Local friends turn creative vision into new Downtown coffee spot
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV)-- A coffee shop, which started as a lunch conversation between two friends, is set to open in Downtown St. Joseph on Feb. 14.
Co-owner Elizabeth Generaux said the plan came together during one of her regular lunch conversations with her friend and the other co-owner, Maggie Johnson.
After reaching out to several locations, the pair ended up setting up their first shop, Mooney's Coffee, at Savannah High School.
Both Generaux and Johnson will open their new location at 510 Edmond St. in Downtown St. Joseph.
Generaux said they’ve always been involved in community-based activities, like doing henna tattoos and wanted to try something new, which ultimately led them to coffee.
“We knew this location was in our budget and we think it's really charming and like the way it looks. We haven’t really explored the community Downtown and we like the neighborhood, so we wanted to build a vibe here,” Generaux said.
Connecting with the community was another major reason for the pair to open up the new shop. Generaux said they’re excited to meet people, have conversations and learn more about the lives of those who stop by.
However, getting everything ready hasn’t been without challenges. Generaux mentioned that finding people to help set up has been difficult due to scheduling conflicts, but they’ve received a lot of support from friends and family.
“We are definitely going to need more help when we open up. We had people reach out to interview for barista, but we may have to see what it looks like when we officially open up,” Generaux added.
For Johnson, being part of this new venture felt like a natural fit. She said both she and Generaux are creative people, and this café gives them an outlet to express creativity while connecting with the community.
Johnson admitted she wasn’t always a big coffee fan, but working in the shop has changed her mind.
“I just always thought that coffee didn’t taste that good, but I enjoy the process of testing out the new flavors, and we will make a lot of teas and chai here too for those who don’t like coffee,” Johnson said.
She hopes the shop will become a welcoming space where people can relax, enjoy music and support other local small businesses.
The duo plans to experiment with unique recipes and encourage customers to try something new.
“We make our own syrups, so we get to make the recipes and everything else homemade for our lattes and coffees. We want to do a lot of cereal milk lattes that people don’t normally do,” Johnson said.
Both Genereux and Johnson are excited to open their doors and create a space where everyone feels welcome — a place that can brighten someone’s day, one cup at a time.
