Right in the heart of rural northwest Iowa is the community of Holstein - a small town with German roots that has quickly become a fun go-to destination. Holstein has a little bit of everything to offer, and with its prime location at the intersections of Highway 20 and Highway 59, it’s the perfect place for a day trip or weekend getaway in the Iowa countryside!

Starting this business was something I wanted to do for awhile. I had been working with the family business my whole life, which was body work, but the shop fell on hard times and we had to close up shop. All I knew was mainly body work, but we decided to take the gamble and purchase the bar.

The movement of reopening small town movie theatres is a great example of what communities do. People come together to make something happen, for the town, and acting in good faith. Getting the State Theatre renovated and reopened was just one thing that has happened recently in Holstein, Iowa, but is a big part of the energy and revival going on here.

As someone with a passion for cooking who loves coffee and being around family and friends, I have always wanted to start my own business and have talked it about for years. It wasn’t until my kids were off to college and I found myself a single parent with nowhere to grow in the job I had that I finally took the plunge. After being in the corporate world of sales and marketing, I decided it was my time to start a new chapter in my life. I knew I needed a change, and it was scary - and still is at times - but I did it!

This week on the podcast, Emily Vollmar Doxtad of Rooted Boutique in Holstein, Iowa (pop. 1,396) talks about doing the unlikely thing of bringing a modern, contemporary boutique to her rural community. She shares about the journey of her business that started in a snowmobile trailer and how it has grown and changed over the years into a fun brick-and-mortar shop!