Cuppa Joe Espresso Stand on Mellen Avenue in Centralia goes through its morning rush on Wednesday.
Cuppa Joe barista Shawna Richardson, of Chehalis, serves a customer on Wednesday in Centralia. "It's going to be bittersweet," said Richardson of the drive-thru espresso stand on Mellen Street in Centralia having to move locations because of construction on the Mellen Street interchange on I-5.
Kari Andersen, of Chehalis, serves a drive-thru customer at Cuppa Joe on Mellen Street in Centralia on Wednesday morning.
Cuppa Joe is competing for a $250,000 national grant from Chase Bank that would allow the business to build a cafe and drive-through lane in the lot adjacent to their Mellen Street location in Centralia.
The state is forcing the Centralia coffee stand to relocate under eminent domain laws by the end of the year because of the Mellen Street construction project.
Owner Joe Voetberg said the state notified him of the relocation three years ago. He said he has since been in negotiations with the state and is uncertain of when and if they will actually buy him out.
“The eminent domain laws are really not favorable for businesses. There is a lot of money I’ll never be compensated for,” he said.
Voetberg purchased the lot adjacent to his coffee stand and hopes to rebuild his business there once negotiations with the state are complete.
“I’m just going to make the best of it,” he said. “I’ve got some creative, energetic employees.”
Some of his employees found out about a $250,000 grant Chase Bank is offering to small businesses. They made a video to help Cuppa Joe win the national competition.
The business needs at least 250 votes by June 30 to qualify.
“While the grant would be amazing and helpful, Cuppa Joe will still exist,” said Liddy Voetberg, the third of 10 Voetberg children and a barista at the family business. “It’s a bummer that this has to go down but it’s just a reality.”
While the Voetberg family will relocate their business with or without the grant, Liddy said the money would allow them to expand substantially.
The Voetbergs would like to build a cafe with a study area, a conference room, a music stage and a drive through with the funding. The Voetberg Family Band, a music group that features eight of the 10 children playing fiddles, would perform at the proposed shop occasionally. The family also intends to book other music acts.
“If people are excited about it, they should go in and vote,” Liddy said. “If we had that grant it’d be a huge boost for us.”
Joe Voetberg started the business seven years ago after seeing some of his friends run their coffee shops.
“I’ve got a bunch of kids and I’m always looking for opportunities for them,” he said.
Today, three of the Voetberg children and about 15 others work at the family business.
“We really enjoy working with the community we love,” Joe said.
To cast a vote for Cuppa Joe visit www.votecuppajoe.com
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Amy Nile: (360) 807-8235
