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Sami Petary, Boba Bar & CO
I have always wanted a place where people could feel okay being themselves.
I moved to Missouri when I was twelve. We came from California to Stoutland, and later I went to Lebanon schools for a bit. I thought the three-story junior high school building was the coolest thing. It felt like a big city to me back then.
My life has never really been simple. I became a mom young, got my GED early, and went to college while trying to work and raise two kids. I always worked hard, even when things weren’t good at home. I remember going to work in scrubs with a turtleneck on. Not because I was cold, but because I needed to cover what I didn’t want people to see. That was my normal for a long time.
I’ve always struggled with depression and anxiety, but it wasn’t until i was an adult that I was diagnosed with ADHD and PTSD. Suddenly, a lot made sense. Why I never finished things. Why I blurted out the wrong thing at the wrong time. Why I’d disappear when things got hard. I thought I was flaky or just bad at life, but now I know better. Getting diagnosed was like finding a missing puzzle piece.
When I opened my drink shop downtown, I didn’t know what to expect. I was used to being in places where I didn’t feel welcome, where I had to try too hard to fit in. But Lebanon felt different. People here showed up for me. They supported me. They gave me space to just be myself. I’ve never really had that before.
I try to make this shop a place where other people can feel that too. Especially folks who might not always feel welcome everywhere. I don’t care who you are or who you love. If you’re kind and respectful, you’re welcome here. Everybody deserves to feel safe and seen.
Now I have regulars who check in on me. I have neighbors who get it. People who understand when I say, “Sorry, ADHD brain,” and laugh with me instead of judging. I get to be awkward, honest, and real, and people still show up for me.
My kids feel at home here too. They know the rhythm of our little corner of downtown, and that matters to me. This community makes them feel safe, just like it’s made me feel safe.
I’ve worked a lot of jobs and worn a lot of hats. But here, I finally get to play by my own rules. I finally feel like I’m part of something. I have people. I have community. I have a place that feels like mine.
Sami Petary, Boba Bar & CO
