When one door opens, another three open. That serendipitous moment is what father-daughter duo Cliff and Sariah Simmons believe happened for them.
The Simmons said they're being called to use their love of coffee to bring a community together.
They hope to open Serendipity Roasting Company by July 1 in downtown Eldon.
"One thing I love going into shops is you really do see people from all walks of life coming together," Sariah said. "I love the community in that and having the opportunity to build relationships with so many different types of people."
Cliff, 46, and Sariah, 16, share a love for coffee, and that passion pushed them to learn how to roast coffee beans. Standing in their kitchen, the duo learned different ways to roast coffee beans and extract various levels of flavor.
What started as a hobby quickly developed into an online business. The Simmons launched Serendipity Roasting Company in January and began roasting coffee in their basement.
The goal was to build up equity for when thy eventually opened a brick-and-mortar store, which they thought might happen in a few years.
When the red-bricked 1890s building at 18 St. Maple St. became available in the spring, Sariah and Cliff knew that would be Serendipity Roasting Company's future home.
"From the moment we stepped into it, we were like 'Whoa, this is everything I've ever pictured,'" Sariah said.
The duo signed the lease in mid-May.
"We hope us being here will make things better for others - better for the farmers we're buying from, better for our customers, better for everybody," Cliff said.
Sariah said she wants to showcase everything the family learned at the new store, passing on their coffee knowledge to others.
"I believe every person can be someone who likes coffee - it's just finding the right coffee for you," she said. "It excites me to walk along with someone on that journey and being able to build a relationship through that and help educate them on something they may not have gotten to know if they walked into a gas station or into a Starbucks or really anywhere else."
When customers walk in, the first thing they will see are cylinders containing coffee beans on the wall. As they approach the counter, customers can watch the family air roast the coffee beans.
At the end of the counter, the Simmons will have a pour-over coffee station.
"The nuances of coffee are so much deeper than what a lot of people realize," Cliff said. "The notes, the flavors, the different ways you can roast it, what you can get out of it is so much different than maybe just going and grabbing a coffee at the gas station. A lot of people don't think much about it; they just drink it and get the caffeine kick to wake up."
While the shop will offer typical coffee beverages, it will also have bakery items, made by Marilyn Simmons.
"My wife makes literally makes the most gourmet cupcakes that you've ever tasted," Cliff said. "So we're super excited about that because it gives her a venue to get those out there."
Many of Sariah's siblings plan to help at the coffee shop, too.
"I'm mostly excited just knowing I'm so supported by them and the opportunity to grow with them through this," Sariah said. "Having the opportunity to do it with my family is super cool."
While Sariah said she is most excited about working with people, Cliff said he is ecstatic to "see my daughter's dream blossom." He is also looking forward to watching his five teenagers learn and prosper.
"Going into this year, I had a goal in my heart specifically for my kids to learn more of who they are and empower them," he said. "I'm sure it has its trials like any other family, but it's super exciting to think we'll get to do something that pulls us more together."
The Simmons originally hoped to open the shop in mid-June, but the coronavirus pandemic forced them to push back the opening date.
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