More Than Smoothies: How The Wandering Lilac Found Its Home in Chadron

Chadron – When Rylee Greiman arrived in Chadron from Colorado to play volleyball at Chadron State College, she never imagined she'd build her future there.

"I've always known I wanted to own a business," Greiman said. "I just didn't know what that business would be."

The idea came from her own experience as a student-athlete. After practices and games, she struggled to find healthy, filling meals in Chadron. Back home in Colorado, smoothie shops and acai bowls were everywhere. Here, there was nothing quite like them.

"I wanted something nutritious that people could grab quickly," she said.

As graduation approached, Greiman stumbled across a food trailer for sale while scrolling on Facebook Marketplace. "I thought, 'That's kind of an interesting concept.'"

She began researching mobile businesses, looking at coffee trailers and food trucks across the country. Then the idea clicked. She purchased the trailer and, with help from her mom, grandma, and grandpa, transformed it into the vision she had imagined. Together, they renovated the space before opening The Wandering Lilac in October 2023, serving smoothies, acai bowls, fruit bowls, and other fresh offerings unlike anything else in Chadron.

She figured it would be a side business while she coached volleyball. Greiman and her mom worked the food trailer together on opening day, expecting a steady stream of customers. Instead, they sold out in four hours.

"It was a great problem to have," Greiman said. "I was scrambling for inventory, space, and supplies because I hadn't expected that kind of demand."

"I never imagined it would become my full-time job," she said. "I thought I'd do events here and there, but the community really embraced it."

Less than three years later, The Wandering Lilac has expanded into a storefront in downtown Chadron and employs four people, with plans to hire more as business continues to grow. Its most popular menu item, the NoCo Bowl, is named after Northern Colorado, where Greiman grew up. Inspired by snowcapped mountains, the bowl has become a customer favorite.

"I love that it's become our bestseller," she said. "It's a little piece of home."

Business came quickly, but Greiman had spent years preparing for the opportunity. Knowing she wanted to own a business someday, she saved as much money as she could.

"I grew up watching my family live paycheck to paycheck," she said. "Because of that, I saved everything."

When the Nebraska Business Development Center first reached out, she politely declined.

"I honestly brushed them off at first," she said with a laugh. "I had saved enough to get started and didn't think I needed help."

The NBDC team stayed in touch anyway, letting her know they were available whenever she needed guidance. Eventually, she took them up on the offer.

"I never took a business class," Greiman said. "Everything I learned, I learned on my own."

NBDC helped her understand the behind-the-scenes side of running a business — financial projections, licensing, taxes, and long-term planning. They also encouraged her to apply for a grant.

"I honestly didn't expect to get it," she said. "I really pursued it because of everything else they were helping me with. Getting the grant was just an incredible bonus."

"I couldn't imagine being where I am today without it," she said.

Jennifer Wittrock, the Chadron NBDC Office Assistant for 16 years, said, “While still a student at Chadron State College, Rylee became a client of NBDC on July 19, 2023. With the help of Dr. Chris McCarthy, NBDC Center Director, she completed a business plan with three-year financial projections. She received a grant, demonstrating the value of early student engagement with NBDC and her entrepreneurial initiative. Her ambition, dedication, and attention to detail have been key factors in her success. Dr. Nicholas Fisher, our current NBDC Center Director, and I are proud to see her continued growth. The distinctive business name she selected reflects the same creativity and thoughtful planning that have contributed to her achievements.”

Greiman also credits Chadron's business community for helping her succeed.

Local business owners answered questions, repaired equipment, helped with plumbing, designed marketing materials, and offered advice whenever she needed it.

"I've just been really fortunate to have so many helping hands," she said.

But no one has been more influential than her mom.

"She's just breathed life into me," Greiman said. "She's been the one talking me off the ledge on the days I'm wondering why I became a business owner. She has always continued to push me, support me, and believe in me, even on the days I couldn't believe in myself."

Friends, former teammates, healthcare workers, students, and local residents became loyal customers almost immediately. Many simply wanted to support a young entrepreneur they already knew.

Today, at 25, Greiman wears more than one entrepreneurial hat. In addition to The Wandering Lilac, she owns a photography business, co-founded a youth volleyball club, and works as a travel advisor. She's had people ask about franchising, but she isn't in a hurry.

"I'm really happy with what we've built here," she said.

For now, she plans to keep growing in Chadron — adding employees, expanding the menu, and eventually buying a permanent building.

The Wandering Lilac itself carries a story that is even more personal.

The business is named in honor of Greiman's two grandmothers, who played a central role in raising her and encouraging her to dream big.

As a child, Greiman would pick lilacs with her grandmother Margo and take them to her grandfather's grave. Together, they would leave the flowers, reflect on life, and appreciate how precious and fleeting it can be. Those memories stayed with her, making the lilac a symbol of love, resilience, and new seasons.

Her other grandmother, Wanda, is a pancreatic cancer survivor whose favorite color is purple. That connection inspired The Wandering Lilac's signature color palette, which has become part of the brand's identity.

Together, the two women taught Greiman to stay optimistic, work hard, and keep moving forward.

"My grandmas taught me to stay positive, work hard, and always look at life as glass half full," Greiman said. "That's really what The Wandering Lilac stands for."