When Mandy Cardinal ’10 opened a coffee shop and café in Red Wing, Minnesota five years ago she never imagined the business would have to weather a pandemic. It has.
Mandy’s Coffee & Café opened July 22, 2015 and is the only independent coffee shop in Red Wing with the business core being beverages (coffee, tea, espresso). The café focuses on more than just the product, but on fostering a place for community and connection in Red Wing.
After nearly five years of steady annual growth of 15-20% per year, Mandy’s Coffee and Café was forced to close March 17 due to the governor’s COVID-19 Stay-at-Home mandate.
With a degree in business management and a minor in economics from St. Cloud State, Cardinal immediately began planning for when the café could re-open. Plans and procedures had to be put in place to serve customers safely and economically. “We are learning to adapt to the time we find ourselves in,” she said.
Cardinal developed a safer re-opening strategy with curbside and to-go orders and implemented an online ordering system for coffee and espresso beverages. She also factored in the increasing costs with re-opening: sanitation products, labor costs, to-go packaging, and increased credit card transaction fees.
Mandy’s Coffee and Café was granted a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan and Cardinal is in the process of applying for a second round. Combine that with the support from the local community and Mandy’s has weathered this storm.
We are making it through the COVID-19 pandemic because the government responded and the community loves this business,” Cardinal said, “For both things, I am so grateful.”
Mandy’s re-opened its doors April 29 and has been busy ever since.
Mandy’s journey
Cardinal attended St. Cloud State immediately after high school. Having worked for her parents’ business she knew she wanted to study business and economics, but did not have a solid plan after that.
While in college she built a solid foundation of knowledge in business principles and the soft skills of public speaking, working in teams, and time management, among others. “Taking courses in operations management, accounting, micro and macroeconomics was valuable,” says Cardinal.
College was a steppingstone. After college Cardinal sought new and different experiences outside of her comfort zone. Her first job out of college was in marketing for a wholesale company and then she took a leap to Nashville to work with underserved youth in public schools.
Returning home to Minnesota over five years ago and ready for the next adventure, Mandy’s Coffee and Café was born with the support and encouragement of her family. “I am still evolving, adapting and learning every day,” Cardinal said.
