Meet Matteson Rushing | Owner & Proprietor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Matteson Rushing and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Matteson, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Starting my own business was truly an accident. I had been a barista for a few years and really enjoyed it, so when I was asked to put together a business plan for a class in college, a coffee shop was what first came to mind. I described a mobile coffee unit that serves pastries, gelato and gourmet espresso. I received and A for the project and my parents thought this was actually a great idea. My mother decided to start looking at vintage trailers right away. We found a 1950s style Shasta trailer already equipped with a La Marzocco espresso machine, gelato freezer and Bunn coffee brewer. It was perfect for us. It was like something told us that it was “meant to be”.

What should our readers know about your business?
Before attending college, I lived in Europe for some time, specifically Schaffhausen Switzerland. The coffee and food quality there was always top-notch. At Rushing Trading Co, we are locally sourced but globally inspired. We use local and fresh ingredients, never frozen, but everything on the menu is inspired by our global travels.

I trained in Italy and New York as a barista and create only the most high-quality beverages at our locations. Our coffee is roasted by Cloudland Coffee which is a woman-owned roastery in Alpharetta.

Starting the business was not easy, it took us a while to find out footing in the market. With the original coffee truck, we were able to find our niche in the movie industry in Atlanta. We definitely learned to be consistent but adaptable in business. We were able to adapt to our consumers’ needs and wants over time, making us as successful as we are today.

I love that my entire family has a hand in this adventure. My father, a huge supporter and taste taster, my sister, now an owner and assistant manager, then of course my mother co-owner and head chef.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
In Atlanta, Ponce City Market has to be one of my favorite places to visit. The food scene, the views and the games, you’ll never be bored! During the fall or spring, the North Georgia mountains only an hour away from Atlanta always has a lot to offer as far as festivals, local eats, hiking and adventures.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to give credit to a few folks. Firstly, my family. They were the original encouragers of my venture and inspired me to be an entrepreneur. Without them, the business would not exist or possibly have even started at all. My parents were the number one supporters and drivers of this adventure.

I would also like to give credit to Mr. Joe with Joe Durango’s coffee out of Durango Colorado for mentoring my mom and I when we looked into opening our brick-and-mortar location. He invited us to see his shops and operation as well us giving us tips for how to best succeed.

Finally, I would like to thank my community and biggest supporters who have been with us from the very beginning. I have created lifelong friends, and I would not have been as successful as I am today without them.

Website: https://rushingtradingco.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rushingtradingco/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialRushingTradingCo/

Image Credits
Photos only taken by me!