Small business owners have it rough: long hours, tight budgets, and never enough help can really feel like the norm. But that's what makes it so exciting to see them succeed! If a big conglomerate makes another million, so what? Seeing shops, restaurants, and salons run by intrepid locals to meet the needs of their communities and build relationships with their customers—that's the real story. That's also been our mission since day one.

We reached out to a handful of our merchants from across the country to bring you their stories and show off their success. Read on to learn a little more about everything from fondue to hot yoga and see what makes these merchants special:

GEJA'S CAFE | Chicago, IL

OLGA'S KITCHEN | Grand Rapids, MI