MERIDIAN, Idaho — A Meridian couple left their steady careers to pursue a passion in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. Lori and Jacen Flynn opened their health and wellness business, Daily D.O.S.E. in November 2020.
"We just want to build a healthier community," said Lori. "We want our kids to be able to have a healthy lifestyle."
The couple said they were ready to start a new chapter after Jacen's company in tech development sold.
"We had to really re-think what it was we wanted to do," said Lori. "Initially the thought was to open a gym, we had a Jiu-Jitsu gym before so we thought why not do another one. It didn't really go according to plan the first time so we thought maybe the second time would be good, would work out. And then COVID happened."
With public health orders and CDC recommendations putting most fitness studios out of business, Lori says opening a gym was no longer an option. So the couple went back to the drawing board.
Together, the Idaho natives agreed a nutrition cafe would be perfect, but opening in the middle of a pandemic with businesses already struggling to stay afloat was unsettling.
I'm not going to lie and say it wasn't scary, it's a lot of hard work to put in. As a mom now or as parents, we're used to hard work," said Lori.
Understanding that obstacles along the way were not set-backs, just future set-ups, Lori tells us that for the first couple of months, the cafe was barely breaking even. But the new year brought better business.
"We won't let us fail, how about that," said Lori. "My kids have seen us push through this and work so hard and it instills in them it may take a little bit and you have to have the drive to do it, but in the end, it'll all work. It's going to be great."
Lori and Jacen are currently working on an expansion in their hometown of Twin Falls. They hope to open their doors this summer.
