Boerne, Texas Carousel Antiques & Fickle Pickles was founded in 1981 by Billie A. Shaw. The Antiques soon became a backdrop to Mrs. Shaw’s Fickle Pickles®. Locals and day-trippers from the surrounding Texas Hill Country lovingly dubbed Mrs. Shaw “The Pickle Lady.” Devoted to producing a high quality product, The Pickle Lady did it all! As the word spread, The Pickle Lady started shipping those delectable Fickle Pickles to folks that just could not get enough of that “Sweet, Crunchy, Spicy” taste!
Early 2002, The Pickle Lady retired and her daughter and son-in-law took over production of those delicious Fickle Pickles. Lisa Armstrong Obriotti soon became known as “The Pickle Lady’s Daughter” making and shipping Fickle Pickles all over the world. Fickle Pickles are regularly shipped as far north as Alaska and to our troops in Iraq.
Summer 2006, a second store was opened in the quaint town of Gruene, Texas and in 2014, the 3rd store opened in Bandera, Texas, and others in New Braunfels and Austin.
We asked owner, Lisa Obriotti a few questions about her business.
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How many years have you been in business?
My mother moved her antique shop from San Antonio to Boerne in 1980 and we’ve been in business for almost 43 years!!! Originally the store was called Carousel Antiques and Pickles. I took over my mother’s company about 25 years ago with my husband.
WHY PICKLES???
Because as soon as my mother put out her recipe to sample, people went crazy for her pickles!!!
What keeps you at your job?
Our customers! They are the greatest!
What’s something people don’t understand about your job?
How truly difficult it is to be a small business owner these days.
What’s something that people would find surprising about your job?
How incredibly wonderful it is to make a product (by hand.)
What challenges have you faced as a small business owner?
Closing our store for 3 months during Covid was so scary! But we delivered in 5 counties and never had a zero day! These last 2 1/2 years have proved that you never know what will come your way. You just have to take it one day at a time.
What makes your store so special to you?
How proud my mother would be that we have grown into a 5-store company and ship all over the country!
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
In 5 years, we hope to continue to grow the business and sell more online.
Your favorite misconception about your job?
That it’s easy to be a pickle manufacturer!
Anything you’d like to say to the local community?
We are so proud that our flagship store is a part of Boerne history. We love the people and visitors from all over the world.
