Coffee business generates positive buzz | News, sports, jobs

Waldo attended North Dakota State University in Fargo while also managing Moxy Java. While working there, she fell in love with coffee in general and the impact coffee shops have on their communities.

“I fell in love with the customer relationships and looked forward to coming to work every day.” Waldo said.

At that point, she had no idea that owning her own coffee shop would be something she could make a living from.

After she and her husband moved back to Williston and had their first child, she decided she wanted to be her own boss and still have the ability to live her life the way she wanted. When choosing the type of business she would open, she narrowed it down to her two options: a coffee house or a daycare.

Minot Meg-A-Latte manager Regan Strauss stands in the Minot store. She moved from Williston to Minot to oversee her store when it opened in November.

When I asked my husband's opinion on this matter, he said that owning a coffee house would be a better option. She already understands the basics of how to run a coffee house from her experience working at Moxie Java, which gave her a starting point.

It was also the beginning of the oil boom, and there were no sit-down coffee shops in Williston. Waldo wanted to change that.

“What Williston really needed for our community was to have a place to gather.” she said. “So many people came through town and they didn't have a home. They didn't have a living room to sit in, so it was great to be able to create a living room-like atmosphere. is.”

She eventually opened three Meg-a-Latte locations in Williston. For the past 10 years, Waldo has been looking to expand into surrounding towns. “What do you offer? [they] Offered in various communities. ” She took action in 2021 after receiving a call from an insurance agent about an opportunity for a building to become available in Watford City.

For about seven years, Meg-A-Latte has had a booth at the North Dakota State Fair every summer. Participating in such large-scale events has allowed her to build her customer base in Minot and the surrounding area. Several people who have ordered from Waldo's have asked her when and if she will open a store in Minot for year-round enjoyment.

The Minot store opened in North Hill, but Wald said the North Hill area is largely residential and may not be a good option for some businessmen. As a service to her community, she decided to move forward with acquiring and renovating the space.

When the store first opened, “I’m really busy.” There were several people in line inside the store and at the drive-thru. Once the initial novelty wore off, things tapered off. Once stores added his DoorDash to the mix, local store performance picked up. The store also added online pickup and delivery orders, helping to further expand its business.

Despite the hectic and insanely busy days, store manager Regan Strauss and her team manage to keep things on track.

“We're a very close-knit group, and I feel like if one of us starts to feel overwhelmed, there's always someone there to say, 'It's okay, it's going to be okay.'” Strauss said. “I think we have a great team and I think more than anything we're just going to push through. We don't want to get too nervous or stressed about getting back to business and everything else. I'm excited about the new challenges that come with it.”

All five Meg-A-Latte locations are located in completely different spaces, so no two look exactly alike.each has its own “flow” Despite the decor, it still has a homey feel.

Of all its locations, Meg-A-Latte currently has 108 employees.

The food menu at each store is also different. Two of the coffeehouses are not large enough to have adequate facilities for handling groceries, so their menu offerings are limited.

However, a drink that can be made in one place can be made anywhere.

Each store has its own store manager, and Strauss has been there for about four and a half years since the original store in Williston.

Mr. Strauss told Mr. Wald that he was interested in the store manager position in Minot. Mr. Strauss was in Minot with Mr. Wald during the 2023 State Fair, and together they looked at potential locations for the store.

General Manager Alexandria Johnson oversees all stores. She frequently travels to different locations to ensure that they have the products they need to serve the community and that things are running smoothly. She also spends a lot of time on the phone when the weather doesn't permit or when the store manager has something urgent to attend to.

Her overarching goal is ultimately to give shop managers the tools they need to succeed, but she also isn't afraid to be the backbone of the team and guide them in the direction they want to go. said.

“The biggest thing that has always been a priority for me is to make sure that I'm available for any type of resources that a shop manager might need, regardless of what city they live in. .” Mr. Johnson said.

At least once a quarter, store managers meet to discuss business progress, bounce ideas off each other, and strengthen team bonds. During the conference, the floor is open to everyone and you can share anything that may be weighing you down and get the support you need.

As of late February, Waldo had no firm plans to open another store. Rather, she prefers to choose her own space according to her senses. She would like to further spread her love of coffee and share it with others, but the time is not yet.

“[Wold] We've always focused on our community, whether it's our employees or our customers. ” Mr. Johnson said. “She always wanted to be in a community where she could have a positive impact.”