A build-your-own mac-and-cheese restaurant and specialty drinks shop is the latest winner of the Launch Pottsville business startup competition.
The Golden Kettle won the grand prize last week at the final presentation dinner held at Arrow Studio & Events in downtown Pottsville. Stephen Smith is the owner of The Golden Kettle.
For winning the competition, Smith wins an opportunity to operate a turnkey location inside Alvernia University’s Pottsville CollegeTowne location on Progress Avenue. He also gets $10,000 in operating capital, a $1,000 a month discounted lease for the location and $90,000 worth of furniture, fixtures, and equipment.
Smith told Coal Region Canary it means “everything” to him to be picked as the winner of Launch Pottsville III.
“This is crazy. There were three awesome concepts. Everybody should have won and my mind is blown that it’s me,” he said after being named the winner.
The Golden Kettle is aiming for an Aug. 1 grand opening downtown.
Smith said he’s previously thought of entering Launch Pottsville competitions in the past but timing wasn’t right due to his involvement in other businesses. He said he was in an “in-between phase” when this third competition opened and said, “This was right up my alley.”
“I felt like it was meant for me,” he said.
In addition to build-your-own mac-and-cheese, Smith plans to offer grab-and-go sandwiches and specialty drinks, like coffee and hot chocolate.
To win the Launch Pottsville competition, entrepreneurs like Smith had to endure weeks of honing their business concept, plan, and final presentation for judges. At this year’s competition, Smith competed against Zakery Dayson, of Nitro Lab Kitchen, a liquid nitrogen ice cream shop, and the husband-and-wife team of Vince and Megan Balulis, who own and operate the Atomic Kitchen food truck, which specializes in boba tea and a vegetarian food menu.
Previous winners of Launch Pottsville include Let There Be Rock School, The Chopping Block, and Rage Parade.*
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Lori Steinhart
May 21, 2026 at 9:57 am
So in order to frequent this business, I will have to go into the Alberta college Building? That won’t be happening! Thought this contest was to put business and foot traffic downtown?