Customers can expect to find more than coffee brews at the new Beaver Brew Cafe.
The new coffee shop, located in Beaver Ridge Plaza across from Minot State University, also sells iced and blended drinks and smoothies and some of the best cookies from Cookies 4 U and cinnamon rolls from B&D Market around, said assistant manager Jordon Lakoduk.
The shop opened two and a half weeks ago and is in existence thanks to a $1 million donation in 2010 by Clint Severson that established the Clint Severson Entrepreneurship Academy at Minot State University.
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Andrea Johnson/MDN • The Beaver Brew Cafe opened two and a half weeks ago and is located in Beaver Ridge Plaza.
Lakoduk, who will be a senior this fall at Minot State, said the coffee shop will serve as a learning lab for students at Minot State and is run by the university's entrepreneurship club. The shop is owned through the Minot State University Foundation. Proceeds from the coffee shop will be pumped back into the Clint Severson Entrepreneurship Academy.
Ever since last spring students were involved in getting the coffee shop up and operating, said Lakoduk. They worked with architects and contractors and vendors and planned the layout of the business. An architect from Fargo, Helenske Design Group, donated services and drew up a blueprint for the students. Many local vendors are also on display at the coffee shop. The coffee on sale at the coffee shop is roasted by Mojo Roast from Westhope. The coffee shop will also be selling items from Minot State. A stuffed version of the university's mascot, the beaver, will be on sale at the shop.
Lakoduk said students have further plans for the operation of the shop. A big screen TV in the corner will serve as a modern day jukebox at certain times of the day and customers will also be able to request certain YouTube videos appear on the screen.
Lakoduk said other changes might be made based on customer requests and ideas that students come up with.
The walls of the coffee shop are bare for now but will feature art by Minot State students when school resumes in the fall. Some of the art will be on sale, he said.
About 10 people are currently employed at the coffee shop and Lakoduk said they are looking for a manager. More students will likely be employed when classes resume at the end of August.
Chuck Barney, the entrepreneurship club's adviser, said the market research the students did showed that a town can easily support one coffee shop for every 10,000 people living in a community. Minot easily has room to support the coffee shop. Lakoduk said they hope to draw customers from Minot State but also elsewhere in the community. So far business is going well, said Lakoduk.
Hours of operation are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. seven days a week. When classes resume at Minot State, the hours will be expanded to 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days per week. A grand opening for the restaurant is planned for Sept. 3, said Lakoduk. Severson and his wife, Conni Ahart, are scheduled to return for the grand opening.