Walker Bay Coffee Co. joins the chamber

Walker Bay Coffee Co.

Though they are only 21 and 18, Hannah and Sarah Burns are no strangers to coffee or hard work. They grew up in an entrepreneurial family, and have helped their parents in business for most of their lives. Helping with assisted living homes and six younger siblings has taught them a lot about patience and respect. Multiple missions trips to Honduras and Mexico also helped shape them and their work ethic, love for people of different cultures, and interest in coffee. They have a special connection with the people of Oaxaca, Mexico, where they’ve worked at an orphanage and with local coffee growers. They first visited coffee farms in their mid-teens.

The Burns family has lived in Cass County since 2009, and they spent a summer in Walker a few years ago. Hannah’s and Sarah’s uncle, who lives in the Walker area, is the one who let them know that Walker Bay Coffee Co was for sale. Hannah was in her third year working at a coffee shop, and Sarah was taking business classes as a PSEO student when the text from him came. It sounded like a crazy idea, but not impossible. They talked a lot with their parents, their banker, and a few trusted friends, and decided to go for it. Deb, the coffee shop’s previous owner, was patient and generous with them during the transition. They aimed to preserve all of the wonderful things that their loyal local patrons valued while making it their own.

The community of Walker, both locals, and tourists, have been supportive, patient, and kind. It has been a wonderful experience so far, and successful.