Hello, I'm Irish Dave and I'm here with Kelly.

We have a great show this week lined up for you.

Yes, we do.

Well, first off, I headed over to Middlebury, the mustard seed marketplace.

Can I just show you some of the jewelry that I bought when I was there, you know, because you guys know I love shopping, but this is shopping with a great cause.

So it's kind of a double win win here.

It absolutely is.

And it's right here in our community, which I didn't know about until you went to visit.

So I'm excited.

Yeah, there's some jewelry for you, too, Dave, pass although something I will not pass up on is ice cream.

And this week with Courtney, I went to Vanilla Bean Creamery in Elkhart and it was delicious.

You know, I heard it was really good as well.

Courtney and I also had a chance to go.

We went to Knox, Indiana.

We got some food.

But you know what?

Just take a look at this.

Let's get the show poppin off with some popcorn.

Kelly and I are getting things popping here.

We are topping our popcorn, Knox, Indiana, today.

And you can smell the fresh popcorn in here.

Yes, you can.

And you know what's so cool about this place that there's tons of popcorn, as you can see, but it's almost like a one stop popcorn shop.

It sells much more here.

And Elizabeth, we're so glad to be here because it's a Friday night and I always feel like what's Friday night with that popcorn?

So big time.

But what inspired you guys to open this place?

We've always liked Chicago style popcorn, and there was really no place around here to get it.

So we just went ahead and started messing around with some flavors and kind of picked up from there.

And you started with just a handful of flavors, but now you have over forty five options, is that right?

Yeah, we have more.

That's about what we keep on the shelves right now.

We probably have about 70 different flavors that we do right now.

Oh my goodness.

Oh my goodness.

You do it all in the back.

You do it yourself.

Yes.

So how long did that take you?

It depends on what we're making and how much we're having to make.

It could take anywhere from about thirty five minutes to an hour, getting it all bagged up and everything probably takes the most time.

So how many flavors do you make a week?

It depends again on the busyness of the store, If we're popping for a festival.

I'll probably make about 20 different flavors over the course of about three or four days.

So it just kind of, again, depends on what we're doing now.

I assume this is not to put in the microwave oven.

I don't know about you, but I mean, what's the what goes into this?

It's a gourmet popcorn because there's a process to it.

We use like a larger kernel.

There's a couple of different types of kernels.

That's the key to it.

And you can use like a mushroom or a butterfly and certain things take certain coatings butter.

So it just kind of depends on what we're doing.

I had no idea all the kinds of pocorn.

And when you add the seasoning is stirring in there, what do you have to do?

Some stirring, but it's usually automative stirring or a large tumbler that we'll use for like a savory flavor.

These will use the tumbler.

And then when we caramelize something, it's actually like a caramel cooker that we put it in and it stirs it very gently so it doesn't break it up.

So you have both the savory options and the sweet options.

You have some specialty options, do you?

What's been popular for you?

Probably our homemade caramel are Stark County Stir the Cheddar and the Chicago style are really popular.

I'm kind of eyeing that hella hot Dill Pickle 153 00:03:43,180 --> 00:03:44,360 we can try some of them.

Do, can people try it when they come here?

Yeah, we can sample everything from the ice cream to the popcorn.

So yeah.

Let's try it out here.

OK, ok, there's the hella hot.

OK, so thats that's yours.

I'm going to go with the sweet ones.

OK. All right, let's try the blue raspberry for me.

The hella hot.

Here we go.

That's how long you have to count to five for it to kick in.

But that's really good blue rasberry, you know, great flavor.

You know what I love about it, too?

Do you have that popcorn that's played on every other one?

it's not over the popcorn This is all over it.

I love that.

And I think that's what you said, too, about the Stark County mix, that that one really has both the caramel and the cheddar.

We're going to need a milkshake just for Kelly.

OK, but this comes you get the caramel and the cheddar or one popcorn.

It's all in one bite.

so instead of having two separate pieces, you get two mixes on one.

So we want to try this.

I do And I will try this Southern mix.

Oh, yeah, I'll try one.

Thank you.

This is great because I can never decide which one I want.

Yes, a nice one.

There you go.

It's done.

And then come and try this stuff here.

Yes.

And that's the Southern Mix.

And what's the southern white cheddar and a caramel our homemade caramel?

Oh, and one again, we have the Chicago Sun.

A lot of people come in asking for the white cheddar and caramel.

They said it was a southern Illinois thing, which I didn't know about.

So we put it out OK.

It's been going pretty good.

And people can order online too.

Yes.

Yeah, we sell online.

We ship online.

We do special events like popcorn bars for weddings and a baby shower reveals we do like the different colors for baby shower reveals and stuff like that, too.

And then you also have ice cream here.

Yes.

Milkshakes, sundaes, malts, floats, that kind of stuff.

That's amazing.

What's the difference between a milkshake and a malt?

The malt powder.

Oh, OK.

Question I didn't know either.

And more thicker, like a barley malt powder that you add to it.

So just gives it a little bit of a different flavor, a different taste, and you also have Chicago hot dogs here.

Yes.

Wow, I could hang out here for everything.

And it's like a one stop shop here.

Yeah.

Awesome.

And I love that you can have all these different sizes so people can kind of pick what they want to sample it.

Now, I know that there's a few that I'm going to be grabbing here today, too, so people can kind of get a little bit of everything.

You have so many different flavors.

Yeah, I know.

I can't wait either.

I do.

Like I said Friday night, I don't know about you, but, you know, you want to get that movie, sit down and there's nothing better than some great popcorn, so we can't wait to grab some and take it home.

But popping off popcorn is a great place for hot dogs, popcorn, ice cream balls and everything else.

What are your hours here?

We're going to be here Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from one to five, and then Saturdays, 12 to three.

OK, and you guys are in Central Time, correct?

Correct.

That's right.

That's right.

All right.

Well, I'm ready to go grab some more popcorn here.

I'm to keep sampling everything we can sample more?

Sample as many as you want.

Can I try the sugar cookie?

Sure.

Oh, I know that sounds really good.

This one is a little crunch here.

Oh, nice.

Sure.

That has a. Oh, that's very good.

Oh, my gosh.

That's great.

All right.

I'm going to have to go grab a bag of that one so much.

Thank you so much.

There is nothing like some great popcorn.

Oh, my goodness.

Dave the popcorn was so good.

I think they had forty five flavors.

They also had hot dogs and ice cream.

Well you know, if that just made you hungry, get ready for later in the show because I have some of the area's best ice cream coming up really well.

Before we do that, can I do some shopping.

And I went to the mustard seed market place because I need a little bit more jewelry.

I do.

As you can see, it is a beautiful day in Middlebury and I am super excited because today I get to shop, but I get to do shopping with a cause.

And I'm so excited to meet up with Lisa.

And Lisa is the founder and the owner of the mustard seed marketplace.

Lisa, I went online, I have to tell you, because, you know, when I shop, I'm very strategic.

Yeah.

So I went online and I started looking at everything.

I just want to let you know I was starting to pick out my items already, but I cannot wait to get inside and see it in person.

Are you ready to take me in there?

So excited to share with you.

So.

Yeah.

All right.

Well, let's go.

Let's go.

The mustard seed marketplace is unlike any other store, I mean, there is such a heart behind this place.

What inspired you to open this up?

Yeah, so I had been working with another organization that was working with artisans around the globe, and I was actually able to travel and visit these artisans in Uganda and Peru and Haiti.

And so I just fell in love with the mission behind fair trade products and products with a purpose.

And so everything in the shop is fair trade, locally made or different get back brands.

And so we work with over 40 groups in 18 countries that make everything.

And so, like I said, everything's got a bigger purpose.

Now, I believe there's a purpose behind the name as well.

The mustard seed.

What's that all about?

That is based off of Matthew 17 20, the scripture that reads about having faith the size of a mustard seed.

And so that's just been a verse that's been very near and dear to my heart.

And so I wanted to include that in my business name.

You definitely have to have a lot of faith here because there's so much behind this.

For instance, here, this is one of the things in your heart is to help women that have been through human trafficking.

Yes.

So this these bracelets here and then some of the rings that we have here are made by women out of sex trafficking in the Nashville, Tennessee area.

And so the concept behind these is that each piece is branded with a number that is a unique number to each to each person and each piece.

And so each survivor that has made a piece will initial it.

So like the ring that I have on says R.O., and then you can go online and read her story and send a message of hope to that woman.

And then we also have the pieces here that are made by women out of sex trafficking in the East Asia area.

And so a lot of the pieces obviously, like I said, just are doing incredible things and then working on the preventative side as well.

So how do you choose?

Because there's so many different issues out there, so many causes.

How do you choose which one you're going to connect with?

Yeah, so this has been something that has just been incredibly near and dear to my heart just since I've been educated about what sex trafficking looks like, what human trafficking looks like.

And, you know, a lot of people are very familiar with sex trafficking, but just the idea that with human trafficking, there is there's just so much as far as child labor, forced labor, slave labor and just unsafe working conditions.

And so to be able to work with artisans around the globe that are being paid a fair wage and a living wage and safe working conditions, and no child labor is really what we're what we're all about.

Now, do you believe this is kind of a move of the future?

I mean, that people are shopping?

You know, I left the shop.

People love to shop and shopping is necessary, but we can do it in a way that we are giving back to people at the same time.

Absolutely.

So, I mean, I have a friend that says fair trade, fair trade items.

That's that's exactly how business should be done.

And so, unfortunately, that's not the that's not the case in all businesses of how people are paid and how they're treated.

But that's what we believe here, is that this is just how business should be done.

They should be paid a living wage, a fair wage.

And, you know, the items are beautiful.

And, yes, they are to be able to create a marketplace here in the US for these artisans around the globe is just really where my heart spend with this.

So so there's so many things that have caught my eye.

This is one of them.

These beaded bracelets are so beautiful.

And they come with one of these charms.

Yes.

So each of these these are made by artisans in Haiti and they are all made out of clay.

And then they are they're rolled and then they're fired.

And then each of the charms, these are all hand stamped.

And so each bracelet is twenty two and then it comes with a charm for free.

So a lot of people like to wear them separately or stack them together.

I love this that.

Absolutely.

So these are by far probably one of our most most popular items.

Our biggest seller is just because it's personalized and you can know it's a great gift.

It's a great item.

Like I said, the stack or we're together.

But and what I love is that it's encouraging to the women, like you said, in Haiti and in other parts of the world.

But what I love about the chances that it's encouraging to the person that you're giving it to you as well.

Absolutely.

People like you said, these make great gifts.

And these are just just incredible pieces to show inspiration and to encourage others.

And that's that's just one of the reasons we love them.

So.

And then there's also lots of beautiful clothing.

And I see the one you're wearing this afternoon.

I have to try it on myself.

So I would say most of the clothing that we carry here in our shop is made by a partnership that we work with in Cambodia.

It's called Buy To Thee and the partnership that we work with.

It's amazing because they are they are working with seamstresses.

It's a group of 20 over 20 seamstresses.

And each seamstress signs their name on the tag so that you can see who made it.

So these are just incredible pieces that, you know, these these seamstresses are able to work in a safe, a safe working environment, paid a living wage and are just able to really thrive.

So did you get to meet some of the women?

I have not been able to to go to Cambodia, but I have been to several other countries and met artisans around the globe.

And like I said.

Uganda and Peru and Haiti, so, yeah, now if you can't make it store, you also sell online.

Yes, we do.

Yeah, you can visit our website at, the mustard seed marketplace dot com.

And then we're also on Facebook and Instagram.

And you can find out all all the good stuff there as well.

Now, what are the hours and days that you're open?

Yeah, so currently we are open Tuesday through Saturday.

We're open Tuesday through Friday, 10 to five, and then Saturdays ten to four.

So that'll change a little bit in the summer with our farmer's market that'll be going on here at the mill.

But that's the hours for that we have currently.

Well, you don't mind if I do a little shopping?

Absolutely.

And what I love about it is I'm shopping ethically.

And so that's wonderful because obviously you're shopping.

But there's also there's hope here.

Absolutely.

And that we want to pass that hope on not just to our community, but what's so cool is that hope is going out around the world.

Absolutely.

All right, Lisa, you have a basket.

Yeah, we'll grab your bag.

Thank you.

Thank you.

It's so wonderful to see how this community really helps people, not only in this community, but all around the world, actually reaching 15 countries.

It's so amazing.

And Dave, like I said, the shopping is amazing.

If you don't want to go, why don't you take your wife?

Exactly.

Although it's a very dangerous thing to go shopping with my wife.

So maybe, don't suggest that again.

OK, but something I would suggest and she would love to as much as you're going to love it is ice cream.

So we've got to catch up with Courtney.

We went to Vanilla Bean Creamery on Main Street in Elkhart.

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream.

And we're doing that here today at the Vanilla Bean Creamery in Elkhart, Indiana.

And I have with us, of course, our co-host dave.

But also we have with us Clara, who's the co-owner of Vanilla Bean Creamery.

Thanks for having us in this beautiful place today.

Thank you for being here.

Now, what what inspired you to get into the ice cream business?

Well, I was making cakes and I was working too hard.

I was doing a call to order cakes and I summers were so chaotic and busy that I needed something that would be ready at all times because I made all my cakes fresh and I wanted everything fresh.

And this is a little different.

It's in the freezer and you serve it when it's when you're ready to serve it.

Absolutely.

Oh, it sounds delicious.

And there's an amazing story behind this company.

It's actually you and your daughter.

How did you come up with that idea?

Well, we had too much time on the couch in the winter because in the summer and I was busy in the winter.

So we just started talking and I had to run across this video on YouTube that they were making ice cream.

I thought, well, I can do that.

Hey, you can make cakes.

You can make ice cream.

Yes.

So then we started talking.

I thought, well, this is a great idea.

So that's how you do it?

Yes.

We went to Florida for ice cream boot camp and we came back and we told my husband, I said, we want to do this.

He said, you're crazy.

I said, no, we want to do it.

I love it.

Now, I would love even better.

I don't know if there's any of this on the menu, but can you put the cake in the ice cream?

Because that would be.

Well, we have brownies in the ice cream I have bought for me.

I'm still working on the gooey cake.

Oh, that sounds good.

That's on.

Yes.

And you have a lot of flavor options to make them all yourself.

Yes.

We made we came up with most of the recipes and we make everything here.

We make the brownies that go in the ice cream, the lemon curd that goes into the lemon ice cream.

Yeah, well, that sounds really good.

And of course, we're here in Elkhart right now.

But you've expanded.

Yes, we are now in Granger at seven four two four gumWood road.

And we've been there for five weeks.

You're taking over northern Indiana.

So shall we try some?

We should, yeah.

We're just in the beginning stages of taking over.

I say ice cream is always good any time of the year.

But people can also they can come in, grab a pint if they want to take some home for them.

Yes.

For the night or I see mint chocolate chip behind you right now.

I just can't stop looking for you.

I promise.

I'm not looking at you courtney its the mint chip.

I have to ask you, Claire, what's your favorite flavor?

Mint chip, mint and dark chocolate.

OK, the two together, either that or the coffee brownies.

Sometimes it depends.

Mix a marshmallow into it.

And the marshmallows go into the Amish peanut butter.

Oh, You know, although when people walk in, they taste this ice cream.

But the story behind this building as well, like if we can have a look around here, you spend months on scaffolding actually getting this together together.

You spent like ten months is that right?

pretty close to ten months by the time we we bought the building to the time we opened.

Wow.

Because we took we took two by fours off the wall and plaster off the wall, old paint off the ceiling, three layers of flooring off the floor.

Yeah, it is.

What's your vision for the space when people walk through the door?

What kind of Experience do you want them to have?

I want them to have a like an old school feeling like like like a celebrating, you know, ice cream.

You celebrate with ice cream.

Yeah.

And icecream makes people happy, it makes me happy and for like I love to see grandparents, well, I'm a grandparent, so I would love to see grandparents bring their grandchildren in here and just sit down and have a cup of ice cream.

Yeah.

So I say we try that ice cream that yes, we have Strawberry and Butterfinger.

Oh, that sounds delicious.

All right.

Let's give it a try.

So this is the moment it's all come down to no pressure.

I feel oddly weird and awkward that I have to lick this ice cream on TV for this to be a little bit of class.

This is like somebody watching you eating a banana.

It's just never comfortable.

So.

All right, I'm going to try it.

All right.

Here, tell us what kind of ice creams we have here.

You have the strawberry, which is made with we've put a real strawberry in there.

Yeah.

And that delicious butter finger, which is crushed Butterfinger.

And it's a good name that I know it's it's for you.

And I just want to eat all this.

But they keep zooming in on me and it's like I just don't want to do it any more Dp you guys have flavors of the week.

So you get kind of the ones that you have all the time, but you also rotate out different flavors and yes, kind of sampling in new things, trying out new recipes.

Oh yeah.

We try new recipes a lot.

We have twenty five flavors that we usually have and then we have five seasonal flavors.

We have three dairy free flavors.

So we're we, we usually have 30 or more.

And you have a taco Tuesday.

Yes, we have Taco Tuesdays which is a taco like a waffle cone.

But then you can just scoop ice cream with toppings and cool whip on top.

And I just love that you guys make all of this in-house.

Yes.

The waffle cones are made in-house as well.

Everything homemade.

So it's not a mix.

It's beautiful.

Do you want a bite?

Are we there yet?

Will we ever be there?

I feel like it's all over my mouth right now.

I just want this to end.

I know I could be here forever.

Oh, well, thank you so much for showing us around.

And how can people get in touch with you?

How can they find out what the flavor of the week is on your social media?

Yes, on Facebook.

Everything is on Facebook.

Ah, every week Tuesdays is when we post a new flavor, OK?

And pretty soon we're going to be changing to summer hours.

So then we'll have longer hours.

It will be open on Monday evenings as well.

No, just in case.

Is there a different flavor of the week between the Elkhart and the Granger location?

I need to plan my route for the week.

Well, we try to keep everything the same.

We have it in Elkhart.

We have it in Granger.

OK, I like it.

I'm like, the ice cream is amazing.

It truly is.

I'm not just saying that because you're standing here pretty close to me, but really the story of you and your daughter sitting at home together and being like, let's start this empire.

And now you've got two locations.

Like, I think that's amazing and actually truly, really inspiring.

So thank you very much.

Thank you.

Thank you so much for having us today, Clara.

Yes.

You know, I love the ice cream and Vanilla Bean Creamery, but I also love the story that it's a mom and a daughter who were on the couch one night and decided they wanted to start a business together.

I just love that idea.

That is so cool.

And you know what else I found out?

They went to ice cream school university.

There's an ice cream university.

That's probably the only school I wouldn't drop out of to be quite honest.

well.

You know what?

Next week you've got a great show, everybody.

We're going to be in Three Oaks and find out about ACORN anywhere because here at the ACORN, and they're not only going to just have theater inside, but outside.

Yeah, they're going to bring it anywhere.

There's going to be live performances.

So no excuses.

You cannot say that this summer.

There's nothing to do.

There is something to do.

And next week you're going to see just how many great things there are around Michiana.

OK, like so many people, I'd like to blame the quarantine.

Fifteen, but I had to pre quarantine fifteen.

And so it's nothing to do with the pandemic.

But I've decided this year and I feel like a lot of people are to this year, I want to get in shape.

Finally, I want to be healthy.

You're going to help me.

I'm going to help you.

Well, guys, as you can see, Dave is no ordinary guy, and that's actually a compliment.

Oh, well, when do we get to the compliment?

Well, soon just hang in there.

But, guys, I'm actually going to need your help, OK?

Because I'm not exactly sure where to take him and where do we want him?

I mean, I just have no idea.

So is this still part of the company?

Just want to do it here?

I do.

You feel it now.

But seriously, a couple of weeks ago, we did the dangling from the aerial aerial fitness.

Yeah, that was fun.

What about back.

But it was fun.

Now that was fun.

So anything like that or something like that.

Yeah.

So so guys, what, what's your suggestions.

Friends.

Family.

What do you think.

Where, where should we bring Dave.

And we don't just want ordinary treadmills elliptical.

No.

We want dangling stuff.

We want hardcore stuff going through mud.

You know what I'm talking about.

That's what we're looking for.

So if you guys know of a place where we can do that.

Dave can go and meet his fitness goals, please, please, I'm begging you.

OK, but what I have to do, I have to transform him before summer is over.

Please let us know.

Hit us up on Facebook and let us know where to go.

As soon as you said, where should we bring Dave?

I imagine someone tweeting out using a landfill landfill running up the mountain thats what we're talking about.

That's what we're talking about, picking up garbage along the way.

I love it.

I regret this.

I'm out of here.

That's why I need your help.

It's a compliment, Dave.

Previously on Experience Michiana.

So, Megan, for anyone watching who has never been here before and tell them a little bit about generations adventureplex.

It Is the newest family entertainment center in the area.

We have tons of stuff to do from arcade laser tag bowling axe throwing, something for all ages.

It's definitely a great place for kids, but also a wonderful place for adults is something that this area is kind of lacking.

So that's what we want to bring to the area.

So from all the things that you have here, what is the favorite thing to do for adults?

Definitely axe throwing.

Really?

Yes.

its Probably the closest one to us.

And people just love it, they can't get enough of it its booked up on Saturdays all the time.

Hang on, please explain when throwing an ax became popular.

I don't know.

I really didn't even know about it until I started working here.

All right.

Well, I love it and I'm glad I'm here today.

And, you know, Courtney and Kelly are back here.

They're having way too much fun.

So I think we should join them.

All right.

Nathan we have only been here a few minutes and we are having so much fun already.

I remember being a kid in Coney Island, and that's what this really feels like.

this Is really cool.

How many games do you have here?

We have in between 20 or 30 games currently and we're going to keep expanding as time goes on.

We're going to be at one hundred plus games eventually.

Oh, my gosh, that is going to be a massive arcade.

And whats kind of your favorite one?

I played a few and now all my favorite right behind us.

Connect-4 hoops, is a big popular hit.

We got Monopoly.

You know, we got Halo, got a few others that are, you know, real popular and how many plays it.

Just so we have a card system that you can purchase either kiosk.

It is a minimum.

well you put any amount on it?

I guess.

But we do bonus credits too.

So with the swipe of the card that will allow you to play depending on how many credits you purchase and then that also keep track of your tickets.

And everything else I love about this place is its name, it says generations.

Yes, I'm sure the kids that people that are not quite a kid anymore.

Right.

I mean, here I'm having so much fun.

So, yeah, the generations adventure this for every generation, that's the key thing.

So one generation has the next generation to the next generation.

Everybody come here and have fun.

Do you ever see like a mother and with their kids there and, you know, going at it?

Oh yeah.

We we definitely have battles on our hockey tables, basketball.

You connect 4, you know, and then other attractions in the building as well.

Well, that's great if this is a place where families can come together and have so much fun.

I love to stay and talk, Nathan, but I got to go.

I got to go.

So I have Antoine who is one of the managers here at Generations Adventureplex and youre getting stocked up and ready for laser tag.

This is an awesome experience and this is another one that's great for all generations to participate in.

Yes, ma'am.

And we're so glad that you guys came out today just to have fun and enjoy yourselves.

So we have 20 events that are accommodating for everybody.

So you have a party of 20.

We can have two different teams.

We have two ramps on each side or one ramp on each side.

It takes you up to the second level shields and things are there to hide behind.

Also, we have different games that we play some for birthday kids so like the birthday guy comes in, he's number 19.

We can make him an automatic winner without anybody knowing.

Oh, by the way, my 40th is coming up so we can make that happen.

Oh, yeah.

Also, we can trhow axes for your 40th.

All right.

Also, we can play team games or free for all today we'll play free for all just to show you guys how it works.

We have a fog machine that fogs the area up.

Its is pretty fun.

And you guys have on Thursdays, you have unlimited laser tag and laser tag for twenty dollars, a wristband from four to 10.

And you can buy a wristband for twenty dollars and play as many games as you want on that day instead of paying eight dollars per game.

Awesome.

Wish me luck out there.

Are you going to win.

All right.

This WNIT local production has been made possible in part by viewers like you.

Thank you.