Origins: “We relocated from Iowa. Energy drinks are big there. We couldn’t find anything here while we were house hunting, so we decided to bring something new to the area,” says Stephanie Guinee, who owns BOLT with her fiancé, Brad Prashaw.
Details: “We serve a carbonated, caffeinated energy drink mixed with our signature syrups. Customers can customize their own flavors or choose our rotating signature flavors. We have sugar-free and caffeine-free versions. We recently started serving lemonade coolers, which are caffeine and carbonation free, and great for kids,” says Guinee.
Bestsellers: Spring Fling (blue raspberry, kiwi, watermelon) and Berry Threat (blackberry, raspberry, strawberry). They even created a pickle flavor for the North Carolina Pickle Festival, which became a surprise hit.
Partnerships: BOLT serves 321 Coffee, a Raleigh-based roaster started by two NC State graduates, which is staffed by individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. BOLT shares their space on Broad Street with Fat Cat Ice Cream, another locally owned small business.
