Saratoga Sundry: A Conversation with founder Vic Ikeda-Wood

I feel like this time of the year is supposed to slow down. Slowing down is easier said than done, but in a way this blog helps me take a moment to connect to my creative side and the people who make Saratoga so special. One such person is Vic Ikeda-Wood, owner of Saratoga Sundry. If you’ve met Vic (probably as he’s making you a delicious latte in his coffee camper), you immediately get a sense of the care and attention to detail that goes into everything he does. I’m so happy we had a chance to sit down on one of those perfect, warm fall days and talk about his journey and all things coffee, candles, and more!

From Corporate to Caffeine

We have a dart board and Vic’s mother’s career to thank for him ending up in upstate NY. Originally from San Diego, Vic’s family moved around a lot due to his mother’s job managing Taco Bell franchises – including a few years in Japan. When Vic was in high school, his mom had an opportunity to work on the East Coast. Twenty-plus years ago they threw a dart at a map and it landed on upstate NY! They moved to Hudson Falls, where Vic finished his junior and senior years. He planned on moving back to San Diego, but he fell in love with the area, and fell in love with his now-husband at a Hollywood Video. Hands down the coolest upstate NY origin story I’ve ever heard!

Coffee Camper (the ideal mobile office)

Vic spent years working at tech startups, taking on all sorts of roles and building up skills that benefit him to this day. After staring at screens for many years, Vic wanted to be outside more and pursue a hands-on, creative dream – a retro-inspired, fully electric, zero-emission mobile coffee camper. Originally, he considered going the brick-and-mortar route, but in the end Vic was inspired to go mobile by a converted horse trailer turned coffee shop while staying at a castle in Ireland (again, coolest origin story ever).

He put his tech and people skills to good use, first designing a website and a brand, building out a custom camper, and pitching his vision to local venues to book some gigs. He must’ve had a stellar pitch because he booked four events before the camper was finished, and many more organically from there. Vic also benefited from joining the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce and Discover Saratoga as they connected him with different opportunities.

Things took a turn, though – Vic broke his ankle at his first major event and had to cancel the rest of his first season with the camper. He was worried that he’d burn bridges after canceling events, but in the end people were understanding about the situation. In fact, Vic booked 90 events before his second season even started!

When I asked Vic what he’d like people to know about Saratoga Sundry, he emphasized his locally sourced homemade offerings. He sources Kru coffee, local honey and maple syrup, and creates his own coffee syrups with only a few ingredients. His business is about much more than just coffee; it’s also a retail brand dedicated to sustainable products, local offerings, and small, minority-owned businesses. The coffee camper is seasonal, which brings me to the other side of Saratoga Sundry – the candles!

Premium Candles

As soon as coffee season winds down, candle season is in full swing! Saratoga Sundry’s candle collection is one of a kind – it features nine candles, each one dedicated to the iconic Saratoga springs – Hathorn, Geyser, Empire, High Rock, Congress, Old Red, Polaris, Peerless, and Orenda. Vic’s personal favorite is Peerless, the gin and juniper scent.

All of the candles are made with 100% soy wax and American-sourced materials. They’re handmade in small batches, sustainably packaged, and an ideal choice for those allergic or sensitive to synthetic fragrances. As much as I’d love to, I don’t burn candles much because the fragrances are often overpowering and give me a headache. That being said, I’ve burned the Polaris candle a couple of times (spruce and cedar, kindly gifted to me by Vic) and it hasn’t bothered me at all! It’s a subtle scent and it’s getting me excited for the holiday season!

Vic learned how to make candles from Brad Richardson, the owner of Ambush Candle Co. At first he sourced his products (all thoughtfully made and hyper-local) and then Brad taught him everything he knows about making candles. He even let Vic take his recipes along for the springs candle series!

Vic’s latest candle collab is with Proctors Theatre for their centennial celebration (learn more about Proctors’ 100th anniversary). He and Marisa Flynn from Proctors developed signature scents for each of Proctors’ affiliated theaters, including for Universal Preservation Hall (UPH) here in Saratoga. Vic was given carte blanche with the packaging. He loves that side of the work so much that he lugged 60 pounds of candles to UPH three times to get the stained-glass design just right. Be sure to check out the designs and grab them at Proctors and its affiliated theaters’ gift shops!

What’s next for Saratoga Sundry?

With 90 events this season and candle season upon us, what’s next for Vic? He’d love more consistency with permanent coffee camper gigs. And he’s always developing new menus and seasonal offerings. He also wants to connect more with customers and get them involved in flavor development!

Where to find Saratoga Sundry

Want to grab a latte from Vic, peruse his curated online store or pick up candles in person? You have options. Be sure to follow him on Instagram @SaratogaSundry!

Coffee camper: Check the coffee camper schedule. Just a couple of events left this season, so head over to the Saratoga Farmers’ Market at High Rock Park Wednesday 10/21 and Wednesday 10/28 to say hey! And check out this Saratoga Sips and Scenes post from July about visiting the Saratoga Farmers’ Market!

Coffee camper for events: Vic’s coffee camper is available to rent for weddings, parties, photo shoots, corporate events, and more.

Candles: You can find Vic’s candles at the Artisan Cove, a curated collection of handmade goods from local artisans, located at 516 Broadway, Saratoga Springs. And join the Saratoga Sundry candle club here!

Sundries: Shop Vic’s collection on Saratoga Sundry’s website, which offers products with a focus on American-made, sustainably and ethically sourced goods.

Em’s Takeaway

In a world that emphasizes efficiency, Vic is helping people slow down and connect. I’ve been a frequent customer of the coffee camper on Saturdays at Pitney Meadows Farm (hopefully you’ll see more of him there next season!), so I spent months connecting with Vic bit by bit until we sat down and really talked. He shared that his favorite part of Saratoga Sundry is interacting with people. I believe it, and I think that’s been a big part of his success. People remember the small interactions and come back to the places that make them feel welcome. You can tell he loves what he does – creating with care and intention, from homemade coffee syrups to hauling 60 pounds for the perfect logo design. I hope learning more about Vic and his journey inspires you to slow down over a cup of coffee, get to know someone new, or pursue a creative dream!