The Northwest Wisconsin Business Development Corporation (NWBDC) awarded loan funding to Aryana Buck and Evan Meyer to open Empire Coffee in the historic Empire Building on Tower Avenue in Superior, Wisconsin.
What started as a passion grew into a realistic journey starting in 2016 when Buck and Meyer approached the UW-Superior Small Business Development Center to develop their business plan.
Meyer-Buck Coffee, LLC, d/b/a
Empire Coffee will offer a variety of locally roasted coffee in a brewhouse setting. Pioneering this new concept of a coffee brew-house will offer customers their choice of favorite coffee or espresso (a variety of different flavored roasts ranging from the dark and full roasts to a light and flavorful coffee) from a number of local coffee roasters. All the coffee beans are ground to mix and order, and brewed fresh for the customer.
“Being able to offer a product from so many local sources will make Empire Coffee a one-stop destination for getting a great cup of coffee, no matter what a customer’s perfect cup happens to be,” Meyer said.
“We felt that there were a limited number of places for business professionals, students, and everyday customers to go to obtain quality and affordable coffee that allows a space to study or socialize,” Buck stated. She went on to explain that Empire Coffee will cater to the needs of its customer base by offering a wide variety of freshly ground and brewed local coffee, outstanding customer service, and nutritious breakfast and sandwich options that will maintain repeat business.
“Empire Coffee will take care and pride in the product that fuels the customer,” elaborated Meyer.
Meyer went on to state that the customer base will encompass the working professionals, students and travelers to experience a local blend of coffee. The environment of the coffee shop will invite family, friends, and the venue seeker a place to get away to think and relax with a coffee product that is locally roasted with a rich full flavor, or a light roast for an easy pick-me-up.
The identified location for Empire Coffee is in the historic Empire Building on Tower Avenue. The Empire Building, constructed in 1892 and renovated in 2017, is located only a few blocks from the Tower / Belknap intersection, the busiest intersection in Superior. The renovated building will invite onlookers and nostalgia driven individuals who will enjoy the previous iterations of the building and those who like something new. The city, private companies and public development organizations have focused on intentional cosmetic and structural investment to the existing buildings over several years.
NWBDC funded the startup need for Meyer-Buck Coffee, LLC d/b/a Empire Coffee. This project is expected to create 3 jobs in Superior, Wisconsin, and gives a chance for a visionary entrepreneurial couple to flex their skills and bring a new concept to the Twin Ports. To see if your business would qualify for a startup, transition or expansion loan product at NWRPC, contact loan fund manager
Ken Pearson at (715) 635-2197.