Community Corner
Orono Woman takes the Helm of New Minnetonka Coffee House
Creekside Coffee opened in the old Dunn Bros Coffee location of Minnetonka Mills in mid-August.
From their daily fresh-roasted coffee to the Sebastian Joe’s ice cream their customers are raving about, the folks at Creekside Coffee have been busy brewing a thriving business in Minnetonka since mid-August.
“We aren’t like the chain coffee shops,” said Stacy Shuman, general manager of Creekside. “We can be infinitely more responsive to our customers, and we are driven to make this a great experience for customers and fun for our staff.”
Shuman, of Orono, runs Creekside Coffee in Minnetonka Mills at 12934 Minnetonka Blvd. It is owned by local entrepreneur, Hal Cottle. Thewhich closed its doors in April due to the end of a lease after being housed at that location for 15 years.
Dunn Bros recently reopened at their new Shady Oak Road location in Suburban Square Center of Hopkins.
“As long as there is coffee served at this location, I’m happy,” said Jen Olson of Minnetonka. “I’ve been coming [to Dunn Bros Coffee] for years, but it’s nice to try something new.”
Shuman, who previously managed Adele’s Frozen Custard, shared that it is difficult for any business to open in this tough economy. “If you can get past all the hurdles, there are many great people eager to work today,” said Shuman. “In this economy, we focus on today. But, of course, we know we will be successful.”
Creekside Coffee offers daily roasted coffee, organic tea, a variety of espresso drinks, including an Almond Joy Latte and Caramel Salt Latte. They also serve in-house made yogurt parfaits, made-to-order hot breakfast, gourmet lunch sandwiches, locally-baked goods, and, of course, Sebastian Joe’s Ice Cream.
Shuman said the most difficult part about opening a business was building relationships and considering every single detail.
“Construction requires teamwork, patience and lots of help from a cast of thousands,” said Shuman. “This is a great location. We have lived and worked in the area our whole lives. We grew up near here, and Minnetonka is an amazing community.”