The Palmer Family: Embracing Adventure, Community, and Entrepreneurship

Photo Credit: Karen Presecan Photography

The Palmer Family resides in the heart of Liberty Knolls. The dynamic unit is led by Garrick and Chrissy and completed by their four remarkable daughters: Danielle, Gabrielle, Avrielle, and Kristen. Their journey is one adorned with tales of service, love, and the pursuit of dreams.

A Journey Rooted in Service

With a combined service of 44 years in the Army, Garrick and Chrissy exemplify dedication and resilience. Their paths intertwined at Fort Jackson, SC, during the Basic Noncommissioned Officer’s Course in 2002. Fast forward to eight years of marriage and nine years of companionship, their bond remains fortified, with their wedding day etched in memory—a chaotic, yet cherished affair, due to a March snow storm. 

“Everything was crazy that weekend,” Chrissy explained. “Luckily, we flew out two days prior to the storm, but my sister (who was my Matron of Honor) and my niece couldn’t find a flight out of Norfolk and had to drive to Baltimore to catch a flight. They literally made it to the venue in Jamaica an hour before start time.” 

Others frantically traveled to different airports as well to make it down, dresses were left behind, make-up artists were late, but despite it all, “everything worked out how it was supposed to,” Chrissy said. 

Being seasoned veterans, the Palmers were used to being adaptable and showing grace under pressure. These attributes came through on their wedding day and have served them well in their transition to their post-military lives as well, as they’re both now proud business owners.

From Serving Their Country to Serving Coffee and Tea

Both Chrissy and Garrick hold bachelor degrees in business administration, and their education has helped them pivot to their latest venture: Tea’Go Café, an organic coffee and boba tea shop the couple opened in June 2023. Tea’Go is the sister store of Teapresso Bar, founded and located in Hawaii. 

“After serving our country, we decided to embark on serving the community of Stafford with tasty boba teas, smoothies, frappes, lemonades, and more,” Chrissy explained. “We wanted to create a space that was inviting for both adults and kids of all ages.” The island theme and the smooth, soul-full sounds of Bob Marley and the Hawaiian vibes transport patrons back to their favorite island– “even if just for a minute,” Chrissy said. 

“The amount of daddy-daughter dates we see are amazing,” Garrick added. “But it also tells us we’re getting it right.” 

Both Garrick and Chrissy credit the Army with providing a strong foundation for their entrepreneurial pursuits. 

“More than anything, we believe that the military has given us the foundation that we needed to be successful,” Chrissy said. “We were both Senior Non-Commissioned Officers in the Army, so we’re well-versed in leadership and providing structure,” she explained. 

“We’re used to operating under stressful situations and making quick decisions. And those basic skills have really come in handy for us this year.”

“I was also a Senior Drill Instructor, so that comes in handy when dealing with our teenage employees,” Garrick commented. The couple is intentional about employeeing teenages from the surrounding high schools, too. 

“For many of our employees, this is their first job and the first time they were ever interviewed,” Chrissy explained. “ We truly enjoy providing these opportunities because it’s a way for us to deepen our relationship with the Stafford community.”

Family Life and Pursuits

Along with deepening their relationship with the surrounding community, owning a business helps the Palmers enrich their relationships with their daughters as well. 

“Owning my own business has always been a dream of mine, but I didn’t have any personal examples of how to do it or what was even possible,” Chrissy said. “Garrick and I wanted to do something that our girls could be a part of and hopefully one day grow the business beyond our imaginations.” 

“All of our girls work at the store– even the youngest,” Chrissy explained. “They’ve been a part of every facet of the business so far. They’re learning in real time what post people spend thousands of dollars to learn, and we couldn’t be more grateful for the experience.” 

When they aren’t working at mom and pop’s place, the Palmer daughters flourish in various domains. Each has her own academic journey through Winding Creek, Rodney Thompson, and Colonial Forge, and each daughter exudes a unique passion: Avrielle is quite the crochet enthusiast; Gabrielle serves as the family's resident techie; Kristen thrives in swim, soccer and Taekwondo; and Danielle will soon be a published author– be sure to check out His Summer Addiction, coming soon to Amazon! Danielle, a 2024 Colonial Forge graduate, will also be continuing her education at VCU in the fall. 

Cherishing Community and Connection

The move to Liberty Knolls in 2019 was driven by the desire for a nurturing environment for their daughters. 

“Neighbors actually talk to each other and share information whether through the neighborhood chat group or Facebook page,” said Chrissy. “We talk while walking our kids to school. We look out for each other here.”

Here, community isn't just a concept—it's a vibrant reality. Neighbors bond over water balloon fights, Easter egg hunts, and movie nights, embodying the true essence of camaraderie. 

“I love the actual feel of community here,” Chrissy said, “and I love that it is so diverse.”

Liberty Knolls is also “bonded by service,” as Chrissy explained. “This neighborhood is filled with people who have served their country in some capacity. We’re filled with military veterans, retirees, and other government employees.  I don’t think we could have picked a better neighborhood to raise a family.”

“When we first started house hunting,” Garrick explained, “we were very intentional about making sure the area had a great school system.” A friend of Chrissy’s was a teacher at Winding Creek and mentioned a neighborhood [Liberty Knolls] being built across from Colonial Forge. 

“Our oldest was starting high school, and she needed to be given the best possible opportunity to be successful,” he said. “And that’s ultimately why we settled here.”

Exploring the World and Finding Home

Beyond their neighborhood's confines, the Palmers are avid travelers. From the tranquil shores of Jamaica to the cultural tapestries of Europe and the enchantment of Disney World, they seize every opportunity to explore and create cherished memories.

“Jamaica is our favorite destination to visit,” Chrissy explained. “Probably because it’s home for my husband.” Their trip to Columbia is another family favorite, but their favorite place remains “wherever and whenever we’re all together.”

“We tell the girls to keep God first always. Everything else will fall into place.” 

The Palmer family has certainly found their place in Liberty Knolls, where they can continue to pursue their dreams and embrace all of life’s adventures.