Java junkies now have a place to go in the evening to get their favorite coffee products since Be@ners opened in the T-Rex Plaza. Ted Jafvert, mall manager, opened the coffee house because people requested it.
"I had asked people in the mall when they came walking through what they thought of the idea and a lot of people liked it," Jafvert said.
Fresh-ground coffee, espresso, tea and bottled products are available at the business.
Jafvert is sharing a space with Simply Irresistible. They are unsure of when they will open. Simply Irresistible is owned by Barb and Mike Oppegard and will feature fresh-baked products and a lunch buffet.
Their baked goods complement Jafvert's caffeinated beverages nicely, Jafvert said.
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The Oppegards own other businesses and will continue to keep them running. Their daughter, Amber will help manage Simply Irresistible.
Jafvert has filled the business with décor and furniture that give it a homey feel. There is a seating in front of the store that resembles a patio area and areas inside are set up like a living room and dining room.
"It's a classy looking place, but it's relaxing," Jafvert said. "If you want to come with a friend or something and sit and do schoolwork, you can sit in the front and do schoolwork if you want."
The Oppegards had been thinking about opening a baking business for years, Mike said.
"My wife has been doing baking and we've done minor catering for other people over the years," Mike said.
All of the items to be sold at Simply Irresistible will be homemade by the Oppegards, he added.
"We're not buying stuff from somebody else and then just warming it up or heating it," Mike said. "Everything my wife and I make is from scratch."
They will also take customer's requests for baked items.
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"If you wanted a tomato basil loaf, we would make it. If you wanted a pizza loaf, we would make it," Mike said. "Some of that stuff is going to be seasonal, too."
Their lunch items will all be fresh and made in the store as well.
"It's not like you go into a deli and get some sliced up preprocessed stuff," Mike said. "All of our stuff is slow cooked in broth and those broths are used to make the homemade soups and the gravy."
They will also have different types of homemade sauces and dressings for their sandwiches.
"There will be different types of salads to offer, depending on the season and what's available," Mike said. "As we get going and get into this a little more we're going to also probably offer a supper menu."
Jafvert was also recently appointed to the Advisory Board of Newt Gingrich's Jobs and Prosperity Task Force. Gingrich is the former speaker of the House and the general chairman of American Solutions.
Be@ners is open at 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. daily and Jafvert plans to be open as late as 10 p.m. in the future.
Be@ners and Simply Irresistible are located in the T-Rex Plaza on Third Avenue West.
