Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Riddle and Katy Weseman.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
We (Sarah Riddle and Katy Weseman) had been dreaming of a concept like Ridman’s for many years. This dream became a reality on October 4, 2017, when we opened the doors of Ridman’s Coffee at the corner of Clark St. and Lawrence Ave. Ridman’s is a small, locally owned and operated specialty coffee shop.
Sarah: “Katy and I have been together for 12 years, married for 6, and are now partners in business too! In founding Ridman’s we combined our experience in specialty coffee and community building to open a shop in a neighborhood we have been connected to for years. Originally from Tennessee, I moved to Chicago 15 years ago and started working in the coffee industry here immediately.
I was initially trained as a barista and store manager at Intelligentsia Coffee and Tea and went on to train award-winning baristas there. Most recently I worked at SteamVolt, a craft coffee machine repair company, where I gained a deeper knowledge of the inner workings of coffee and espresso equipment. My first apartment in Chicago was around the corner from where Ridman’s now sits.”
Katy: “I grew up in Chicago, just a couple of miles from Ridman’s, and currently work in higher education with a focus on student development. Creating spaces for people to come together, share ideas, and build community is central to my work in higher education and our vision for Ridman’s.
The name Ridman’s comes from a combination of mine and Sarah’s last names. Our philosophy ‘Chicago Quality, Southern Hospitality’ highlights our commitment to offering a quality product in a warm and inviting environment.”
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Katy: “Having only been open for 3 months, Ridman’s is still in its infancy. The months leading up to and following opening have been full of joy, fear, challenges, successes, and lots of caffeine. Like parents of newborns, we are still very excited about what the upcoming months and years hold!”
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Ridman’s Coffee – what should we know?
Sarah: “At Ridman’s we strive to create a welcoming environment for people of all backgrounds. We never want people to think they don’t know enough about coffee to come in and have a good cup and a good experience. I love sharing my knowledge about coffee and tea and invite customers to ask questions and describe what they are looking for in a drink so that we can serve them best.
Our menu is not overly complicated and that is intentional. We use beans from local Chicago roaster Dark Matter Coffee. We offer a full range of coffee drinks, including espresso, cappuccinos, lattes, and mochas. One of our most popular items is Dark Matter’s Chocolate City iced coffee, available on draft. Our signature drink, the Sippy Cup, is also a must-taste, Katy and I developed it ourselves. The Sippy Cup features a blend of coconut and cashew milk, maple syrup, ginger, and espresso.
For tea-lovers, we also carry a robust list of loose leaf teas from Rishi, a company based in Milwaukee. For food, we offer fresh pastries daily from Hewn Bakery in Evanston and gluten-free and vegan treats from DeFloured in Andersonville. We pride ourselves on building personal connections with our customers and community through coffee.”
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Sarah: “Kindness and honesty are at the core of mine and Katy’s personal relationship and are the foundation on which Ridman’s is built. It may sound simple, but our ability to be nice to people when they walk in our door is the most important characteristic when we talk about our success. Kindness is contagious and we believe in planting those seeds through positive interactions with our customers.”
Contact Info:
- Address: 4758 N. Clark St. Chicago, IL 60640
- Website: https://www.ridmanscoffee.com/
- Phone: 773-293-6033
- Email: ridmanscoffee@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ridmanscoffee/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ridmanscoffee/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Ridmanscoffee
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/ridmans-coffee-chicago
Image Credit:
Julia Thiel
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