Manitowoc’s smiling barista is calling it a career.
After 18 years of serving up coffee and Cedar Crest Ice Cream, Paula Kohlmeier has announced she will be stepping away from PK’s Beans ‘N Cream.
Paula opened up her coffee shop at 908 North 8th Street on January 25th, 2008, continuing the family tradition of operating a business at that location.
Her father worked there in the 1950s when Frank’s Auto occupied the space, and eventually bought it, and changed it to a gas station called Paul Spur.
While the businesses on the lot were the main focus, Paula says it is the Christmas trees that the previous owners and her parents sold in winter that made that location iconic.
“The year (my parents) got married, they took over all the tree business,” Paula explained. “It’s been 65 years plus now. And that’s why I made my business. To carry on their tradition.”
In her years of serving coffee and selling trees, Paula says she has really enjoyed being a part of the holiday traditions for a lot of families and the daily routines for others.
“It’s just awesome to see the traditions, the families, the generations that have passed,” she said with a beaming smile. “I’m 60 years old and I did this since I was probably 12 years old.”
The fact that PK’s is the only coffee shop on the far north side of town has been a gift for Paula, as is the fact that PK’s is tucked into a residential neighborhood.
“It’s a lot quieter, and the customers that are in this area, the teachers and all that…they love the drive-thru,” she noted. “So there definitely is benefits to be on the north side.”
Paula will be stepping aside on June 1st, making way for April and Cody House to take over.
They are no strangers to the world of coffee.
“We just acquired Heritage Coffee in Green Bay, and it’s all mobile,” April noted. “Our 2 to 5-year plan was to do brick and mortar. Paula reached out to buy our coffee beans for PKs, and at the end of it, she just slid in. ‘Hey, do you want to buy or buy a coffee shop?’”
And just a couple of weeks later, the Houses were starting their preparations to take over the store and turn it into Heritage Coffee.
April is a Manitowoc native who actually stopped at PK’s with her son several times.
“I love the tradition that comes with this place,” April said. “Everybody here is so faithful to Paula and the community, and I love carrying that over. What we’re going to bring into the shop is going to be a little bit newer, so I don’t know what kind of crowd that’s going to bring in, but I’m excited to see the community come through and come see us.”
For those who frequent PKs, Cody says you don’t have to worry.
The name may be changing to Heritage Coffee and Tea, but you will still feel Paula’s presence.
“We love traditions,” he said. “The Christmas tree, the ice cream, the coffee, we just want to keep that going.”
One thing that will be changing is the coffee beans used at the shop. April and Cody roast their own beans, some of which have been consumed by regular customers already, to positive reaction.
Paula had one more message to her loving, faithful customers.
“Please keep coming because there’s better and bigger things to come.”
April added that she hopes PK’s can serve as a safe place where young people can hang out while also serving people of all ages.
