Meet Mary A's

It started with Mary A.

Mary A’s is named after my mom, Mary Ann. My Godmother and Aunt always called her “Mary A,” and that name has always meant something special to me. My mom passed away in 2014, but she continues to be a big part of who I am and the person I’ve become.

My mom was a bartender, but she was so much more than that. She was one of those people everyone in the neighborhood seemed to know. The neighborhood bar wasn’t just where she worked—it was a place where people knew her, talked to her, and came back to see her. She built relationships with people simply by being herself.

I’m a proud mama’s boy, and I followed in her footsteps. I eventually found myself working in the bar industry too, where I learned a lot about people, relationships, and what it means to make someone feel welcome.

Finding my way back to vending

About 16 years ago, I owned and operated a vending business. I eventually sold the company because my mom’s health was declining, and I wanted to be with her while also focusing on my own health. At the time, that was where my life needed to be.

After my mom passed, I continued working in the bar industry. But over the years, I started thinking about vending again. I knew the business, I enjoyed it, and eventually I realized I was ready to come back.

Mary A’s officially started on August 1, 2026.

Coming back after 16 years has been exciting because vending has changed. When I was in the business before, I was working with the traditional machines most people picture when they think of vending. Today, I’m bringing that experience into the modern world with smart, temperature-controlled machines and technology that helps me better understand what customers want and what each location needs.

Vending should work for the people using it

One of the biggest things I wanted to do differently this time around was give customers a voice.

Instead of simply deciding what I think people should want, I want to know what they actually want. Customers can suggest products they would like to see in their machine, allowing me to build selections around the people who live, work, exercise, or spend time at each location.

To me, a vending machine should be more than a machine sitting in a corner. It should be useful, convenient, and feel like it belongs in the space.

That idea of listening to people and building relationships is something I learned from my mom. People knew her, trusted her, and came back because of the connection she created. I want Mary A’s to have that same sense of connection and community.

More than just vending

I’m proud to be a disabled veteran who served in both the Navy and Army, and Mary A’s is LGBTQIA+ owned.

Starting this business isn’t just about putting vending machines in locations. It’s about building something I can be proud of, creating relationships with the people and businesses I serve, and doing things a little differently.

And maybe most importantly, it’s about carrying my mom’s name forward.

Mary A’s is my way of taking something I loved doing 16 years ago, bringing it into the modern world, and building something new while keeping a connection to where I came from.

My mom built relationships one person at a time, across a bar and throughout a neighborhood. I hope to build Mary A’s the same way—one location, one customer, and one relationship at a time.

Welcome to Mary A’s.