BizBeat: Daily Dose Cafe opens at Capital Mall

Daily Dose Cafe owners Joe Amsden (left) and Karina Amsden (right) pose with their son Liam (center) on Tuesday, May 17. (Cameron Gerber/News Tribune photo)
Daily Dose Cafe owners Joe Amsden (left) and Karina Amsden (right) pose with their son Liam (center) on Tuesday, May 17. (Cameron Gerber/News Tribune photo)

Coffee lovers in Jefferson City have a cozy new spot to check out in the Daily Dose Cafe.

Daily Dose Cafe, a new shop owned by Joe and Karina Amsden, opened for its first day of business Thursday at the Capital Mall in the Jefferson City Wellness Center. The shop sells coffee from Serendipity Coffee in Eldon and offers a healthy menu with salads, sandwiches and wraps, as well as muffins and other bakery treats.

Joe, who has worked as a bartender for several businesses around town and most recently worked in construction, said the opportunity came about at the perfect time earlier this year. Having dreamed of opening his own business anyway and with a young son, Liam, to provide for, the couple opted to jump at the opportunity when the center's owner mentioned she was looking for a cafe to add into the mix.

"It was one of those things that just presented itself," Joe Amsden said. "It had always seemed like a retirement plan, something we could buy down the road, but it was a lifelong passion and a smart decision.

Karina Amsden, a graphic designer, is friends with the owner and said the new business was a perfect opportunity to join a supportive network of local businesses while bringing something new to the mall.

"We thought this could be a really cool opportunity: Everything was kind of in place here, and we're both coffee fanatics," she said. "And everyone in here is local. The others here have found this area of support and are really good supporters of local businesses, so we thought we would have something here."

She designed the logo for the new business, combining the shape of a coffee cup and the health focus of the rest of the center.

With a friend helping illustrate the large menu that adorns a chalkboard by the counter and support from other local businesses and the owners of Serendipity, the couple said everyone had something to bring to the table.

"We're all about running a family-oriented business, supporting other local businesses and great coffee," they said.

Daily Dose Cafe is located in the Jefferson City Wellness Center in Capital Mall at 3600 Country Club Drive. It is open 6 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday- Friday and 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays.

Know of any business happenings around Jefferson City? Let us know at [email protected] or 573-761-0243.