When Crestview-native Kennedy Toolan visited her sister in Utah in 2013, she discovered something that would change her life more than a decade later. At 14 years old, she became obsessed with Swig, a gourmet soda shop, and immediately pitched her mother on opening something similar back home in Florida.

• “I told my mom that she ‘has to open a soda shop,’ and she’s absolutely not,” Toolan recalled laughing. “I even pitched it to her as ‘you run and I’ll work it’ and she still said no.”

The idea stayed with Toolan through high school graduation and hair school. She became a hairstylist but found herself dreading work each day. The passion wasn’t there, and she felt frustrated with her limited options, all while knowing she had to provide for her young daughter as a single mom.

That’s when the teenage dream resurfaced. Toolan looked around the community and felt like now was the perfect time to make her “dirty soda” idea a reality. She opened Rawlie Pop in March at 887 N Ferdon Blvd, just south of Crestview High School. The gourmet soda and homemade treats food truck has already built a loyal following in the community.

The name comes from Toolan’s 2-year-old daughter, Rawlins. “When she was little, I would sing ‘Rawlie Pop, Rawlie Pop, O Rawlie, Rawlie, Rawlie,’” Toolan said, referencing the classic song “Lollipop.” “From the start, I knew I had a name. I came up with the business plan, and here we are today.”

Rawlie Pop specializes in “dirty sodas” – customized drinks made with soda, sparkling water or other bases combined with syrups, purees, real fruit and creams. The menu is organized by base, including Diet Coke/Coke, Dr Pepper, Mountain Dew and Sprite options, plus refreshers made with lemonade or soda water, and clean energy drinks using Lotus energy products.

• Popular drinks include “The Fancy,” made with Diet Coke, vanilla, lime and coconut cream, which Toolan describes as “the OG dirty soda.” The “Tiki Breeze” combines mango, strawberry and pineapple with lemonade and Sprite, while the “Butter Beer” – inspired by Toolan’s recent trip to Universal Studios – features Coke with butterscotch and vanilla bean cream.

The truck also serves homemade cookies in lemon-blueberry, the ‘everything cookie’ and chocolate chunk varieties. Dipping Dots, purchased from a local supplier, will be added to the menu soon, and Toolan plans to offer additional treats when the business expands.

The community response has exceeded Toolan’s expectations. Regular customers arrive before the 10 a.m. opening time, and the drive-thru maintains steady traffic throughout operating hours from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday (Sunday is Lord’s day, Toolan says.)

• “I’ve received a ton of support from the community,” Toolan said. “I’m all over social media and that’s all from locals who come to Rawlie Pop every day and I’m so grateful for that.”

The support has been so strong that Toolan’s mother, Jeri, who said no to the soda shop idea all those years ago, now regularly works at the truck – helping out Kennedy and spending time with Rawlins.

“When I first opened it, she told me that it’s going to be a lot of work, but something inside of me told me ‘you got this,’” Toolan said. “And then about a month in, my mom comes to me and says – ‘So do you have anything I could do?’”

• Jeri, Kennedy’s biggest supporter, is constantly making supply runs, promoting Rawlie Pop on social media and knows how to make every drink on the menu.

Just two days after opening, Toolan realized she needed more space. Within six months, she plans to install a Conex box at the same location for a more permanent facility while converting the current trailer for events and weddings.

Toolan sees her success as part of a broader trend of young entrepreneurs taking risks in Crestview. “I think young people are getting brave and willing to step outside the box,” she said, noting friends who have started businesses including a tinsel company, popup boutique and traveling bar service.

For other entrepreneurs considering taking the leap, and even young single mothers like herself, Toolan offers encouragement rooted in her own experience.

• “Roll the dice like you deserve. You owe it to yourself to roll the dice for a fresh start,” she said. “People will support you and they will love you on your journey.”

Having Rawlins at the truck has become part of the Rawlie Pop experience. “She tells everybody ‘Love you. Bye.’ So when you stop by Rawlie Pop here in Crestview, you get a great send off from Rawlie Pop herself,” Toolan laughed.

The gourmet soda truck is open Monday-Saturday from 10am-8pm, and Toolan is first to recognize her ‘amazing employees.’ 

“I could not do this without them,” she said. “I truly have the best team.”

From feeling stuck in a career not that long ago, to now having the freedom to spend more time with her daughter while building something of her own is not lost on Toolan. “It’s a blessing,” she said. “Only by the grace of God.”

Rawlie Pop can be found on Facebook and Instagram, and Toolan welcomes inquiries about catering events. She remains focused on serving Crestview while exploring opportunities to expand to other locations.

“We’re so grateful for all of the people that have supported us through our little journey, and we can’t wait to continue to serve Crestview and maybe even other places,” Toolan said.