This week, I’m speaking with Andy Mumma. Growing up, Andy never intended to be a small business owner, but the entrepreneurial seed was planted early and when combined with a love of cafe culture and a dash of punk rock, the result has been a series of wildly successful businesses in his adopted hometown of Nashville and beyond.

Andy’s passion for music began while washing milk trucks as a teenager and quickly evolved into touring with bands while he was still in high school. Broke and in need of a change of scenery, Andy made his way to the Music City, where he landed a job as a dishwasher, and through hard work eventually became a barista. His creative instincts ever present, Andy began meticulously planning his own coffee shop and 15 years later, when the opportunity presented itself, willed it into existence.

The first Barista Parlor was a labor of love taking almost a year to complete construction, as well as helping to heal a family rift that had lasted nearly a decade. 8 locations later, a tiki bar, a taco truck, and a pizza bar, Andy’s talent for creating spaces and passion for collaboration is undeniable. During the course of our conversation we discuss the Mennonite influence on his projects, dubbing punk rock from the radio, and learning to let go of where you think you should be and allowing the creative process to take you down roads you never could have imagined.

It is my pleasure to present Andy Mumma on The Days Between..