You say “flamingo,” Meghan McKenna says, “Flamango.” The West Palm Beach-based entrepreneur is painting the town pink with her new business, Flamango Vending. Gone are the days when vending machines were for candy, chips, pretzels and soda. Now, items ranging from Champagne, electronics and cosmetics to artwork — thanks to Flamango Vending — are available at the push of a button.
Purchasing a small illustration of a manta ray from a vending machine in St. Pete years ago sparked the idea. It’s been hanging in her bathroom ever since, serving as a daily reminder. When her mom retired from a career in the medical field and bought an ice cream truck, McKenna’s dream seemed a bit less outlandish. She thought, “There’s no reason I can’t have a vending machine!”
Photos Courtesy Of Cailin Byrne of Oh Cai Creative
After a fulfilling career in the promotions department of Clear Channel, McKenna switched gears to entrepreneurship. She applied for and received a $5,000 Placemaking Mini-Grant from the West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority and officially launched Flamango Vending during a Clematis by Night concert on Leap Day in February 2024.
Today, there are a total of three machines — at CityPlace, Subculture Coffee Roasters and Garden District Taproom, all in West Palm Beach. Prices range from $4 to $50.
At any given time, the machines offer a rotating selection of miniature artworks and handmade goods — from paintings and photographs to vintage postcards, ornaments and even painted lighters —crafted by both emerging and established artists.
McKenna hopes to add two more machines to her fleet by year’s end, and eventually to reach 10.
When she’s not curating art and restocking machines, the 40-year-old is running her search engine optimization and web design business, training for marathons, gardening and raising her 7-year-old son with her husband, a playground inspector who does work for Palm Beach County’s Parks and Recreation Department.
“I’m trying to give a voice to the local artists. Wynwood has the walls. West Palm Beach doesn’t have anything, but we have just as many creatives,” she says. “With the vending machine, I’m trying to create a place to discover talent [and help] up-and-comers get noticed.”