Brenham, TX

Brenham | Washington County Economic Development announces big changes for YellowTruck Market, the private-public partnership between Brenham |Washington County Economic Development, Main Street Brenham, and YellowTruck, LLC.

This unique retail incubator launched in October 2021 with seven retail participants:

• Company 5
• Krafty Inc
• Local Honey Bee Co.
• Pelayo’s Art & Folk
• posey roe
• The Butter Stick Bakery
• The COEO

The retail incubator was planned as a two-year development opportunity for each of the businesses, offering training and mentorship. The retail lab space was operated by the participants in the retail store located in the YellowTruck, LLC building at the corner of Park and Main in Downtown Brenham.

The YellowTruck Retail Incubator Team is excited to celebrate the successes and professional growth of the participating businesses. The goal of the project was to help small businesses succeed and prosper and that’s exactly what has happened and why big changes are taking place.

In March 2022, Local Honey Bee Co. exited the incubator to focus on online sales that grew out of their incubator participation. In April 2022, posey roe seized the opportunity to lease space in Downtown Brenham launching their store at 218 E. Main. With the goal of owning a bakery in the future, The Butter Stick Bakery’s owner realized that she needed additional bakery operations knowledge to fulfill her dream and exited the incubator in April to accept a pastry chef position in a full-service bakery. So, Bake Everyone Happy joined the incubator in May to keep the flow of cookies and sweet treats to shoppers. In June 2022, Krafty Inc will exit the retail incubator to focus on growing their wholesale business providing art-inspired creations to boutiques across the country. 

The rapid success of businesses leading to frequent turnover of participants, in what was slated as a two-year program, was not anticipated. Brenham | Washington County EDO Director, Susan Cates said, “It has been a roller coaster ride of challenges and excitement to see each of these businesses find their best path forward to success!” In an unexpected turn of events, effective September 2022, one of the incubator participants, The COEO, will be expanding their business in the space that was once YellowTruck Market. Owners of The COEO, sisters Jamie Pinner and Jennifer Thompson say they are excited to expand as a retail destination in Downtown Brenham. The COEO is a Veteran-owned social enterprise dedicated to social and environmental change. Their products, focused on health and wellness, are sustainably sourced through humanitarian efforts and workforce alliances that support artisans both locally and internationally. Product favorites from other incubator participants may still be found at The COEO as Pinner and Thompson are working with former and remaining participants on cooperative or wholesale opportunities. YellowTruck, LLC owner, Tiffany McMordie Morisak stated, “I am pleased to see The COEO expand their business from incubator participant to full business ownership,” as they lease space in the building Morisak owns. YellowTruck Market Retail Incubator will close on July 2^nd to allow time for this transition.

More information and updates on The COEO launch can be found on their website at https://TheCOEO.com.