16ozdays

31/01/2025

GoOod Evening Goobers!👋🏼
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THIS WEEK’S WINNER/LOCATION:
Located at 14800 GALAXIE Ave in Apple Valley for visit 254 is Constellation Coffee!🌌

Recommended by: 🗣️
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THE SCOOP:
This visit I spoke with/met Elaine, Amber, Carrie, & Leo.🫱🏻‍🫲🏼

A quick preface, Constellation is all about educating the community about special needs. As a mental health advocate I’m a big fan.🧠 

They provide jobs for individuals with disabilities in a space designed for them—rubber floors, chairs with a sled base, acoustic ceilings, soft lighting, & no music. EVERY detail was looked at extra carefully.😌

Memory can be a hurdle at times. Instead of calling out names, they call playing cards (I had the 5 & 7 of hearts!). This was inspired by Bitty & Beau’s Coffee in North Carolina.The team personalizes roles for each worker—whether it’s taking orders, managing the register, or folding sleeves—everyone is set up for success. They even have a training program to assess sensory & motor skills.🃏

Fun Fact: The unemployment rate for individuals with special needs is 3x higher than those with physical disabilities. Constellation is leading the way by making a change.📊
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FINAL THOUGHTS:
So they don’t take tips here. This is me doing my part to spread the word lol. The vibe here is *stellar*, like there’s literally a moon sculpture, a Milky Way mural, & if you missed it the first time, their address is on GALAXIE avenue hahaha. I found out that the owners & Carrie spent about 3 years doing research on coffee to make Constellation a reality. Carrie shared she didn’t know a single thing about coffee before going into this-a few dedicated years later & here we are-really motivating stuff. Great cause, go support them.👍🏼

Today’s Drinks: Iced Cherry Mocha, Iced Vanilla Pistachio Latte, & Blackberry Vanilla Latte🍒🌰
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20/01/2025

GooOood Evening Coffee Addicts!
This coffee shop has pickleball!🏓
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THIS WEEK’S WINNER/LOCATION:
Visit 253 brings us to , located at 980 Discovery Road, Eagan, MN!📍
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THE SCOOP:
Today I spoke with Ashley(GM) to learn more about the unique spot that opened on May 28th!🗣️
•They have a weight room, sauna, & cold plunge to help you warm up & cooldown 
•Their courts are outdoor surface & tournament size (34x64)+ 

Walking in, I was instantly greeted by the friendly front desk staff. The energy here was felt right away. As you walk into the cafe space from the lobby, IMAGINE: paddles popping pickleballs on the courts to your left, sunlight pouring over the cozy banquette seating on your right, a big “Glad You’re Here” sign in front of you above the coffee bar, AND reporters discussing who’s going to win between the Ravens & Bills in tonight’s division game projected on the wall.🐦‍⬛🦬

If you like big busy spaces, Chip’s will check that box. The high ceilings amplified the sound of “NOOOO’s” & “Let’s GO’s” echoing from the courts. Guests were sipping drinks, relaxing at tables or couches, & connecting after their matches. Many new friendships that were made today-lots of camaraderie & a common love of pickleball shared over a cup of coffee.🫱🏼‍🫲🏽

Words of Wisdom from Ashley: “Be patient with yourself and give grace where you’re still growing—you don’t have to be perfect.”🧠
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FINAL THOUGHTS:
I tried my first ever Chagaccino today. It’s a mushroom mocha that is supposed to help with jitters and boost gut health. So uh, I might not be the best guy to confirm the jitters part, but it was delicious & did not taste like mushrooms at all.

Yes, people mainly come for pickleball, but the seating and outlets make it a great spot to catch up with a friend or get some work done over some coffee as well! Go support!👍🏼

Today’s Drinks:
Chagaccino, 2x Butterscotch Brews, & an Eggnog Latte.🍄‍🟫🍫
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What’s your favorite sport to watch/play? Let us know In the comments for a chance at a gift-card to Chips! :)

18/08/2024

Gooood Afternoon Coffee Addicts!
🍨4 Syllables, AFF-O-GA-TO!
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THIS WEEK’S WINNER/LOCATION:
🏡Right off the corner of 34th Ave & 50th St in the Minnehaha/Hiawatha neighborhood is today’s shop!

📍Visit 241:

🗣️Recommended by:
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📰THE SCOOP🗞️
•Crema opened October 2022
•The space used to be barbershop?! (Hi Grace’s Dad)

☀️Don’t be deceived. This shop is tiny, but they pack a punch. Ambiance wise, people were mainly sitting outdoors enjoying the 82 degree day on the patio. I saw lots of families, dogs, & bikers passing through & many stopping by to soak in the sun & for a refresher. 

🫱🏻‍🫲🏼Today I spoke briefly with Nora, Grace, & Dave-the team that very efficiently served lines that reached the door today. 

🐱Crema tries their best to make use of their space and is very community based. As you walk you’ll notice the community board sharing things like local retreats, services, & even help to find George-a lost cat. Nora & Grace both live in the neighborhood & often see people that live right down the street come in-there’s lots of local support here. 

🥐Quality is important here. They strive to serve top tier pastries (Patisserie 46), have nailed down their own soft-serve/in-house syrup recipes, & have many of their regular orders memorized. I sat right outside on the patio & didn’t see a single person leave feeling worse than they did coming in. 

🧠Words of Wisdom to aspiring business owners: “Be ready & get used to waking up early”
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🤔FINAL THOUGHTS💭
Hey goobers, Crema is great. The first impression was wow this place is small, but man did that not matter at all. The staff was super laid back & the coffee made the 2 hours fly by. All around great shop & a fantastic space for summer patio meet up. Congrats on everything Leah!👍🏼

Today’s Drinks: Coconut Cold Brew, Affogato, Lemonade Chaider🥥🍨🍋
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09/08/2024

Happy Friday Coffee Addicts!
This space is in the back of a bookstore!📚
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📍Right down on Stillwater’s Main Street in the 700 sqft space within Valley Bookseller is visit #239 , !📖
🛠️They’ve been around since 1992!
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THE SCOOP:
🗣️Today I had the opportunity to talk with Olivia who shared a bit about the space. Olivia has been here for around 4 years and even has a drink named after her (iced sugar cookie mocha). She’s a student at UMD studying Consumer Insight Analytics, a program that only accepts 30 students per year, individuals who are all driven, & who all want to be there. During the summers she comes back to Daily Grind-she hasn’t had a single bad thing to say.

🌁Daily Grind is owned by Megan and Tim Palmer. The original location was at 317 Main Street. Some of the improvements with the move include the extra parking lots/spaces, being a part of Valley Books, and having a fantastic view of the St. Croix from their back patio.

They have lots of regulars and one of the reasons for that is their huge menu. They have a big variety of specialty drinks, and if those options still aren’t enough for you, they are also open to customizing your drink-if they have the ingredients, they’ll make it. They have had lots of support and have gained a strong name in Stillwater. In 2018 they even won Small Business of the Year from the Greater Stillwater Chamber of Commerce.🏆

👩🏽‍🏫Fun Fact: Customers can leave their mugs hanging from above the counter to use when they are in store.💡
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FINAL THOUGHTS:
So I guess there’s a group that comes in and does crosswords here every morning. I can’t blame them, it’s a cozy space with a nice view. Stillwater in general has always been such a unique town, Daily Grind being a part of Valley Books only adds to that. The hanging mugs add a nice community aspect, their shirts show off their goofy sense of humor, and well, they have bacon for the puppers-need I say more?🐶

Today’s Drinks: Naughty Norwegian, Mexican Mocha, & Pistachio Latte🇳🇴🇲🇽

04/08/2024

GooOoOod Afternoon Coffee Addicts!
They started roasting with a popcorn machine🍿
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📍Located in the Greater Mankato area roughly an hour from the Twin Cities is visit 238: Neutral Groundz (Beans Coffee Company)

🗣️Recommended by: .h
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THE SCOOP:
🛠️This visit I had the chance to speak with Britta, one of the co-owners of the space. Beans Coffee Company all started in 2011 with Britta’s husband Clay & his buddy Eric roasting a bag of coffee in their garage using an air pop popcorn popper. After needing to roast more than two ounces of coffee at a time, they converted their gas grill into a coffee roaster, almost setting their garage on fire in the process! In 2015, they had made the leap to a commercial-grade roaster and moved into a dedicated roastery, learning a lot along the way.
In October 2023, they transitioned their coffee journey into Neutral Groundz. The move was smooth because Neutral Groundz already carried Beans Coffee Company’s beans & they had built a strong community presence from their participation in local farmers markets.

👩🏽‍🏫Fun Fact: They started with just $200, reinvesting their earnings to grow the business. 💡

🧠Words of Wisdom from Britta: Start small. Don’t feel pressured to take out a big loan and do everything at once. Be creative—none of this is typical. Think outside the box, find someone who wants to do it, and stay friends with like-minded people.
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FINAL THOUGHTS:
We love a family owned business. One of the coolest things about this visit was walking and seeing one of Britta’s daughter’s, Elena, serving customers. According to Britta she is actually pretty shy, but when she’s behind the counter she’s a total rockstar. After my order I heard “Okay I’ll get the food, you hand the coffee” to one of the other staff members”. It’s really inspiring and makes me happy to see her teaching her kids business skills to prep for the real world. They literally started with a popcorn popper and made it to a thriving coffee business. Whether you’re a fan or not, that's respect that needs to be given.👍🏼

Today’s Drinks: Blueberry Belgrade, Coconut Dream ,S’mores, Caramel Fizz, Berry Bliss 🫐

01/08/2024

GooOoOod Afternoon Coffee Addicts!
We’re back! 👋🏼
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🗺️THIS WEEK’S WINNER/LOCATION🧭
📍Located at 4605 Minnehaha Ave South in South Minneapolis is Cafe Ceres Wakpada (Opened Februrary 17th 2024)
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📰THE SCOOP🗞️

🗣️Today I spoke with Alexis, one of the managers who share a bit about the space!

🎶Stepping inside it felt like a nice change from South Minneapolis. With plenty of natural light and lots of plants, it’s the perfect spot for hikers, bikers, and neighborhood families to gather. I heard “Mr. Brightside” and instantly loved the environment. It felt lively here, the staff even sang my name when my order was ready-there’s a very little chance you’ll miss being called!

👩🏾‍🍳Shawn McKenzie, a veteran pastry chef from Penny’s (shop before Ceres), owns this space. Shawn’s journey continued in Minneapolis, where she contributed to the pastry programs at three Isaac Becker restaurants before moving to Penny’s. After a culinary tour in the Red Sea, she brought her unique spice knowledge to Cafe Ceres. In 2020, after Penny’s closed, she teamed up with Chef Daniel del Prado and Casey Underkofler to create a menu inspired by the Red Sea coast. Returning to Minneapolis pushed her to reflect on her role and the impact she can make. She aims to be a role model and leader, just as her father was to her.

🤯Fun Fact: The Turkish Bagel, topped with labneh (a Greek yogurt spread) and za’atar herbs and spices, is a crowd favorite. Shawn McKenzie brings her rich culinary background to every dish. At 19, she moved to Oregon for culinary school & worked under chef Jeanette Lewis, learning about Middle Eastern food & developing a love for herbs and spices.

🧠Words of Wisdom from Manager: Listen to your staff/workers!
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🤔FINAL THOUGHTS💭
Cafe Ceres Wakpada is a very relaxed space and really does brighten the neighborhood. The Dukkah was great and I feel like the pastries here have always been a hit. Fun staff, a relaxed environment, and Mr. Brightside-what more could you ask for?

This Visit’s Drinks: Dukkah and Ras el Hanout🇪🇬



29/06/2024

Morning Coffee Addicts!

2 years ago we made a playlist curated from 56 people’s go-to songs called The Coffee Addicts Playlist🎶

Let’s bring back that tradition and top it this year!
Drop your favorite song you listen to during your coffee fueled sessions in the comments to contribute to the 2024 version!🎧

I hope you all are having a weekend with the festivities!
Have fun & be safe! Love y’all!🙌🏼

-Dil✌🏼

16/06/2024

Gooood Afternoon Coffee Addicts! 
🤯We visited the first coffee shop in Belle Plaine this week!
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 THIS WEEK’S WINNER/LOCATION:
📍Located 50 minutes southwest of Minneapolis, between the Twin Cities and Mankato, is Belle Plaine’s Riverview Cafe!
🗣️Recommended by: .in.seek
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THE SCOOP: 
👩🏼‍🏫Hey friends. I spoke with Becca today to learn more about the space. Riverview makes almost everything in-house. They bake their pastries every morning, roast their coffee inside their shop, and even have some in-house syrups. The only breakfast food they outsource are bagels and muffins from a company in NYC-because you can’t go wrong with a New York Bagel.

🛠️It’s always cool when a shop has a roaster in their own space, but things weren’t always like this. Troy, the owner, started roasting beans in his garage in 2016 for fun. He would practice and give beans to family and friends. Over time, word spread, and people started asking for more. In 2020, he established Riverview as a business, and on February 28th, 2023, he opened the brick & mortar we visited today. Riverview has had lots of support from the start, selling 800 cups of coffee on their opening day.

📝Nowadays, they’re seeing more & more regulars and have memorized quite a few. They have new drinks almost every month but keep a stash of all previous specialty drinks, so if you have a favorite from a past month, they’ve got your back.

🧠Words of Wisdom: Keep track of stock and inventory. It’s SO important to know what you’ll need and what you have left!
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FINAL THOUGHTS: 
Walking in, I heard “Hey Jude” by the Beatles, instantly noticed all the flags, and saw their new seasonal menu. It smelled like fresh beans, and my skin felt relieved drying off from yesterday’s constant downpour. No complaints about Riverview. The staff was laid back, coffee kicked, and they had unique drinks outside of coffee. From their story to their staff to their drinks, they’re doing things right.👍🏼

Today’s Drinks: Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso, Salted Caramel Americano, Hammer Mill, Throat Punch, & Pink Starburst.☕️🥭🍉

 

11/06/2024

🎂Hey fam, we recently had our 4 year anniversary in collaboration with ‘s Maker’s Market!

🗣️A huge thanks to everyone who stopped by. Even if it’s only for a few minutes, it’s always so great catching up everyone and keeping up on all of your lives!

🤯It’s really “WILD” to think that it’s been 4 years already. We’ve had some people come & go, I just want to thank you all who are still around and who actively support.

🍋We had just north of 40 of our pals swing by to this event and the Anniversary Drink (Lemon Lav Matcha Tonic) SOLD OUT!

☕️Welcome to all of the new coffee club members and good to see you to all of the current members, it’s a beautiful thing seeing our community grow & to be able to tie a face to your socials!

💭Last but not least, to those we shared our upcoming project with, keep an eye out for that giveaway and do us a favor by telling a friend.

Okay.
-THANK YOU for being there during the tough times📉
-THANK YOU for the blunt feedback on our ideas💡
-And THANK YOU for staying along side us as we grow📈

Cheers and much love,
-📍The 16ozDays Team☕️

Photo Credits: .jpeg 📸

07/06/2024

When life gives you lemons, make a matcha tonic🍋

Hey Coffee Addicts, we’re having our 4 year anniversary with Wild Grind this Saturday, swing on by for a beer or brew and for goodness sake’s support local!! :)

See y’all there!🎉

02/06/2024

Happy Sunday Coffee Addicts!
Very Fun Environment!🎲
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📍THIS WEEK’S WINNER/LOCATION:
Today our visit brings us to NE Minneapolis into The Broken Clock Cooperative at !

🗣️Recommended by:
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📰THE SCOOP: From the red crank roaster in their uptown location to now using the 10 kilo drum at Sustenance, working with new and bigger wholesale accounts, expanding in the atrium in the 7 points building, & with a second space it was really sweet to see how much they’ve grown since our visit in 2022 .

🗺️Aaron(co-owner) has brought a lot from his time working with Kalu Yala, an eco-friendly town in Panama, where his coffee journey began. In the 575 acre lot where his village is based in San Miguel right off the Pacora river, he began his roasting journey stove top on a large fire pit. The community is mindful of their energy use & tries to preserve as much as possible. They use repurpose wood that turn into biochar which is then used to help make fertile soil. They sang, danced, and built their community together in a very sustainable way.

♻️I also spoke with Caelan(barista) today. Bringing Aaron’s experience back to his hometown of Minneapolis, Curioso has a very low carbon footprint-almost everything is compostable. They do a lot with Broken Clock Cooperative like open mic/trivia/& boardgame nights bringing people together to enjoy the space and their food/drinks which they source locally. Everything they do aligns with those same values of sustainability & community.

🧠Business Advice from Aaron: soon :)
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🤔FINAL THOUGHTS:
Imagine a big open space where there was a lot of background noise to have your own conversation and enough space in between where the chats can be intimate. Music by Portugal The Man & alt-J, friends catching up over Catan, very friendly staff, and excellent coffee. Inclusive environment & a great place to work. Overall excellent, go check them out!

Also thank you for the free plants!🌿
Today’s Drink: Salted Maple Latte🍁
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26/05/2024

Happy Sunday Coffee Addicts!
We were at the first Yemeni Coffee Shop in MN today!🇾🇪
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THIS WEEK’S WINNER/LOCATION:
Located in the fancy strip off of Little Canada Road & Market Place Drive is !📍

Recommended by: .mcdonald 🗣️
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THE SCOOP:
Today I spoke with Mohamed (Manager) who shared whT they’re about.🫱🏻‍🫲🏼

Hatem Al-Eidaroos & Munif Maweri are the original co-founders. They worked hard to figure out the supply chain for the coffee during the civil war that’s been going on since 2014 and through COVID-19, now franchised in 65 locations nationwide.📈

The St. Paul location opened on May 4th! Qamaria roasts their own beans and sources directly from a family-owned farm in the mountains of Yemen for their top notch coffee. Qamaria’s coffee is brewed with 100% premium Yemeni beans and is offered in Traditional Yemeni, espresso, and pour over. They have a wide variety of cheese cakes, milk cakes, and even honeycomb bread to pair with their huge assortment of tea & coffee.🫘🥮

Qamaria is very much a sit down and sip with your friends. They pride themselves in being a chill hangout spot. The age range was all across the board from kiddos to the elderly, this is a very family friendly space and a great one to catch up over some pastries and tea-the ambiance makes you feel like you’re hanging out with your close ones at home.🏡

From Mohamed to Students: Do a lot of market research. Location is very important. There’s a lot of prep that needs to be done. Keep on trying to perfect things and get them right.🧠
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FINAL THOUGHTS:
Hi, I felt such nostalgia from our trip to Williamsburg. I haven’t had Yemeni coffee since then. LET ME TELL YOU I sat in the booth for 3 1/2 hours sipping on a whole kettle of their Adeni while enjoying the ambiance and learning more about their history. Excellent shop, amazing staff, & fantastic drinks. Go support them!👍🏼👍🏼

Today’s Drinks: Adeni Tea, Mofawar, and Pistachio Latte🫖🫚🥜
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19/05/2024

GooOoOod Afternoon Coffee Addicts!
For all you spooky theme lovers we have THEE spot for you.👻
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THIS WEEK’S WINNER/LOCATION:
They’re formerly known as Irish Blessings. The keys were given to Brandan & Erin (co—owners) on August 31, 2022!

📍Located at 120 Oak Ave N Maple Lake, MN is

Recommended by: 🗣️
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THE SCOOP:
It’s always so refreshing getting out to the suburbs to get coffee, it was a bonus that this place was also a coffeehouse. Imagine you’re 55 minutes west in a small town, somewhat close to the mainstreet and located behind the town’s elementary and high school. Walking in, definitely got an old school vintage feel with lots of knick knacks on the walls, small figurines, and the overall Fall/Halloween decor.🎃

Upstairs felt haunted.. In the best way possible. Things were on theme! The creaky hardwood, lack of music, and small artifacts like the books and music box really created the dreary ambiance.🏚️

I had the pleasure of speaking with Alex, Mia, Johanna (baristas), & messaged with Brandan after the visit. Spookybrew is a very community based coffeehouse. They’ve done many collaborations with food vendors, have had barbecues, wine nights, do markets, have Harry Potter/Star Wars themed weekends, AND have done work to support the veterans and special olympics. It’s no wonder they placed in Minnesota’s best last year! 🧙🏼

Fun Fact: All of those things listed just now all happened from getting feedback from the community!🧠
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FINAL THOUGHTS:
First impression was I’m definitely coming back in the Fall. For a small town Spookybrew sets the bar high, Surprisingly they have a huge selection of coffee, tea, and food. What’s really cool is they try to switch up their specialties on a monthly basis and as icing on the cake they keep all of their recipe cards so if you had an old drink you were in love with, the love will still be there. Strong drinks, fun theme, great mindset!👍🏼

This visit’s Drinks: The Reaper, Blueberry Cobbler Latte, & Ghosts of Thai Tea💀🫐👻
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12/05/2024

GoOood Morning Coffee Addicts!

📍Situated alongside Memorial Park and right behind Pierre Bottineu Library at 34 13th Ave NE, Minneapolis MN, 55413 for visit #231 is !
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📰THE SCOOP🗞️
🗣️Today I had the chance to speak with Emily who gave me a bit more info about the space. SIP is more than just a coffee shop, they have a full on food menu and they specialize in soups. They have two daily soups and special hot sandwiches too. 

🎉They are a part of the Twin Ignition Keg House Building, a place steeped in history with a lot of small businesses.This shop was founded by Rachel & Gretchen and they just had their 20-year anniversary. Rachel has been more focused on the coffee side of things where Gretchen’s focus has been more focused in Straight Line Dance Fitness, a studio space in the same building. . The demographic here is pretty mixed, they have their regulars, many who stop by between their walks and runs, and the occasional straggler. 

🌅The space itself was tucked away, but the area just radiates good energy. Every last person that came in was in a good mood and left in an even better one. The neighbors and staff were very welcoming-that first photo the random customer even wanted to support by being in the post.

🧠SIP Leadership’s Advice: Spread positivity and brighten someone’s day, no reason not to :)
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🤔FINAL THOUGHTS💭
This spot was peaceful. Had a seat by the window today and heard a bunch of french songs like Amarcord by Musettes De Pigalle-later found out Emily’s boss was in France so they were living vicariously. It was a fun people watching spot, lots of happy people and I swear it was contagious. Cozy spot, really friendly neighborhood, and tranquil hidden space!😌

Today’s Drinks: Maple Cardamom Latte & Minty Mocha🍁🌱

09/05/2024

27/04/2024

🫱🏻‍🫲🏼April Market Recap: It’s about the community & supporting the locals-always has been.

🎉Thank you to our pals that were able to make it out, we hope to see you at the next one on May 11th!

📸Photo Credits: .jpeg

10/04/2024

UPCOMING EVENT!!🎉🎉
This Saturday we’re back outside in 55-75 degree weather!!!☀️
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📰THE SCOOP🗞️
Spring Fever can’t hold us anymore, and we’re inviting you to join us at the first outdoor market of the year!!!🗣️
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🤔WHAT TO EXPECT💭
•10 LOCAL vendors set up farmers market style on the patio/lot🧠
•Food from 612 Teppanyaki🍚
•Beer from 🍻
•And COFFEE from ☕️
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👋🏼About Our Product🥳
•Guys we sell a one time buy coffee club card for $50 that saves you 10% on every order at our 9 affiliated shops (including WG) EVERYTIME for the rest of your life!!💰

•25% of all Coffee Club profits go to the charity of your choice between Toys for Tots, NAMI, or National Forests!🙏🏼

•Happy Hour with Wild Grind from 10am-3pm gives 20% off for our coffee club members!!🤯
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🎁BONUS!!💰
•You can find the card in our IG shop BUUUUUT we’re actively encouraging community. In-person purchases at shops/events will save you an ADDITIONAL 20% on your card purchase $50–>$40! :)
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Makes me happy to see this caring community grow.🤝🏼
Can’t wait to see you guys again, 3 days out.🗓️
Love y’all so very much, see you soon!✌🏼