Cedar Perk Coffee Company — Cedar Park

Cedar Perk Coffee Company — Cedar Park

Written by Mandy Hobby Sunday, 07 January 2007

Coffee company a community gathering spot

Whether it is the local women’s book club discussing the latest best seller or the grandpa from Nebraska who has come in every year for nine years when he is in town visiting his children, a conversation is always brewing inside Cedar Perk.

Cedar Perk Coffee Company opened in 1996 in the Commons at Buttercup Creek on US 183. Marilyn Fisher owned the coffee shop for eight years before turning it over to Michael and Shaune Haas in 2003.

“Marilyn wanted to open it because there wasn’t anything here at the time where local folks could go and get a good cup of coffee,” Haas said.

The Haas’ moved to Cedar Park from Iowa the same year Cedar Perk opened because of their jobs in the high-tech industry. However, in 2001, Michael lost his job and spent two years looking for another.

“After going on interviews with 300 other people all applying for the same job with the same resume, he decided he wanted to do something a little less traditional,” Haas said. “He started working for an espresso distribution company and that’s how we started talking to Marilyn about taking over. It wasn’t a real dramatic thing; it was just the right time.”

Over a cup of coffee, Michael and Shaune took over the business.

“We took the opportunity to take over a turn-key operation with a good reputation,” Shaune said. “How bad could that be?”

The shop not only serves coffee including a full espresso bar, it is also offers postal services. They offer catering services, smoothies, bubble teas, frozen hot chocolate, 24 varieties of whole coffee beans, an in-house bakery, free WIFI, sandwiches and soup. They will also begin serving paninis this month.

“What really sets us apart from a place like Starbucks is that we bake all of our food,” Shaune said. “We are locally grown, locally-owned and operated and a community gathering spot.”

Shaune says that she likes to give back to the community that has supported her small business over the years. All of the money raised from the annual 5 Miler and 1K Fun Run, more than $50,000, has gone to city hike and bike trail development, community police initiatives and scholarships for underprivileged youth at the Twin Lakes YMCA.

“My passion is to do whatever I can do to encourage small businesses and help them survive,” Shaune said. “I want to give back to the community that patrons us.”

Not Just a Coffee Shop

Cedar Perk hosts the following:

• 5 Miler and Kids IK Fun Run
  • Fall event for all ages; Proceeds go toward city hike and bike improvements and scholarships
  
• Occasional live music
• Monthly ladies book club
  • Meets first Wednesday of the month at Cedar Perk
• Cooking camp for kids
  • Three week-long summer camps for children ages 6-12

Cedar Perk Coffee Co., 200 Buttercup Creek Blvd., Ste 123, 257-7088 • www.cedarperk.com