Mayor Fincomb spotlights Just Love Coffee Cafe's community partnerships

Mayor Sue Fincomb visited Just Love Coffee Cafe in Carmel and spoke with owner Erica Steele about the cafe's community partnerships, seasonal menu offerings and charitable coffee program.

Erica Steele, owner of Just Love Coffee Cafe, said the business was a partnership between her and her husband and emphasized community connections: "My husband always had a dream of being a business owner. I did not. And so we found Just Love Coffee Cafe, which is a small franchise out of Nashville, and it really married a lot of our passion. My husband, he wanted to be an entrepreneur, me loving just nonprofit and small business in general. And I saw running a nonprofit how important small business is to the community and wanted to be part of that." Steele said the cafe aims to turn first-time customers into regulars: "It's about community. Being part of our community is so important, building relationships. People come in the first time as a customer, and they leave as a friend. Not just me, but my team, just loves to be encouraged and share joy."

Steele described a new offering called "coffee flights," and said the cafe partnered with "Girl Scout troop 49 48" for a cookie-themed flight. "This 1 I'm particularly excited about because, as I said, it's really important that I'm part of the community and I'm really giving back. And so we partnered with Girl Scout troop 49 48, and they're gonna be doing some cookie booths here this month. So we did a Girl Scout cookie themed flight for them and a pairing with their cookies. And all of the money, raised for selling their cookies will go back to local, community projects here," Steele said. Mayor Fincomb urged residents to try the flight, saying, "And for those of you who can't smell through this video, this thin mint 1 smells incredible. So I encourage you to come out check out this flight. It's really, really neat."

Steele also described a limited-time menu item, the "bacon tater," and said it would be available in February and March: "That is our, bacon tater, which is definitely a crowd favorite. It is back on our menu for a limited time, so hurry up. February, March, get your bacon tater. But it is basically, a bunch of tater tots, crisped up on a waffle iron with some bacon and cheddar. I love it with some ketchup and sour cream on top of it as well."

On charitable partnerships, Steele said the cafe carries a line of KAWS coffees tied to nonprofits: "So 1 of the things that really attracted us to Just Love Coffee Cafe and the roastery was the way that they wanted to give back. And so we have a line of KAWS coffees. These are just a few samplings, but every KAWS coffee features a different nonprofit that the proceeds go go back to."

Mayor Fincomb closed the segment by thanking Steele for contributing to Carmel's small-business community: "You have created a a community within our larger community, and you make Carmel overall better, so thank you for that. Thank you."