Tallahassee is undergoing a transformation. The startup scene is booming, and neighborhoods all over town are experiencing a renaissance. That’s what spurred Ron Goldstein to found Capital City Pedicabs in February 2013. “We were on a family trip to New York City and caught a pedicab ride when the taxis were on strike,” says Mike Goldstein, who is Ron’s son and creative services director for the company. “With everything going on with Tallahassee, it seemed like the right time to launch a pedicab business. We have made a name for ourselves as an eco-friendly, fun and safe event support company that caters to visitors and locals alike.”
Since the company’s founding, the Goldsteins have intentionally focused on gradual—not explosive—growth. Toady, Capital City Pedicabs has seven pedicabs operated by four drivers.
Like any budding business, Capital City Pedicabs is not immune to challenges. The biggest one the Goldsteins grapple with is finding the right talent. “We have been hitting the job fairs pretty hard and promoting our part-time driver position with the support of local colleges, support organizations and even Gold’s Gym,” he says. The company also is looking for drivers at veteran job fairs.
Capital City Pedicabs is also plugged into the local startup scene.
“It is a great time to be a startup in Tallahassee,” he says. “Through the support of Tallahassee and Leon County, places like Domi Station and CoLab at the Pod are continuing to flourish. When we first started, we never would have imagined how we have come along. It helps when the city and county support us too. We belong to a number of groups and organizations in town… so it never hurts to have a strong network that we can rely on.”
Capital City Pedicabs also believes in the power of paying it forward. It routinely posts profiles of Tallahassee businesses, attractions and personalities on its blog.
“We believe in supporting local businesses, people and groups,” Goldstein says. “The best way to do that is through our blog, free of charge, as a way to cross-promote. We also do an entertainment spotlight as well to let our followers get an inside look at the entertainment industry from those who know it best!”
Leave a Reply