Meet Mary Paulson | Owner & hard cider maker of Poochie’s Hooch Urban Cidery

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mary Paulson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mary, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I was already making cider as a hobby at home. Once a month, I would open my backyard to the public for a “Backyard Happy Hooch Hour” for free cider and free food. It was a neighborhood backyard party. After about a year into it, people began bringing food to share creating a potluck. After two years, friends started to tell me to go commercial. After many chats with my business friends, I decided I would create the business, but it would need to continue the same feel as a backyard neighborhood party.

But I needed to be sure it meant something to me. Hard cider, nor any beverage, is my love or passion. Owning a business is not my passion. Volunteering and fostering rescue dogs is my passion. Therefore, as long as I could raise funds for dog rescue, in memory of one of my special foster dogs, Poochie, then I would continue to run my business. Purpose #1, it’s about the dogs. Purpose #2, Its about the community and creating a community backyard. And Purpose #3, oh, btw, have some cider!

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I am a hard cider manufacturer in San Diego, CA. The sole owner of Poochie’s Hooch Urban Cidery and Tasting room.

On December 29, 2018 I opened the doors for business. Fourteen months later on the Ides of March, March 15 2020, Governor Newsom ordered all Bars, restaurants, breweries, wineries, clubs to close their doors.

I needed to let go of all of my employees. I began wearing every hat that’s needed to run a business, and I continue to run my business and do everything alone. I will have occasional help from my blessed regular customers, for why I am so grateful to all of them, but yes, my job position is everything from janitor, repair and construction worker, plumber, bookkeeper, purchaser, bartender, manager, cider-maker, owner.
To this day, I still do not have a payroll. I am beginning to see a slight uptake February and March 2023. But for the past 3 years, I’m it. First time customers constantly come into the tasting room asking questions. Like, How long have you guys been open? What are your guys favorite ciders offered? Do you guys make your cider here?
And at some point during the day I will get sick of hearing the same questions multiple times daily and just say, “There is no we. Just me. I would like to hire and have a team! But that just hasn’t been in the cards during the Pandemic Shutdowns.”
I know I know, too much information. Doing everything alone has been a huge challenge. The only way to overcome it is to never quit. Don’t stop. Thankfully, I don’t know how to quit! I never have in anything in my life. Efficiency is key. Focus 100% on what you are currently doing. Then move on to the next task and give that 100% of your attention. It can be done when you are honest and forth right with everyone. Sometimes I can come off as blunt, or off putting. I know this, which doesn’t always make for the best bartender! But, it’s the only way for me to be able to complete al the tasks that need to get done everyday efficiently and effectively. I look forward to employ sooner than later a bar manager, a distributer, a bookkeeper, a couple part-time bartenders, a cleaning person, a production assistant, an event coordinator, a social media and marketing person, etc.

But for now, I’m allowing my business to grow back at its own pace, I continue to make pivots, create new flavored hard ciders, and focus on each task as it happens giving it 100% of my attention at a time . And no matter what, don’t stop don’t quit.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
San Diego is a tourist destination. I don’t believe you can get to everything in one week. Going to the beaches, sitting on the cliffs overlooking the ocean while watching the sunsets. Fish tacos, drive-thru Mexican food, going to Old Town district to see the historical park and sitting out on patios drinking large margaritas with chips and salsa.

The San Diego Zoo and going to the museums in Balboa Park. That is a full day itself. Then going home to bbq and hang out by the pool for the night.

There are so many small business restaurants. If I go out to eat, I will take them to one of my favorites based on what our taste buds are feeling. Gnarly Girl Pizza in University Heights is great! A Russian food spot next door is Pomegranate. Delicious!

Go hiking at Mission Trails Regional Park, then grab a bite in Granville area at SD Brewing Company. There are several places in the same shopping area that are great. Sushi, Greek, Sandwiches, Asian…. All small businesses and all are great.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My regulars! The people who kept coming into the cidery during the COVID Shutdowns.

The only reason why my business “made it through COVID” is because of the loyalty and love of my regular customers who came at least once a week to fill up a growler, buy cans to go, rent kegs for their homes, purchase merchandise….

I lost 60% of my customer base during the pandemic shutdowns. The 40% who stuck with me, supported me, listened to me whine, cheered with me when I could continue sending checks to the dog rescue, these are my heros!
Without my regular customers who stuck by me week after week for the past 3 years, the business would have closed, like thousands of businesses did during that time.

Website: www.PoochiesHoochCidery.com

Instagram: #PoochiesHooch

Linkedin: Mary Paulson

Facebook: www.facebook.com/PoochiesHooch