This past week I had the opportunity to visit one of my favorite shops right here in our own back yard. It’s named the Liberty House Café & Creamery in Stillwater, Minnesota. The thing that I like most about this shop is the passion of its owners, Sal & Mary Rosa. Sal is originally from Italy and understands that his business is not just about serving good coffee and gelato, but more importantly, it’s about becoming a part of his community and to become a part of their daily life and culture. It’s about being a place where you can get to know your neighbors, a place where customers are proud to call “their local coffee shop.” It’s about being that place that you will tell your friends and family about and encourage them to visit.
Espresso and Gelato in Italy are an integrated part of daily life. The average Barista is thirty or forty and has been in their position for 10 plus years. It’s more like a career, not just a job! They are very passionate and proud of the products and atmosphere that their shop projects. Sal projects this passion. He understands the heart and soul of the espresso and gelato businesses. Just take a look at his shop’s layout. It has it all! (See photos)
The Liberty House Café & Creamery is a friendly and inviting place. Grab a specialty drink, a bite to eat or a desert, take off your coat, drop your bag, pull up a chair at one of the many tables (inside or outside), or just plop down on one of the oversized leather couches in front of the fireplace. Life here is meant to be slow and enjoyable. There’s even a cozy little corner for the kids, complete with toys for any age. This place is about community.
The aspect that impresses me the most about the décor and layout of Liberty House Café & Creamery is the fact that Sal & his wife designed it all, right down the paint colors and light fixtures. This gives them the advantage of understanding every little operational detail involved in owning and operating a coffee shop or café. It also gives them a deeper respect for everything within their shop. Including the wall plate covers!
Their menu includes Fair-trade Organic coffee (some of it’s the “World Famous” Flamenco Organic brand!), delicious pastries & pies, savory soups, salads and sandwiches (plain or grilled), and their on-site homemade gelato (using Fabbri ingredients). They even have an old fashioned soda fountain serving up mouth watering treats from days gone by. This can all be enjoyed in an atmosphere of hospitality and timeless elegance. Sal & Mary have figured out that just having great coffee or ice cream will not make it alone; you need to enhance/supplement these things with additional items that will draw in a verity of customers. Remember though to stay within the boundaries of what you are attempting to promote your shop or café to be, too much will keep customers away! They have also discovered that although location is very important, your shop’s atmosphere will keep customers coming back more than a good location and beautiful layout. Combine these two points together, and you have a formula for success!
Upper Midwest Gourmet is very proud to be associated with The Liberty House Café & Creamery. We encourage you to stop by and check out their café, or contact Sal & Mary Rosa for suggestions. They are firm believers in creating, maintaining and being part of a larger community of coffee shop café owners and are more than willing to share their secrets for (as long as you don’t want to put a shop next door to them!). You can contact them via phone at 651-430-3708 or by email at libertyhousecafe@msn.com.
Upper Midwest Gourmet is also a firm believer in this larger community and strives to stay on top of our industry. We believe in assisting our customer with long-term success. We also still believe in the American Dream of owning your own business. We are here to assist you, please do not hesitate to contact us for any matter relating to the industry. We can get a little sick of talking to each other all the time and do enjoy a fresh face.
Both Michael, our other sales manager, and I frequently travel and would love to stop by your shop or café to chat. We’d love to share your stories with our community of coffee lovers. Also, if you would like some ideas on how to market you shop or concept, give us a call, we can share some ideas and success stories from other café’s that are successful.
One last plug for the Liberty House Café & Creamery. NBC, Kare 11 stopped by a few weeks back and had a great time with Sal & Mary discussing their café. This interview will air on Kare 11′s “Morning Show” on Monday, October 23rd. The teaser is at 9:30 am and the full interview should air around 10:00 am. If you are reading this past that date, go to Kare 11′s web site, you can watch the clip from there.
A special thanks to Sal & Mary for their willingness to share their café with us and this site. I really encourage you to see their place. It is indeed inspiring!
Remember, your passion is what started your shop, never lose sight or hold of it! It’s the driving force that will ensure your success!
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Gloria started out the way most of us do by purchasing most of her food prepared or ready to serve. She was also using a lot of food items that she could combine to make edibles, i.e. condiments and baked goods. After being unsatisfied with the quality and health aspects of these food items, Gloria did the unthinkable! She decided to make and offer as many as possible items that are either home made by her or by others in the industry that use all natural ingredients. Therefore, her café is now offering a complete line of healthy and natural foods. She even makes the soups from scratch! Although this may take more time and effort, Gloria is happy to report that her customers absolutely love her food menu, as was apparent during my visit.
