Our Town Lexington: A visit to Coffee Cottage

LEXINGTON, Neb. (KOLN) - A longtime employee has purchased “Coffee Cottage”, a local coffee shop that has served the Lexington community for 22 years.

Jacey Klemm bought the business in September from the original owner who operated it since its opening. The Coffee Cottage will celebrate its 23rd anniversary in June.

“I started here when I was a junior in high school,” Klemm said. “I started part-time and then went away to college and would come back and work on the weekends.” She continued working at the shop periodically while raising her family, returning a couple times a month. She said the coffee shop has always felt like home to her.

The business has expanded significantly since opening as a one-room coffee shop. Coffee Cottage has added a seating room, boutique items and a back room over the years.

Coffee Cottage operates in an area with several chain businesses and gas stations, but Clem said this has helped the business stay competitive. “We definitely have some competition in the area, but it’s kind of been helpful,” Klemm said. “It helps us stay on our game a little more. You’re always looking for new ideas, new drinks to make.”

The shop offers 30 different syrup flavors for drinks, along with pastries, homemade muffins, burritos and sandwiches. Klemm said the ability to customize the menu easily has helped the business succeed.

Klemm also emphasized the personal relationships the coffee shop maintains with customers. “We recognize people when they come through the drive-thru, when they walk in the door,” she said. “We know what they want to drink most of the time. We know their name, and they are family.”

Since purchasing the business, Klemm said people she has known her entire life have visited to support her, including those who don’t typically drink coffee. “They come in just to support me,” she said. “They come in and go, oh, I didn’t know you had this or I didn’t know you served that. But they’re coming in because they care for me.”

Klemm credited her experience in 4-H with helping prepare her for business ownership, particularly in baking and photography for social media marketing.

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