St. Petersburg residents now have a home‑grown option for post‑workout hydration. STORM Healthy Energy, founded by local couple Molly Mills and her fiancé Cole Schaller, opened its first St. Pete location at 2600 4th Street N. on Thursday.
From college experiment to storefront
While attending college, Mills and Schaller began mixing their own electrolyte beverages, seeking a healthier alternative to the sugary drinks they found at places like Smoothie King and Starbucks. “I would get these mid‑day crashes,” Mills recalled. “We wanted a drink after the gym that didn’t have all the unnecessary ingredients.” Their experiments evolved into a full formula, and the pair decided to bring the product to market.
Initially the founders had no name or business plan. After a brief stint in Tampa—where a landlord offered a one‑year lease—they built out a small shop at 3401 S. MacDill Avenue in just one month. The name “STORM” was chosen to honor Florida’s frequent severe weather, which the founders say mirrors the energy they want their drinks to provide.
Growth fueled by word of mouth
The Tampa shop opened its doors in 2021 and, after a slow start with only family and friends visiting, began attracting high‑school students who shared their experiences on Instagram. That organic buzz turned into a steady stream of customers, allowing the couple to refine their formula with the help of a professional chemist. Today STORM offers more than 15 flavors of electrolyte drinks, optional caffeine boosts, and a line of protein shakes.
Success in Tampa led to two additional locations on Kennedy Boulevard. When TikTok users from St. Petersburg started requesting a local shop, Mills and Schaller seized the opportunity, saying they needed a larger team to manage the Tampa sites before expanding to their hometown.
Looking ahead
Both founders see a growing market for health‑focused beverages in the Tampa Bay area, noting the rise of workout studios and a community increasingly attentive to nutrition. “People are actually starting to care about their health,” Mills said. The couple plans to open another establishment in the region in the future.
Schaller acknowledges the challenges of entrepreneurship, describing mistakes as “opportunities to do better, learn and be more productive.” Mills adds, “Don’t be scared to think outside of the box. You don’t have to use your degree to get a corporate job. You have the freedom to start your own business.”
STORM Healthy Energy’s new St. Petersburg shop adds a locally owned, health‑oriented option to the city’s growing wellness scene, offering residents a convenient place to refuel after a workout.
Original reporting: St. Pete Catalyst — read the source article.
