Kool Beans Coffee and Roasterie is busier than ever after moving to 225 Main Ave. and partnering with Mosaic Wine Bar.

The coffee shop moved a half-block south in downtown Brookings, from 314 Main Ave. to where the previous “TRENDZ” store was located on the corner of Main and Third Street. They officially opened the new place Oct. 1. 

“We enjoyed where we were. It was nice to have that spot four years ago because we got to build it out the way we wanted to,” said Kurt Osborne, owner of Kool Beans. “But having the opportunity to be in the oldest building on Main and having Main Avenue visibility vs. back-alley visibility is a game-changer for us.” 

Darla Van Kooten, a regular at Kool Beans, said: “I love the new location. I think they have more sitting room, and it’s overall easier to get to.” 

Van Kooten said she is likely to recommend Kool Beans to her friends. 

One reason they moved was to have all of their roasting in one building, Osborne said. Previously, they had to roast in multiple places, including his garage, because of the limited space. Kool Beans roasts for 11 other coffee shops, along with other businesses and churches, so being able to have four roasters in one building is ideal. 

“Another important reason was to be able to partner with Mosaic Wine Bar,” Osborne said. “The owner of that (business) was our former manager. She worked for us for four years. So, that was a really integral part of the conversation about moving.” 

Moving locations was not an easy process, said Kool Beans manager Rachel Ely, but between the Brookings Moving Co., the electricians and plumbers, she felt like everyone pitched in to help the move go smoothly. Since the new building wasn’t far away, they were able to move things over a couple weeks.

 “I was a barista for a couple years at the other place before I became the manager, then worked at the process of moving here,” Ely said. “So, it kind of feels like as I grew up, Kool Beans kind of grew up and needed a bigger space to move into because we had become a lot busier. The other place felt like a coffee shop too, but there is something about this that is more like your typical coffee shop look and feel. I think it feels more like home.” 

The old shop was also split up more, as it had a main room, and a separate room down the hallway. The new shop is one main room.

Looking back to his business’s beginnings, Osborne said he went from roasting coffee in a popcorn maker at home to buying a roasting machine and making coffee for family and friends. He then sold his coffee at the local farmers’ market, and soon after, he opened his first location in downtown Brookings in 2017. 

“(It’s) just a hobby that got out of hand,” Osborne said.