June 23, 2023

Damon and Allie Jarabek decided to change their life and pursue their dreams.

They left their full-time jobs in Sioux Falls, built a tiny house in Yankton — taking advantage of Damon’s background in commercial construction — and moved it to Beresford. Next up was converting an old FedEx truck into a mobile coffee shop.

Black Iris got its start in late winter but has been on the road more now that summer is here. It can be found in Sioux Falls and the surrounding area.

“It really started with cooking for me. I love to cook and also bake,” said Allie Jarabek, who previously worked as a hair stylist. She also experimented with making cold brew coffee at home and then using it to make lattes.

Jarabek said she perfected it to the point that they “would go to coffee shops and wish we hadn’t.”

Her cold brew recipe is what the couple uses to make a variety of hot and cold beverages.

“It’s much easier to achieve consistent flavor with cold brew as espresso can vary from cup to cup due to factors like temperature and pressure.”

The drinks aren’t made with commercially available flavors, Jarabek said. “Everything is made by us in the truck using organic and fair trade ingredients whenever possible.”

Black Iris’ signature lattes are caramel vanilla and mocha.

It also serves “bold-flavor” teas and two smoothies made with real fruit: pomegranate berry and orange mango.

Jarabek’s baking skills also get put to use on the truck. Every outing features muffins, cookies and slices of cake. Options vary, but standards include French almond cake, lemon pound cake and sea salt chocolate chip cookies. Muffin flavors include brown sugar banana nut, blueberry crumble and double chocolate.

“From time to time, I do add in other items.” That includes a Neapolitan biscotti that’s labor intensive.

For holidays, decorated sugar cookies appear.

The name Black Iris comes from a song.

“I had a younger sister Izzy with whom we shared many interests, including all things creative,” Jarabek said. “When we bought the land where we placed our tiny home, we started planting a food forest. Izzy and I loved the singer Hozier, and in the song ‘Jackie & Wilson,’ he sings about planting black irises, so I told her I would plant them for us.”

Izzy died in an accident, and shortly after that, Damon’s mom died from cancer, along with an aunt to ALS and a cousin in an accident.

“It was a devastating time, but losing my sister and Damon’s cousin so suddenly and in their prime and knowing that Damon’s mom never got to enjoy retirement really influenced our decision to set our priorities and pursue our dreams,” Jarabek said. “We got a real glimpse at how short life can be.”

Originally, the couple wanted to open a brick-and-mortar location where people could gather. It would have included an outdoor space filled with wildflowers and black irises, Jarabek said.

“Izzy was well known for her ability to connect people and forge friendships, and Damon’s mom was a gardener, and we wanted to honor their spirits. After searching for a location for some time, it became apparent that a truck would initially be a better option, though we still hope to create that space,” she said.

“So instead of keeping the irises and wildflowers, which for me signify Izzy, to our little garden, we are putting it out in the world in hopes to inspire and keep alive the creativity and community that we value so much.”

Those creatively crafted coffee drinks and baked goods can be found next week in Sioux Falls on two days. Black Iris will be at Furniture Mart USA’s headquarters at 140 E. Hinks Lane from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday and the Villas at Canyon Creek, 4630 E. 54th St., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday.

To find more Black Iris locations, follow it on Facebook or Instagram at black_iris_llc. It can be booked for public and private events.

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