PRAIRIE GROVE -- The building that once housed a place to get gas in the 1930s now houses a place to get a cup of coffee.
Magnolia Coffee House is named after the old Magnolia Gas Station in Prairie Grove and is owned by Richard and Deidre Mays of Hogeye. It is their first time to own a business but Deidre has coffee experience and her husband works in construction.
Grand Opening
10 a.m., Saturday, March 10
Live music, door prizes, samples
The coffee house is located in the Prairie Grove Event Center at 151 E. Buchanan St. The city's police department, district court and other offices used to be in this building and the coffee shop is in the area that once housed the police department.
Deidre was looking for something to invest in when she saw a post on the Facebook page for Prairie Grove Event Center. Rick Ault, owner of the center, threw out the idea for someone to open a coffee shop in the building.
"So we just went for it," Deidre said.
Richard put his construction skills to work and built a beautiful wooden counter, a wood sign for the menu and other items for the shop. They purchased equipment, including espresso and coffee grinders and an espresso machine, and Deidre began research and visiting other coffee shops to figure out what they wanted to serve.
The shop opened about four months ago and business has been great, Deidre said.
"It's been incredible," she added. "This is really a supportive town and a good place to open a business."
Magnolia Coffee House has about 50 different options of hot and cold drinks. One of the most popular ones is Caramel Macchiato. Smoothies, lattes and frappuccinos are popular drinks also.
The shop is buying and serving pastries from Fat Rolls bakery down the street in Prairie Grove and is looking at possible food items to sell in the future. One certainty, Deidre said, is that the shop will have a machine for soft-serve ice cream.
Other plans are to open a Mobile Magnolia food truck to use at fundraisers and events.
Deidre said she is already seeing regular customers. The drive-through is popular in the morning. Other customers are moms with their kids, people meeting for business and those who have been shopping downtown.
The shop offers free Onxy coffee, Deidre said. The coffee is roasted on Monday and Deidre buys it on Tuesday for the week. The next Tuesday anything left over is thrown away.
"So what you get is fresh," she noted.
Magnolia Coffee House has partnered on some giveaways, fundraisers and specials with other downtown Prairie Grove businesses and said she is looking forward to other ways the local stores can support each other.
Business on 03/07/2018