Kansas business that managed to open in midst of coronavirus crisis thriving, owner says
Another local food business that’s managed to open during a time when many other places are closing because of the coronavirus pandemic is The Coop in Derby.
And now there’s news that The Coop is carrying products made by a popular Wichita meals-to-go business.
The Coop, which started a “soft opening” late last week, is a unique bakery and coffee house started by Brant Dumford and his wife, Nicole, in a former gas station building at 104 N. Baltimore in Derby. It’s set up as a co-op, meaning that the shop provides shelf and refrigerator space for up to 50 area bakers and food providers, who rent the retail spots. The shop has one cashier who rings up all the purchases and keeps track of who sold what.
There’s also space where people can sit and enjoy the items they buy and take advantage of the full line of coffee and espresso drinks sold by The Coop. The seating section won’t open until coronavirus restrictions are lifted, Dumford said, though coffee is being served now.
So far, Dumford said, he’s signed up 20 tenants, including Keto On with Kerri, a local producer of Keto-friendly cheesecakes, and Bierocks Babe, who makes the favorite German meat pies. Cinnamon rolls, burritos, brownies, coffee cakes and sugar cookies also are in stock.
And recently, The Coop added to its roster Perfect Plate, the business Kira Watt started in 2018 selling pre-packaged, low-calorie, gluten-free meals. Watt has two locations in Wichita — one at 5255 N. Maize Road and one on the ground-level of the Garvey Center downtown — though both retail shops are closed during the coronavirus outbreak.
But Perfect Plate is open inside The Coop, and Watt is offering delivery from there, too. She said she liked the approach of The Coop because it allowed her to expand her business with little risk.
“It was an opportunity to get there without much overhead,” she said.
Dumford, whose family owns Delano Bakery, also is selling bread out of The Coop.
Although he’d have preferred to have opened The Coop when people could enjoy it the way he intended, the last couple of weeks haven’t been so bad for the baking industry.
Delano Bakery’s bread has seen a sales spike of late at local Dillons stores, where bread has been scarce. The bakery usually sells $30,000 worth of product a month at Dillons stores, but lately, it’s been moving $15,000-worth a week. Having Delano bread at The Coop has helped bolster the store’s opening, he said.
“The baking industry right now is good, though for not-so-good reasons,” he said.
The Coop’s tenants can use commercial kitchen space to make the products they sell there. Those who have their own commercial kitchens, like Watt, can just bring items and drop them.
Those who want to shop at The Coop can go inside and pick up items to-go. They also can order online, and curbside pickup is available.
Dumford said he’s planning the shop’s grand opening for 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. He’s encouraging people to swing by and pick something up, through he hopes to throw a bigger celebration once the coronavirus threat has passed.
The Coop’s hours are 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Fridays; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays; and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays.
To order online, visit www.thecoffeehouseks.com.
One other note: Dumford said he and his wife are still planning to open Toast, a French-style breakfast eatery, which they have planned for 141 E. Kay in Derby. They’d hope to have it open by March, but they ended up having to replace a main water line at The Coop, which set Toast back.
“We’ll definitely be pushing for that in the upcoming year,” Dumford said.
This story was originally published March 31, 2020 at 3:48 PM.
.jpg)