The freshly brewed aroma of success is wafting through a new coffeehouse in Granite City thanks to top-notch business expertise provided by the Metro East Small Business Development Center.
Kool Beanz Café, 1316 Niedringhaus Avenue, opened Tuesday, April 15, as a much-needed addition to the city’s new downtown arts and entertainment district. Founder and Granite City native Victoria Arguelles, along with her husband Eduardo and brother David Edrington, had planned this start-up for years. When the team intensified efforts in 2013 to put Arguelles’ childhood dream into action, they called upon the Metro East SBDC.
At no cost to Arguelles, the Metro East SBDC provided extensive one-on-one business services including marketing research, business plan review and expertise on preparing financial documents and loan request. The SBDC’s goal, according to Director Patrick McKeehan, is to provide timely and effectiveassistance to entrepreneurs like Arguelles to increase their chances for success.
“Victoria did the right thing by reaching out to us early in her business planning process,” said McKeehan. “My staff and I were immediately impressed by her focus, determination and cooperation.”
Kool Beanz, open early Monday through Saturday, offers specialty coffees, gourmet teas and fresh baked goods to morning patrons. The Café also features a healthy lunch menu of freshly prepared sandwiches, salads, soups, fruit smoothies and desserts. It reopens Saturday nights from 6 -11 p.m. featuring coffeehouse drinks and live entertainment. Conveniently located within a recently renovated historic building across from the city’s new movie theatre, the Café attracts both music lovers and movie enthusiasts.
In addition to satisfying the needs of avid coffee drinkers and hungry patrons, Kool Beanz has become a gathering place for a weekly seniors group, a women’s Bible study and local business groups. There has even been a few asking about the space for future weddings and baby showers, Arguelles said.
The early success of Kool Beanz is largely due to Arguelles and her start-up enthusiasm. To prove the validity of her business idea, Arguelles spent many weekends test-marketing her coffees at local garage sales and community events. The field experience and customer feedback convinced her to pursue a longstanding passion.
“When I was a little girl, my mom and dad took me to a diner,” Arguelles said. “Ever since that day, I wanted to have my own tea house. This is a dream come true. I am so appreciative of Metro East SBDC staff and their restaurant consultant Tiffany Smith for working very hard to put my business plan into action.
“I came to the Metro East SBDC for a wide range of business expertise. These individuals generously shared their time and talents and worked with me to make sure I was ready. I’m thankful for their honesty and objectivity. They told me what I needed to hear, anticipate and do in order to make this venture successful.”
Arguelles and Kool Beanz Café will continue to receive support from the Metro East SBDC, McKeehan said. “We are committed to helping Victoria fulfill her childhood dream and become a lasting small business success.”
The Metro East SBDC assists start-up ventures as well as existing businesses headquartered in the nine-county Metro East region of Calhoun, Jersey, Madison, Bond, Clinton, St. Clair, Washington, Monroe and Randolph. It is a no-cost service funded, in part, by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in support of the region’s business community.
By aiding entrepreneurs and companies in defining their path to success, the SBDC Network positively impacts the Metro East by strengthening the business community, creating and retaining new jobs and encouraging new investment. It enhances the region’s economic interests by providing one-stop assistance to individuals by means of counseling, training, research and advocacy for new ventures and existing small businesses. When appropriate, the SBDC strives to affiliate its ties to the region to support the goals and objectives of both the SIUE School of Business and the University at large.
To learn how the SBDC can help your small business, contact the Metro East SBDC at (618) 650-2929 or sbdcedw@gmail.com