A quest for coffee sparks a business idea
Since moving into the northwest Olathe area in early 2008, Nicole and Braedon Cagle haven’t been able to get their daily coffeehouse fix nearby.
“We found ourselves traveling outside our neighborhood looking for something that’s not a chain, more individual, locally owned and local fresh products as well,” said Nicole Cagle.
The couple considered opening a coffee shop themselves, even updating a coffee house business plan that Nicole did while earning a degree in business administration and business management from Baker University. First they did market research, including social media surveys that targeted area residents on where they would like a coffee shop and what they would like it to carry.
Then, in late-September, they opened Pour Coffeehouse at 11120 S. Lone Elm Road. It is surrounded by several schools including Olathe Northwest High School, but also has a sedate view of a soybean field to the west through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Pour Coffeehouse sells direct-trade coffee that is locally roasted including drip, French press and slow bar, as well as espresso, lattes, hot tea, iced tea, iced lattes, Granita di Caffe, juice, smoothies, and hot chocolate. they also sell such items as pastries, quiche, cookies, gluten-free french macarons and gluten-free donuts.
There’s a small retail area is for candles, soap, and Christopher Elbow Artisanal Chocolates, as well as coffee beans from local roasters.
Nicole Cagle said the decor — marble top tables next to a top made of reclaimed barn wood, a cement floor, vintage-styled and modern decorative lighting and striped awnings — is an “eclectic mix of everything I love but also very timeless.”
“I guess I feel like I really expressed myself in every detail of the shop,” she said.
New Leawood fitness studio
The Body Lab will open its first area fitness studio in Leawood’s Town Center Crossing.
The company, which has two locations in the Phoenix area, is taking a 1,700-square-foot space at 4217 W. 119th St. for a scheduled Nov. 17 opening.
The Body Lab fitness program is a mix of Pilates, cardio and strength training in a “low-impact, results-driven 50-minute workout.”
It is founded on the fitness approach of Sebastien Lagree — resistance and counter-resistance allowing for periods of zero gravity at peak muscle contraction. The Body Lab trainers are Lagree Fitness certified.
The central piece to The Body Lab workout is the Megaformer, an all-in-one machine that works both upper and lower-body muscles. The Leawood studio will have a dozen Megaformer machines.
Coming soon
▪ Ginger Sue’s is opening its third area cafe with more planned in the area.
The locally owned breakfast and lunch operation plans an early 2015 opening in the Shops of Avignon, 14178 W. 119th St., Olathe.
“We want to grow our business thoughtfully. Whenever we grow we are creating new jobs within the company and we want to have the right ideas and people in place before we go forward,” said Ginger Fuller, who owns the restaurants with husband, David Bradley.
They opened their first restaurant in downtown Liberty in 2007 and added a Lee’s Summit restaurant in 2012.
The cafes serve such items as specialty coffees, smoothies, breakfast scrambles, omelets, pancakes, biscuits and gravy, crab or salmon Benedict, Cajun crepes, breakfast burritos, entree salads, fish-and-chips, country fried steak, meat loaf and a variety of sandwiches.
▪ Hobby Lobby, a chain of arts and crafts stores, wants to take the former 63,000-square-foot Hy-Vee space in the Quivira 95 Shops at 11552 W. 95th St., Overland Park.
To reach Joyce Smith, call 816-234-4692 or send email to jsmith@kcstar.com. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter at JoyceKC
This story was originally published November 4, 2014 at 2:56 PM with the headline "A quest for coffee sparks a business idea."