Coffee house owner has lots of ‘perks’

CINDY WOOD/independent feature writer

There are often “perks” to being a small business owner. Laura Harshman, who recently celebrated her 10th year in business in downtown Van Wert, would know. Perks, Harshman’s coffee house, actually came to be because of her simple desire for a good cup of coffee.

Traveling frequently to California to visit family, Harshman hung out in the state’s coffee shops for hours at times, meeting people and making friends.

“People just hang out and talk, all day sometimes,” she said. “It’s the same old guys sitting on the couches, discussing anything and everything. It’s kind of like the ‘Cheers’ of coffee houses,” she added. “People sitting around talking and people on laptops. You can easily lose track of time. That’s what I want here.”

“Here” is 107 W. Main St., where Harshman spends her days doing what she loves, surrounded by family and friends. “I honestly can’t believe how many friends I’ve made here,” she said. “I have the best job in the world, because I love to talk. I can just talk all day, and a coffee shop is perfect for that.”

Harshman’s journey to becoming a small business owner was full of twists and turns … and second thoughts. On January 22, 2001, Harshman opened the doors to Perks in a building on North Washington Street and operated there a year before moving to her current location. “I basically had 30 days to find a building after I was told I had to move,” Harshman said. “It was a disaster; I really thought I was going to have to close.”

Fortunately for Harshman, and her loyal customers, Perks re-opened just a short time later, with much assistance from Harshman’s husband, Harold, and their three children, Jourdan, Chelsea and Ashley. “I really didn’t want another landlord and I didn’t want someone telling me I would have to move again,” she said.

So Harshman spent the next two months locating and purchasing not one, but two downtown buildings at 107 and 105 W. Main St.

The move to Main Street, Harshman said, was actually a blessing in disguise, as the new location offered a one-floor layout, as well as ample storage. “Before, we had to use the second floor and the basement to store supplies, so we were constantly running up and down stairs,” she said. “Here, everything is on one floor, so it just makes it a lot easier for us.”

Harshman first began thinking about opening a coffee shop approximately 15 years ago. At the time, she was working as a manager for Video Connection, but her dream of a coffee shop was always on her mind. With some business advice from the owners of Video Connection, as well as some guidance and mentoring from a high school friend who already owned a coffee shop, Harshman began putting together a business plan, and began to think seriously about becoming a business owner.

“My friend really took me under her wing, and she took me to her coffee roasters, and showed me everything I needed to know,” Harshman said. “At the time there really wasn’t anywhere to go hang out after I took my kids to school, or before I went to work. And there wasn’t anywhere to get a really good cup of coffee.”

Harshman set out to change that and offer those in the community, as well as visitors to Van Wert, a comfortable, laid-back atmosphere where friends can gather and enjoy a good cup of java.

In January of 2011, Perks enjoyed its 10th anniversary, a monumental milestone for any small business in today’s economy. Harshman knew a coffee house, with or without her, would enjoy success in the community, but not without years of hard work, dedication and early wake-up calls. “I definitely have one foot grounded at all times, and I know it could all end tomorrow, but I really thought a coffee house would make it here,” Harshman said.

Aside from coffee, Perks offers customers a light deli-style lunch menu, complete with salads or sandwiches. One thing you won’t find? Junk food, Harshman said. “That’s not what we’re about,” Harshman said. “I’m not a big junk food eater, and we knew we wanted to offer fresh, good food. But above all else, coffee is my thing.”

Harshman has molded her menu to reflect the hometown feel of the small community she calls home. On any given day, customers can enjoy a Lincoln Highway, a Cougar Steam, a Brumback, Wassenberg, or a number of other drinks reflective of Van Wert County. “It’s who we are and part of the reason we wanted to open up downtown,” Harshman said, “because I can remember the way it was when I was a kid, and I’d go into one of the stores and talk to people. I wanted that back.”

Over the years, Harshman has picked up on the tricks of the trade, and she’s thrown herself into becoming a master of anything and everything coffee. Recently, Harshman traveled to Chicago to take a difficult exam required of all master baristas (those who serve in a coffee bar). Throwing herself into preparation for the test, Harshman waited anxiously to hear the results. During the testing process, Harshman was evaluated for her “hands-on” work, which included espresso preparation skills, knowledge of coffee history, retail and equipment knowledge and customer service skills. The written portion of the test covers all major aspects of specialty coffee.

Harshman’s diligence paid off, and she recently received word she can call herself a certified master barista through the International Academy of Specialty Coffee, a designation shared with only 12 other people in the state, and only 400 world-wide.

“It’s really a major honor in the coffee world,” Harshman said. “I really did it for myself, though. When I go to my coffee roasters and you see the buyers, who are actually from Italy, and they’re sitting in a room with you, I would get frustrated and feel very inferior.

“Now, I’m not just a girl who pushes a button,” she added. “I can get a little respect from them.”

Harshman’s coffee comes from all over the world, from South America to Indonesia, and also from individual farmers in El Salvador, as well as the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro in Kenya. A good cup of coffee, Harshman said, most definitely begins with excellent coffee roasters.

“I have the best roasters in the world,” Harshman said. “I really didn’t want to go with the ‘big box’ substandard coffee. My coffee has all natural herbs and spices that give it that taste.”

Those tastes will soon be available to coffee-lovers on the go as Harshman is in the final stages of opening a drive-through on South Washington Street. With a tentative opening planned for June, Harshman is hoping the drive-through brings in new customers. The name of the drive-through will be Roadside Perks, and employees will be “perk rangers.”

“That’s our next big project, and when things settle down there, I want to expand my knowledge of the tea world,” Harshman said.

Despite the struggling economy, Perks continues to be Van Wert’s intersection of culture and caffeine, where members of book clubs discuss their latest read, or downtown leaders meet to discuss strategy.

“It’s kind of become the community gathering spot,” Harshman said. “Students come here to study, or leaders have meetings, or people just chill out. Some people just stop in to get their daily fix to get them through their day,” she added.

The bottom line, Harshman said, is offering a product that customers not only like, but respect, and Harshman works every day on continuous improvement. “I make really good coffee,” she said. “And I’ve studied and I’ve learned along the way. I take in what everybody tells me. If you don’t do your homework, then you’re just pushing a button on a machine. It’s way more than that to me,” she said.