Trading Pentagon calls and space operations for shelves of nostalgic candy and craft sodas, Steve opened Rocket Fizz Colorado Springs with his wife, five sons and a belief that joy, family, and community are worth building a business around.
Meet Steve: A Military Career Written in Satellites, Rockets, and… Candy?
Rocket Fizz: Steve, take us back—what was your career background before Rocket Fizz?
Steve: “I did 31 years in the Army. I started in the Army Reserves as an ordinance officer, got my degree in electrical engineering, and came on active duty as a signal corps officer working electronic communications. Later I became a space operations officer—space, rockets, missile defense… and I even worked with NASA programs. My last job was the Director of Operations for military space programs.”
Rocket Fizz: That’s… a lot of orbit-level responsibility. Did you always picture yourself becoming an entrepreneur?
Steve: “No, not in my wildest dream!
The Entrepreneurial Spark: “What the Hell… I’ll Try It.”
Rocket Fizz: So what changed? When did owning a business start to feel real?
Steve: “I was burned out. I worked high-level stuff—Pentagon calls, constant travel, waking up at 3 a.m. to handle urgent problems. I wanted something new and different that I never tried before.
Rocket Fizz: Was there an “aha!” moment with Rocket Fizz?
Steve: “We took a trip and I saw another Rocket Fizz. I thought: Man, this would be awesome to run my own business. Colorado Springs, where we owned a home, didn’t have anything like it—something fun, something that brings happiness. So I decided… what the hell, I’ll try it.”
Rocket Fizz: And you weren’t just doing it for yourself, right?
Steve: “Family was huge. I was away a lot. With Rocket Fizz, I got to work with my kids. I have five boys—they worked in the store in high school and college.”
Living The “American Dream” (Twice)!
Rocket Fizz: What were you hoping business ownership would change in your life?
Steve: “It gave me another avenue. I got to live the American dream of serving my country, and now I get to live the American dream of owning my own business.”
The Daily Magic: When Customers Become Brand Advocates
Rocket Fizz: What’s your favorite part of a typical day in the shop?
Steve: “Meeting customers from all over the world. The highlight is hearing people’s childhood stories—when they see something they haven’t seen since they were kids. I love seeing the smiles and listening to their stories. Then they come back and bring their friends, kids, and grandkids.”
Rocket Fizz: Colorado Springs is a tourist town—does that show up in the store?
Steve: “Absolutely. We’re a tourist destination. We’re in ‘Best of the Springs’ every year and we win awards. People bring visitors in and the customers end up giving the tour—customers become our brand advocates and salespeople.”
The Most Impactful Customer Moment
Rocket Fizz: Is there a customer story that sticks with you?
Steve: “Every week, a woman brought in her husband for 30 mins or so—he had Alzheimer’s. He couldn’t remember a lot of his life… but when he came in my store, certain candy would trigger memories. For the time they were in the store, that woman got her husband back.”
Crowd Favorites: What Flies Off the Shelves?
Rocket Fizz: Which product sells faster than you ever expected?
Steve: “Cheerwine—that’s a soda from North Carolina. It flies off the shelf because of its connection to the military. People that have been stationed in the Southeast come in and they’ll buy a whole case of it.”
Rocket Fizz: Anything else trending?
Steve: “All the nostalgic candy sells… and the foreign stuff too. The TikTok crowd loves it.”
Community Impact: Local Love + Military Support
Rocket Fizz: How has your shop become part of the community?
Steve: “We sponsor silent auctions for PTAs, support spouse programs for the military, donate a lot to church groups… and we support our military. We recently sent 200 bags of candy to the Middle East for our troops.”
Happiness Happens at Rocket Fizz
Rocket Fizz: What’s been something that has surprised you about Rocket Fizz?
Steve: It’s rare to have an unsatisfied customer. Someone can come in mad at the world… and when they walk in, their whole demeanor changes.”
Steve’s Advice for Future Business Owners
Rocket Fizz: What advice would you give someone thinking about opening their own business?
Steve: “Make sure to learn how to check your books. Educate yourself on accounting and book-keeping so you can spot check. Trust your employees but verify. And location is key!”
Steve’s favorites at Rocket Fizz
Rocket Fizz: Favorite candy?
Steve: “Rocky Road, Idaho Spud… old favorite and a new favorite.”
Rocket Fizz: Favorite soda?
Steve: “Big Red”
