2 weeks Ago By Sara Guymon
WABASHA, Minn. — After years of getting their coffee at the gas station, residents of Wabasha can finally get a cup of joe at a local coffee shop instead. Longtime small business owner Anna Meurer bought and moved into the old American Legion space.
Before Old Legion Coffee Co., Meurer and her husband started a boutique seven years ago, 5th Grant Boutique, that they had planned to move into after renovations. However, people kept suggesting a coffee shop and they decided to give it a try.
ADVERTISEMENT “I couldn't go anywhere without people stopping me and be like, ‘when is the coffee shop opening? Are you really opening? I heard you're opening a coffee shop. Is that true?’” Meurer said. “That's really what kept us going because we had to remodel this place and it took a lot of time and energy.
” The store looks drastically different from the old Legion. They completely redid the floors, uncovered stairs to the upper level and remodeled both levels. They haven’t quite finished upstairs, but it’s a work in progress.
“We didn't have time for one side upstairs yet,” Meurer said. “There are five rooms up there that look like the early 1900s with the wallpaper. So that's going to take us a little bit.
” The upstairs will be home to a second boutique. Grandpa’s Barn was opened several years ago by her husband’s family and it was mostly all handmade vendors in an old barn. The Chamber of Commerce eventually took it over before it closed during the pandemic.
The couple is excited to bring Grandpa’s Barn back, while 5th Grant Boutique occupies the main floor space with the coffee shop. 5th Grant Boutique was originally opened outside of the city and has had a various pop-up locations over time. The Old Legion Coffee Co.
has only been serving coffee since Oct. 23, 2024, but business has been crazy. Meurer and her husband have never worked in the food industry, so it’s been a learning curve.
They had someone from Duluth Coffee come and teach them and their staff everything they needed to know before opening. “The good part about the teacher was that he taught us some of the back story, which was super helpful to just know the different kinds of coffee and why you're making it the way you're making it,” Meurer said. “The history behind all that was really helpful.
” ADVERTISEMENT Meurer wasn’t a coffee connoisseur before this. She didn’t understand why someone would roast their own beans before opening a coffee shop, but she quickly after Duluth Coffee sent her samples. There's more flavor with the coffee bean versus the pre-ground beans she was drinking, she said.
In addition to learning the basics of coffee, Meurer also had to learn the basics of the industry. “The biggest learning curve is supplies, like running out of cups, running out of milk, running out of syrups,” Meurer said. “I had no idea.
I couldn't even guesstimate how fast we were going to go through some of the stuff that we've gone through. I bet we've gone through 30 gallons of milk (in three days.)” Meurer has relied on her community for support since she cannot make it to Rochester or the cities to buy in bulk.
Both she and her husband work full-time jobs in addition to the stores so it’s vital for them to rely on the local grocery store and gas station in town when there isn’t time to drive 45 minutes to Rochester. The business owners in town also lean on each other for support and Meurer has been grateful for the advice and tips she’s received. “We really rely on the National Eagle Center.
They have been great about sending people our way,” Meurer said. “Even yesterday, across the street is Silver Star (Salon and Grill), and they're like, ‘since you guys opened, we've averaged an extra $500 a day and we don't know if it's because the streets open now or if it's because you guys are open.’ We're helping with the businesses, too.
We all want to work together and help each other.” Old Legion Coffee Co. is serving Duluth Coffee and bakery goods from Alma’s Bakery for now, but things will continue to change as they figure out what works for them and the community.
ADVERTISEMENT Old Legion Coffee Co. 155 Pembroke Ave., Wabasha, MN 55981 651-316-0258 www.
facebook.com/profile.
