By: Deborah Johnson Wood
Later this month, Mainstreet Beanery opens its doors as the first traditional coffee shop in downtown Zeeland since August. And yet, because the new shop is part of, sort of, Don’s Flowers next door, it’s not really that traditional.
“I have considered the ‘flower shop with attached coffee shop model’ for some time now, but never wanted to detract from the existing coffee business in town,” says Doug Vos, owner of Don's Flowers, in a prepared statement. “The closing of Sweet Bean Café [last August] came as a shock to everyone, and although I never would have wished harm on the business, it did open a door for us to pursue the expansion of our business.”
The ideal location for the coffee shop was 209 East Main, a building that shares a wall with the flower shop. But Site Works Solutions occupied the building. Site Works, Vos and building owner Kiekover Scholma & Schumaker, PC worked together to relocate Site Works one building west.
Now the shared wall is open to the flower shop and Mainstreet Beanery will open mid-January. The shop will offer espresso, lattés, capuccino, muffins, bagels and soups.
Vos and his wife, Ginny, are partners in the business with Scott and Jennifer Ludema. Jennifer attended Holland-based Midwest Barista School and will be the general manager.
“It’s exciting that a long-term anchor business is taking the initiative to expand and reinvest in the community,” says Abby DeRoo, City of Zeeland marketing director. “Doug saw the opportunity and decided to venture out. We don’t want to duplicate anything we have downtown already, and this will provide a variety of offerings for different people.”
Source: Abby DeRoo, City of Zeeland
Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected].
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