I’m Danielle Ryan, and I recently opened a water store in Ramsey called Hydration Station. Before embarking on this entrepreneurial journey, I spent my career in Law Enforcement for 13 years; ending up in my dream position as a Crime Scene Detective for 7 years, a rewarding role that I loved deeply. I worked for the Bergen County Sherif’s office, and we serviced the entire county. We worked on a lot of burglaries and the initial investigations. However, in 2020, an injury led to my early retirement and a major shift in my life. Suddenly, I found myself embracing a new role as a full-time stay-at-home mom—a path I hadn’t expected to take until much later in life. Trading in my nontraditional work schedule for the chance to be fully present with my growing family turned out to be a blessing. At the time, my children were just 4, 3, and another on the way. I never planned to be retired so young, so I knew I needed to find a new path forward when the time felt right. This summer, I decided to open a water store, now that my children are older. I got the idea of the water store because I would travel about an hour to get fresh Alkaline Water for my family. My vision goes beyond providing healthy drinking water to the community; it’s about building something meaningful for the future. I hope Hydration Station becomes a place where my kids and their cousins can work together, just as my sisters and I did growing up in our family-run store. My family owned a bagel shop in Bogota and working alongside our cousins, aunts, and grandmother is something I will always cherish, and I want to recreate that experience for the next generation while contributing something valuable to our community.
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
I’ve been married to my husband, Matt, for 10 years, and together we have three wonderful children, ages 9, 7, and 4. Our youngest will be starting kindergarten this fall, which is an exciting milestone for our family as it means all of our kids will be attending Mahwah public schools.
Q: Please tell us about your current career. What do you love most about what you do?
I recently opened a water store called Hydration Station, in Ramsey. It’s a place where people can get refills of their water, most commonly 5-gallon jugs that they might otherwise get through home delivery or buy at a big box store. I offer both reverse osmosis purified water and alkaline water at a very competitive rate, providing a healthier, more affordable, and convenient option for our community. What I love most about my job, and what I missed most about working out of the house, is the interaction with customers. Opening Hydration Station has given me the opportunity to connect with people in the community, hear their stories, and build relationships. It’s incredibly rewarding to see familiar faces returning and to know that I’m providing a service that helps improve their daily lives.
Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
I am a total pizza lover! La Gondola and Novino are absolute favorites of mine. Not only is their pizza amazing, but both restaurants were also kind enough to let me leave information about my store at their locations. It’s great to feel supported by local businesses that I love so much!
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
I’ve lived in Mahwah for 14 years, and my husband has been here even longer. We love this town so much that we managed to lure all of our sisters to move here, too! It’s wonderful having so much family nearby.
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
The most interesting people I’ve met are definitely my neighbors. Many of them have been lifelong Mahwah residents or have lived here long enough to witness so much change in the town. It’s fun to sit with them for a drink and hear stories about how things were before. Being younger than most of our neighbors, it’s been amazing to see their families grow up over the years. What’s even more special is the bond our kids have formed with some of them—it’s a wonderful reminder of the sense of community that makes Mahwah such a great place to live.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
Disneyland Paris. Our family loves Disney, and my middle child has been dreaming of going to Paris. Before having kids, I had the opportunity to backpack through Europe several times and fell in love with it. Now, I’d love to experience it all over again with my kids and hopefully they catch the travel bug.
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
I was a late arrival to Star Wars, but since then, I’ve become a huge fan! Over the last five years, I’ve watched every movie and show in a repeating fashion. My favorite movie is Rogue One, and my favorite show is Andor.
Q: What advice would you give to people?
My advice is simple: You’re here for a good time, not a long time. Life is short, so make sure to enjoy it. Embrace the moments and cherish the people around you.
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
One of the things on my bucket list is to travel to all the Disney parks around the world. Disney has always been a special part of our family, and I would love to experience each park in different countries, taking in the unique magic they each offer.
Q: What is your go to band when you can’t decide what to listen to?
The Script. I had the chance to see them open for Paul McCartney in 2009, and I immediately loved their sound, and their music has stuck with me ever since.
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
Kinchley’s Tavern. It’s been around for nearly 90 years, and I can’t help but imagine how much more undeveloped the area must have been when it first opened. The longevity of the place is a testament to its charm and the community it’s built over the decades.
Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
My core group of friends, without having to coordinate schedules and plan it weeks in advance just BOOM we are at lunch. With busy schedules it can be tough to coordinate so that would be great. Blue Moon in Wyckoff so we could be on the louder side laughing.
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
I find it unique just how much Mahwah pride there is, I think that few towns have it run so deep.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
I see myself working side by side with my kids, nieces, and nephews at Hydration Station. This is the dream that led me to open the business—to create a place where our family can work together, just as I did growing up. It’s a vision that’s close to my heart, and I’m excited to see it come to life over the next several years.
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
It’s been a while, so I might be a little rusty, but I know every word to the movie Zoolander.
Q: What is the most beautiful place you have ever been?
The most beautiful place I’ve been is inside St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. The grandeur and intricate details of the architecture left me in awe, and the sense of history and reverence in that space is truly unforgettable.
Q: Favorite month? favorite holiday? and best single day on the calendar?
September, we usually go to Disney to celebrate me and my husband’s birthdays. Thanksgiving. 10/24/14 (month + year = day, it’s perfect)
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
Hosting Sunday dinners with the extended family, and with everyone nearby we can do this often.
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My kids, I strive to be a role model for them as they navigate life.
Q: What is one or two of your favorite smells?
Vanilla and fresh ground coffee- although I do not drink coffee.
Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
family love comfort
