Welcome to Second Chances Coffee & Pastry Bar!
November 6, 2022 (Published: May 20, 2019)
A big Crimson Cup welcome to Second Chances Coffee & Pastry Bar! The shop at 2312 N Broadway in Poteau, Oklahoma held its grand opening March 5.
“We’re pleased to welcome Owner Terri Wallace and her team to the Crimson Cup community,” said Founder and President Greg Ubert. “It’s a pleasure to help social entrepreneurs like Terri fund their passion to help others by adding a coffee bar to their non-profit operations.”
Terri is the executive director of Second Chances Recovery & Retail Store, Inc. a non-profit organization that assists people struggling with substance abuse.
Adding a coffee and pastry bar to the resale store seemed a logical step for Terri. “I have a passion for creating products that people enjoy,” she said. “I’ve always loved to bake, and love creating things that people like. The coffee bar seemed to fit in well with that vision.”
Terri learned how to open a coffee shop through our 7 Steps to Coffee Startup Success franchise alternative program
“What won me over was the concept of wanting us to succeed,” she said. “Crimson Cup’s program is based on us succeeding. Some other companies make you feel like they just want your money and business and don’t care about how you’re doing. Crimson Cup made me feel confident that they cared about me.”
“I also liked that they’re not a franchise, which gives me flexibility,” she added.
Based on Greg’s book, Seven Steps to Success in the Specialty Coffee Industry, Crimson Cup’s 7 Steps program has helped hundreds of independent coffee shops in 37 states open and stay and business.
Terri said she found the full coffee shop business plan included in the book very helpful as she worked through the logistics of adding a coffee bar to her 14,000-square-foot retail operation.
She also appreciated the support she received from Crimson Cup as she implemented her vision for the coffee and pastry bar. “I love that Crimson Cup is helping me make a product that I can be proud of.”
Terri advises other potential coffee shop owners to focus on hiring good staff. “You have to have people you can count on to work,” she said. “If you don’t have people you can depend on, you’ll end up putting more on yourself.”
Second Chances Coffee and Pastry Bar serves a full menu of hot, iced and frozen espresso drinks – including mochas, lattes and cappuccinos – as well as iced coffee and tea, cold-brewed coffee, hot chocolate, fruit smoothies and other custom drinks. An assortment of fresh baked pies and pastries rounds out the menu.
Terri said local java lovers love the coffee, which is roasted by Crimson Cup. “Quite a few people say that it’s better than another local coffee shop,” she noted. “We also get a lot of compliments on our espresso machine. Quality equipment makes for a quality coffee.” Her favorite drink is the Frozen Cafe Mocha, which blends espresso with chocolate sauce and ice.
Crimson Cup coffee has been judged among the best in the nation. We were named 2016 Macro Roaster of the Year by Roast magazine, the flagship publication of the specialty coffee industry. Our Ethiopian Kossa Kebena coffee won a 2017 Good Food Award and was a finalist for a 2019 Good Food Award. Crimson Cup coffees have also brought home trophies and medals from the America’s Best Espresso competition and Golden Bean North America roasting competitions.