09/19/2024
2008 I moved home from college to take care of my father who was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. My brothers had started a band while I was away and with my family’s encouragement they were starting their journey as a musical force in the small town of Riverton. There was a coffee shop called “The Coffee Shop” that served as an oasis in a desert filled with people who don’t drink coffee. It was a breathe of fresh air for someone who needed to feel normal in sort of an abnormal place.
I joined the band as soon as the members of the current lineup had graduated high school and we would spend every Friday night playing open mic at “The Coffee Shop”. Eventually, the manager Mike (soon to be owner) would offer his help as a band manager for us while we booked shows.
Mike, to me, is considered family. He was in the room with us while my father was in hospice and has served as a backdrop of love and support ever since we’ve crossed paths.
When I met Steve and May they were just beginning their coffee journey and it was so refreshing to have a couple who could not only hang but could go down the rabbit hole with endless conversation. I was lucky enough to have lived in a house in their neighborhood for awhile as we got to spend a lot of time taking our dogs on walks and going on adventures. They both became my ride or dies pretty quick.
After a series of life events happened I found myself back in college and working for Steve and May. May would joke around with me about selling me The Coffee Shop and I didn’t believe her at first. They built a beautiful coffee shop and created an oasis for this community. They were continuing the process of expanding and renovating and making sure the people in Raleigh Hills had a place to be. It was hard for me to take them serious about leaving when they were putting so much effort into making this a better coffee shop but Mexico was calling and they decided it was time.
When I called Mike, my original intention was to find mentorship with the process of taking over a coffee shop. He knew I wasn’t going to ask him for money so he offered. And now “ The Coffee Shop” is able to continue on because of “The Coffee Shop”.
