deliver stories from our local community and insights into businesses that are making a splash. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Ryan Webber
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    83
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Ryan Webber
  • Show Website
    We Are Lake Norman

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