steve bargdill

At 45, some might think it’s too late for a major career change, but for one former educator, it was the perfect moment for a midlife revival.

After years of working in early childhood education and teacher training, the pandemic shifted Ellen Andrick’s path, leading to a bold leap of faith into the world of sustainable business. What began as a simple experiment working in a local store soon blossomed into a full-fledged entrepreneurial venture. Now, her mission-driven store not only reduces plastic waste but also builds a sense of community, offering products that help customers live more sustainably.

But what does it really take to reinvent yourself in midlife? And how did she overcome the fear of failure to build a thriving business from scratch?

At the core of Breakaway Cafe is a simple but powerful idea: a business should be about more than making money. It should be about creating a space where people feel valued, where creativity is nurtured, and where the community comes together. Owner Ben Cole has taken this idea and…