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Couple celebrates success with Gusto!
Feb. 4, 2012
Don and Brenda Gustafson
bring their passion for coffee to Gusto!
By Judy Harper Spaar
Lee’s Summit Tribune
The warmth of the fire and smell of fresh coffee permeate the atmosphere at Gusto! Coffee Bistro. Sipping a warm cup of freshly brewed coffee, one cannot help but feel the welcoming spirit, and nobody leaves without feeling rejuvenated.
Owners Don and Brenda Gustafson – hence the name Gusto! Coffee Bistro – purchased the coffee shop one year ago, Feb. 1, 2011.
“Prior to us, the shop originally was JP’s Coffee, then Longview Coffee,” Brenda said.
The Gustafsons are coffee aficionados, having lived in Beaverton, Oregan, outside of Portland, for 10 years.
“We really like coffee shops, and being near Seattle, the city of coffee, owning a coffee shop was a dream for us,” Brenda said. “It’s fun! I love talking to the people who come in, they have become like family to us.”
This rich community spirit thrives in Gusto!, where many of their friends and local merchants display and sell their wares. The shop sells Moonstruck Chocolate, a high end chocolatier designer.
“They are from Portland, and provide the chocolate for nominees in the Emmys and the Oscars,” Brenda said. “The chocolate is all hand-decorated, and so beautiful. Patrick Chocolate, from Columbia, Missouri, is another vendor we feature.”
“A variety of local vendors, including Two Sisters Catering with butterscotch coffeecake, and Pink Mixer cupcakes, grace our shelves,” Brenda said. “Also, Laurie’s Kitchen, another local creator, has dips, sauce mixes and cheese ball mixes on sale with us, as does locally owned Sew Design, offering cute aprons and tea towels.”
They also offer frozen yogurt, creative sandwiches, soups, salads and pastries baked fresh daily. Gusto! is also available for private parties, with a barista and caterer, or customers can cater their own party. Students receive a discount on their coffee or tea.
“All our coffees are certified organic, and free trade. We also sell coffee beans,” Brenda said. “We have all natural organic oatmeal, in eight flavors, and a full line of loose teas.”
“Giving back is important to us.“ said Don. “We are so pleased to have a 50/50 program with our bean roaster Blue Jazz Java, from Topeka. Fifty percent of the profits from our special roast each day goes to help children of the communities where the coffee beans originate with nutrition and education. Currently, our program supports eight children throughout Central America”
“We have recently added French presses, and are looking at bringing in pour over coffee brewers to please our true connoisseurs,” Don said.
Treasured customers call Gusto! home to their coffee time, including some special people.
“We have a couple in their 80s who come in every single morning, have small coffees and share a cinnamon roll, except for two weeks out of the year, when they go to Florida. We have business people who spend two to four hours here, using us as their office, with our free WiFi, and three ministers actually write their sermons here. And, we have a delightful wedding coordinator who brings clients on occasion to plan for their big day.”
She said they plan to offer a happy hour, from 2 to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, with all espresso drinks priced at $2.
“We have a true family of customers here,” Brenda said.
Don was city planner for Kansas City, Missouri, for 21 years, before moving to Beaverton, where he was city planner for ten years. The couple decided to move back to the area to be closer to family.
Brenda brings her flair for retail to the shop, having been a buyer for Macy’s for ten years, and owning her own communications consulting business. Brenda was senior communications officer for Portland Public Schools when they lived there, and shares her spirit of involvement in the Lee’s Summit community. She sits on the Lee’s Summit New Longview Foundations Board, the New Longview Arts and Music Festival Board, the New Longview Farmer’s Market Board and was this year’s volunteer marketing director for the ReDiscover the Holidays Homes Tour.
Gusto! is open Monday through Thursday from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., Fridays 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Located in New Longview at 3390 Fascination Drive, in Lee's Summit.
(816).767.1100
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