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From the Kenosha Area Convention and Visitors Bureau . . .

Tourism Partner Profile: Carolyn’s Coffee Connection
By Meredith Jumisko

“Your Gateway to Kenosha’s Lakeshore”, is how Carolyn Kirkby describes her business, Carolyn’s Coffee Connection. It’s a warm and welcoming place to meet family and friends, attend meetings, enjoy live music, work on your laptop, or just curl up with a good book and cup of coffee. It opened at its new location, 1351 52nd Street, in October.

Carolyn’s serves Intelligentsia coffee, fresh-baked goodies, and a breakfast and lunch menu (available online) all day. A children’s menu and carryout are available. Staff will deliver lunch within the area. A group of five orders or more is preferred for this and there is no extra charge. The drive-through is open beginning at 5:45 a.m. You can call ahead with your food order and pick it up at the window.

Carolyn’s originally opened in Downtown Kenosha in April 2006. Business has increased since moving to 52nd Street. Regular customers followed, and many new customers arrived at the doorstep after driving by and watching the construction take place. While the building has the same footprint, much construction took place before opening on Oct. 23d.

Rotted beams were replaced, as was dry wall. The cream city brick was kept and the original floors were saved. All the windows were added, as was another door or two. Carolyn added the concrete parking lot, which she says has helped increase business. Carolyn plans to add an enclosed garden patio this spring.

The new location offers twice as much seating, additional outlets for free wireless, and a better insulated and carpeted play room for kids. The play room features toys donated by Heim’s Downtown Toy Store. There are so many outlets that every table has one, some even two. A utility pole had to be added outside to accommodate the outlets.

The increased space has allowed for separate sitting areas, which can accommodate both group meetings and those who want to sit quietly with more privacy. It was important to Carolyn to build space for people to come in and hang out, which she believes she’s achieved.

While the café closes at 6 p.m., Carolyn will stay open later if a number of groups want to meet on the same night. She doesn’t charge to rent out the space. Many groups meet at various times, including The PhotoKenosha Group, the Kenosha Writers’ Guild, book clubs, knitting groups, and mom groups. The Kenosha Writers’ Guild hosts a story time on Friday mornings at 11:30.

The third Friday of every month, a new performance series is held here: “Be Exposed!” Carolyn says almost 200 people attended throughout the evening of the first event, held on Feb. 19th. The entertainment begins at 6 p.m. The series features different artists every month: poets, musicians, visual artists, and other creative people from Kenosha and beyond. Sponsored by ExposeKenosha.com, Carolyn’s Coffee Connection, and the Kenosha Writers’ Guild, the shows are free.

Every Sunday, live music can be heard in the early afternoon at Carolyn’s. Every other Sunday, the music will be jazz, according to Francisco Loyola, an employee at Carolyn’s, who plays a large part in organizing the events. To stay informed of all the café’s happenings, sign up for Carolyn’s e-newsletter.

Four months after opening at a new location, Carolyn is “very pleased with how it’s worked out. I absolutely love the space.” She is learning what the demands of her new neighborhood are and intends to work with the Boys & Girls Club, which will be constructing a new facility across the street from her. She also plans to bring even more music and events to her business.

Carolyn is a member of the Kenosha Lakeshore BID board, and is staying involved with downtown events, including the Second Saturday Twilight Market this summer. She’ll also be participating in the half marathon portion of the May 1st Wisconsin Marathon, which travels through downtown.

Carolyn loves being a partner of the KACVB’s, and is donating a gift card for every month of our online getaway contest in 2010. She considers the partnership very beneficial for marketing and promotion purposes. She says there is “no possible way for me to reach the amount of people you guys do, outside the immediate area.” She also appreciates the awareness of knowing what else is going on with the other partners.

One more note about Carolyn’s. As Carolyn points out in her e-newsletter and on her web site, the driveway on 52nd Street is exit only. To enter Carolyn’s parking lot, take 52nd Street to 13th Court and go south. Then turn right into the alley and the lot entrance will be on your right.

For more information: 262-653-1478, http://carolynscoffee.com/