This week marks National Small Business Week, which serves as an opportunity to celebrate the hardworking and passionate entrepreneurs that make our communities so much more vibrant. Lake Country is filled with dozens of outstanding small businesses who enrich and diversify the area. You don’t have to look much farther than downtown Hartland to find several great examples, but Birch & Banyan Coffee has certainly made a name for itself. This can’t miss cafe is filled with charm and cheer thanks to the determination of its owner, Jessie.
“This has been my dream since I was a teenager,” says Jessie, who is clearly at home inside of Birch & Banyan. She knows the name of nearly every customer that comes in the door and is always eager to jump up and answer the phone, chat with guests, and lend a hand behind the counter. She first started working in coffee shops at the age of 15, at a now-closed coffee house in Delafield. This gave her the experience and excitement that would inspire her entrepreneurial aspirations.
After several years of working in a more corporate atmosphere, she became frustrated and decided to revisit her teenage dream of owning a coffee shop. Going out on a limb was a difficult decision, but as a confident young woman, she was willing to take the risk. Jessie patiently waited for the perfect location- she was determined to own whichever building she would operate the shop out of. Her patience paid off, and she found the perfect spot on Capitol Drive in Hartland. 8 years ago Birch & Banyan opened its doors, and its been a local favorite ever since.
“Before this, I never felt like I was doing the right job, but now I know that this is exactly where I’m meant to be,” says Jessie. When she first opened, it accidentally became a family business, as her mom spent extra time helping out at the shop when necessary. However, in the past few years, the staff has grown tremendously, with an excellent team of 14 people who all help make the cafe feel noticeably special. The atmosphere feels like a second home, where baristas know their regulars’ orders as soon as they walk in the door. Everyone who enters immediately feels like they are part of Birch & Banyan’s family.
“I never wanted to be a giant company like Starbucks, I just wanted to be engrained in this community,” says Jessie. The cafe is a bold reflection of her bubbly, energetic personality. Jessie is constantly working on improving her store so that it can serve the community in the best possible way. Recently, she started roasting her own beans. This serves as a new way for her to thoughtfully expand, as she looks forward to making unique blends for other local businesses.
It is easy to get caught up in the cozy, chic atmosphere of Birch & Banyan. The customers seem to feel the same way, as Jessie has put an emphasis on making her business a place filled with comfort and fellowship. Perhaps best of all is how this coffee shop has brought Jessie so much joy, as she happily states “It’s made me who I am”.
