Wicked Wench serving up coffee around Putnam County

For Roachdale resident Jerry Smith, the road to owning a coffee trailer actually began with the idea of a different venture.

"Three years ago, I started looking into a donut business, and it was wrong timing, things didn't work out. Over a period of time, I did some research on Grindhead Coffee," Smith, owner of Grindhead Coffee-Roachdale, Indiana, told The Putnam County Post.

And, what Smith found out about the Chattanooga, Tennessee business was something that intrigued him.

"They've been around for a year and a half, and I began talking with them. My wife and I went down last June, went through training, met everybody with the company and decided to buy in, ordered our trailer and it took off from there," Smith said. 

Since getting started at the Rockville Covered Bridge Festival last year, Smith has taken his trailer all over Putnam County, putting down the anchor on the "Wicked Wench" in the Putnam County Hospital parking lot, as well as Wal-Mart and other places around the area. 

"It's been a really fun learning experience," Smith said.

Since bringing the coffee trailer to Putnam County, Smith has developed quite a following of customers, many of whom are repeat customers. 

"It's been growing quickly. We have gotten a lot of good feedback about our drinks. Overall, the coffee itself is popular because of the Caribbean coffee bean we are using that gives it the good coffee flavor. It is a good feeling having people enjoy the drinks. I try to guarantee people like the drinks. I tell people if they don't like it, we can find something that suits their taste. I ask what their tastes are, and it's worked," Smith said. 

Smith said the response has been so great he is looking at adding a second trailer.

"I want to be able to run the trailer seven days a week, and be out there the hours people are out there. It is a second business right now. As we grow, we are looking for a permanent location with set hours. We are mainly running the trailer right now on Friday, Saturday and Sundays. We have had to do some morning stuff, and we are looking at expanding and a permanent location with a drive-thru," Smith said. 

In addition, Smith said the trailer will be out at various festivals across Putnam County and neighboring counties, and the trailer is available for any kind of event. 

"I enjoy dealing with people, overall. When they come up and order their drinks, we talk and I enjoy making people feel good with a quality product. It is a business, but that is the good side of it. The best way to get a hold of me is to reach out to us on Facebook," Smith said.