Today we’d like to introduce you to Megan Love.
Hi Megan , thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started loving coffee at a young age, always seeing it as the center of connection. As I grew older that part of coffee remained constant among the other benefits it provides a college student working two jobs. Upon graduating I ended up working for a corporate coffee chain, running multiple stores and loving the pace and growth opportunities. Post Covid, I knew I still wanted to be in the coffee industry but no longer felt my cup remaining full in a corporate setting. I needed to go back to the roots of genuine connection and community. An opportunity fell into my lap at an amazing old refurb building in the heart of the Edison Neighborhood of Kalamazoo, MI near where I had planted my roots. My best friend and family strongly nudged me into this as well. But, just like children, it takes a village so I didn’t open Fiddle Leaf Cafe on my own. While I may be a single owner, the entire community has gotten me through the first 3.5 years in business and continues to keep me fighting to be here.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I think overall yes, but there are always struggles in business. Funding, am I right?? I literally cashed in my entire 401k from my corporate job and had a small crowd funded kiva loan to get me started and since then only one grant awarded. So it has been an ongoing battle to get a flow of capital. I am always hunting and apply for grants, unfortunately the majority of grant opportunities are too large and only accept a fraction of applicants. So I find most often a denial letter based off of too many applicants.
Other than capital, I would say mostly its been just growing into my role as an entrepreneur and learning lots of what not to dos and some amazing that worked wells!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I have had many years of corporate experience, a degree, as well as some creative aspects as well. I think specifically for a cafe you need that balance. It’s not all business but on the other end of the spectrum it’s definitely not all slinging lattes and chatting up with our regulars. You have to have a good strong presence both behind the counter and behind the desk!
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Mainly having a balance of business mindset, community and connection but also being able to have creative energy to not only draw people in but keep them coming back!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Fiddleleafcafe.com
- Instagram: fiddleleafcafekzoo
- Facebook: fiddleleafcafekzoo
