Today we’d like to introduce you to Tim Coonan.
Tim, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
You could simply say that Big Shoulders Coffee started in my garage 10 years ago and you’d be correct but it is really the sum of all my experiences to this point. From small-town Indiana beginnings to a cross-country bicycle trip, to working in high-level European kitchens, to New York, to create a home in Chicago. Big Shoulders is really a story of curiosity, evolution, and determination.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Hah! of course not. I used to think we were always one poor decision away from locking the door. Now it’s probably closer to 20 or 30. I think it’s important to have those demons chasing you. As an entrepreneur that is one of the things that keeps you on your toes. Someone is always on your heels gunning for you. There are days when I feel like everyone is working against me. It’s always personal, it has to be because I care. I care about our product, our employees, our guests.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
At Big Shoulders Coffee, we roast and serve coffee. It’s a pretty simple concept on paper. However, there’s a lot of purpose-filled thought that goes into all aspects of actions. We distribute coffee for other businesses to brew. We serve traditional coffee drinks in our cafes. We’re known for working toward a culture of service… to each other and to our guests.
Our culture is what sets us apart. From the time it came into being we knew Big Shoulders Coffee needed to be different. The values that we built Big Shoulders on had to be more than words on a page. They needed to be the heart of what we do and a visible expression of who we are. For this reason, we were determined to build not just a company, but a culture.
What were you like growing up?
I was and am still a cloud-watcher. Curious, mystified, spellbound. It helped me foster my observational skills. Being present and paying attention. I was also cursed with a type A personality. So it may seem a contradiction, but I drive hard.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1105 W. Chicago Avenue (West Town)
213 W. Lake Street (Loop)
858 N. State Street (Gold Coast) - Website: bigshoulderscoffee.com
- Phone: 312-846-1883
- Email: information@bigshoulderscoffee.com
- Instagram: @bigshoulderscoffee
- Facebook: Big Shoulders Coffee
- Twitter: @bigshoulderscw
Image Credit:
Emily Lazlo
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