Coffee shops have always been one of my favorite places to spend my time. The sounds of a steamer making bubbly foam, the smell of espresso shots making their way into a warm latte. The cozy couches and rugs on the floor, and local art that lines the walls. Each one has its own story. Ridgelands in Winona has a pretty good one. In under a year, a completely new business became a hub of the community. It has brought together stressed college students writing their final papers and Winona natives blissfully enjoying the morning paper with a scone, first dates and business meetings. Very few places attract this range of individuals, but Rideglands does.
Photo Credit: Visit Winona
For a brief time, I got the opportunity to work at Ridgelands when it first opened and I could tell right away the owner, Amber, had something special. We got detailed training on how to pull the perfect shot of espresso, why its so important to have local ingredients, and how to provide not only a pleasant customer experience, but a memorable one. I made friends and built relationships from my time working there that I could not have gotten anywhere else.
Photo Credit: Visit Winona
Even though I’m not a team member any more, you can find me there just as often. I love catching up on work, meeting with a old friend, or stopping in to grab a large chai before my day begins. Ridgelands has become a very special place to me, which is why it broke my heart to see the building in flames early Tuesday morning. No one is deserving of such a tragedy. I know that the coffee house I have come to know and love can bounce back stronger than ever, because the community, and myself, will be rallying behind it.
