05/25/2026
Over the last few days, after seeing a large outpouring of comments on a social media platform that I’ll leave unnamed, I realized there are probably a lot of misconceptions about who we are as people and what Perkup truly stands for. And honestly, that’s partly on me for not sharing more of our story sooner.
My name is Kari, and I’m the daughter of Perkup Espresso founders Rich and Becky Gerondale. After my parents retired following 20 years of building Perkup from the ground up, I purchased the business from them over five years ago. It has been one of the greatest honors of my life to continue the legacy they started in 2001.
My partner of 16 years, John, and I reside here in Wasilla and are deeply invested in this community. John handles maintenance, project management, problem-solving, and often serves as my unofficial “therapy consultant” behind the scenes. Together, we help oversee seven locations across Palmer, Wasilla and Anchorage and a team of nearly 60 amazing employees. Some days are exhausting, chaotic, emotional, and incredibly challenging — but we truly love what we do and the people we get to do it with.
To our loyal customers who have reached out this past weekend with kind words, encouragement, and support for our baristas and our business — thank you. More than you know. Your messages, comments, and support have meant the world to us and to our team.
And to those who may have had a disappointing experience with us at some point along the way, I genuinely appreciate constructive feedback as well. Running a business at this scale is not easy, and maintaining consistency across seven locations is something we work incredibly hard at every single day. We train constantly, hold high standards, and pour an enormous amount of time into developing our team. I truly believe we have one of the most extensive training programs in our local coffee industry because quality, service, and consistency matter deeply to us.
What I’m most proud of, though, is our people.
I’m proud of the countless early mornings, the effort our baristas put into perfecting their craft, remembering customers’ names, drinks, and even pets, and showing up every day with friendly smiles despite the pressures that come with customer service. Many of our employees are working their first or second jobs while learning how to navigate a fast-paced, high-pressure customer service environment that honestly is not for everyone. They work hard, do their best under sometimes less-than-ideal circumstances — whether that’s being short staffed due to a call out, equipment unexpectedly going down, internet outages, long lines, or the countless other challenges that can happen in a busy drive-thru environment — and they still continue showing up with positive attitudes and willingness to learn.
I believe kindness, patience, and encouragement go a long way in helping young people gain confidence, develop strong work ethic, and learn to truly love what they do. Watching so many of our baristas grow over the years into confident, capable young adults has been one of the most rewarding parts of this business.
If you ever visit one of our locations and feel your experience was less than exceptional — whether it’s a drink issue, pricing concern, or customer service matter — I truly want to know. I can only address what I know about, and details surrounding a transaction, visit, or interaction with a specific barista are incredibly helpful in allowing me to quickly look into concerns and make things right when needed.
My business card is available in every shop because I want customers to be able to contact me directly by phone, text, or email. I will always do my best to listen, learn, and improve wherever we can.
At the end of the day, Perkup has always been about community, connection, hard work, and serving great coffee with H.E.A.R.T. We’re not perfect, but we genuinely care — and we’re incredibly grateful to everyone who continues to support us after all these years. ☕️
— Kari
