Chadron entrepreneur grows her business inside Chadron Open Art gallery
Rylee Greiman, the founder of The Wandering Lilac, launched her venture in 2023 to fill a noticeable gap in Chadron’s local food scene. A former Chadron State volleyball player, she turned the end of her college career into a chance to become her own boss.
Greiman’s menu focuses on bright, health‑forward options—acai bowls and smoothies that invite endless customization. The base of frozen acai is topped with granola, fresh fruit and optional add‑ins like peanut butter, honey, Nutella or chia seeds, letting each customer craft a personal treat.
The business began as a one‑woman operation out of a modest two‑horse trailer she found on Facebook Marketplace. After taking the trailer to local events, Greiman secured a permanent home inside the Chadron Open Art gallery, creating a symbiotic draw: art lovers discover the food stall, and diners linger to enjoy the exhibits.
Personal history weaves through the brand. Greiman’s grandmothers, Margo and Wanda, shaped her upbringing; the lilac motif honors her late grandfather’s favorite flower and her grandmother Margo’s tradition of picking lilacs. The purple palette also nods to Wanda’s recent pancreatic‑cancer diagnosis, linking the business’s aesthetic to a deeply sentimental family narrative.