10/23/2026
“I didn’t open Broadsides in Wake Forest to chase money. I opened this business because I wanted to create a genuine home for the dreamers, the performers, and anyone searching for a welcoming place to land.
Looking back, my dad was the absolute heart of my world and my greatest inspiration. He always surrounded himself with what he loved, building miniature trains, planes, and dollhouses. He always talked about how someday he wanted to own a building. He also filled our home with music and magic, taking me to see The Wiz on Broadway when I was just five years old, where I even got to sit on Stephanie Mills' lap backstage. Right then and there, I got bit by the musical theater bug, igniting a lifelong passion.
After living in New York and Austin, my husband Bryan and I moved to North Carolina 12 years ago. We rented at first to figure out where we wanted to call home, and Wake Forest completely won our hearts. We fell in love with its quaint historic charm, and we knew this was the place where we wanted to stay and build something truly meaningful for the people here.
On March 12, 2020, we officially received our LLC paperwork for Broadsides, and we spent over a year after that working hard to refine our business plan to make sure it was solid. When we first walked into our historic downtown building, we went down to the basement and found a toy train in its box with the track and everything, just waiting for us. Remembering how my dad used to build miniature trains and always dreamed of owning his own building, the moment I saw that little train set, I looked at Bryan and said, "This is it. This is the building." It felt like my dad was right there holding my hand, telling us we were finally home.
Becoming a small business owner here has been one of the most profoundly rewarding journeys of my life. We wanted to create a place where people could come together, share intimate moments, and enjoy something that feels both excitingly new and comfortably familiar. We wanted a safe, inclusive space where aspiring artists can pour their hearts out into their very first gigs, friends can laugh together, and families can gather close.
For me, success as a business owner isn't about chasing money. It’s when a customer walks through our doors, looks around, and bursts into tears because the space feels so warm and welcoming after a hard day. It’s watching a timid young musician play the piano while his proud parents dance softly beside him. I’ve never felt so deeply a part of a community as I do right here in Wake Forest, and when people step inside, my only hope is that they feel that love and take home an experience they will always cherish!”
- Joni Falvey
