Cassidy WaigandPeoria Journal Star
“Respect. Local. Coffee.”
The phrase captures the essence of Reverence Coffee. It was Chris Olson’s passion and respect for coffee that led him and his wife, Kelsey, to open the East Peoria shop.
And as the couple struggled to select a name for the business, Kelsey leaned into this respect. Reverence, the couple said, was the perfect fit.
“We’re respecting coffee,” Kelsey said, “We want to do coffee right, and that's why like we have the funky option that is oftentimes going to be drank like black without things added because we’re respecting it and we want to show it off – like what good coffee really can be.”
Reverence Coffee opened its doors on May 15. For the husband-and-wife team, the goal was to create a local place for the community to gather and enjoy both classic and “funky” coffees and drinks.
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‘We’re really doing it’
In recent years, coffee shops became a place for the Olson family to relax and spend time together.
Chris described the weekend trips with their children as a “fun little getaway” which sparked a larger interest in coffee. Soon enough, he began building his own coffee collection at home.
Local coffee shops were a regular part of Chris’s weekdays, as well. He worked remotely and said cafes were a space where he felt the most creative.
Eventually, Chris said, “I think we could do this.”
Kelsey said her husband had imagined opening a coffee shop for a while. Over the past year, though, she said he seemed more serious about the concept.
She had experience in the restaurant industry, and Chris said he worked closely with small business owners for his job. Neither of them, however, had started their own business. Even so, Kelsey said she worked to be supportive of Chris’s idea.
Then, her husband created an LLC.
“I was like, ‘Oh, like, we’re doing it,’” Kelsey said. “And then like he’s like, ‘You’re an owner,’ and I’m like, ‘Oh crap, we’re really doing it.’ So, we’re doing it. Here we are.”
As they worked to open Reverence Coffee, Kelsey said they were able to gain insight and advice from the restauranteurs and entrepreneurs she had built relationships with. These connections led them to the Turner Center For Entrepreneurship at Bradley University.
For Chris, having a “front row seat” to other businesses also proved to be a valuable experience.
“I was studying how businesses were ran and kind of just putting those pieces together in the back of my head – without even really knowing it,” Chris said.
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‘A world of coffee’
At Reverence Coffee, customers will find classic menu items, as well as “funky” and unique drinks.
Chris said he enjoys trying new coffees and added that there are “some talented roasters all over the world.” The aim, he said, is to “showcase” some of these creative options at the shop.
“I think there's a world of coffee that a lot of people haven't been exposed to,” Kelsey said.
While the menu features regular lattes, drip coffees, cold brews and more, Kelsey encouraged customers to be “open to trying some funky stuff.” Chris said farmers are finding unique and innovative ways to bring out different flavors in coffee – such as fermenting the beans with fruit to create a naturally fruity taste.
Some of the unique coffee options may be more expensive, Chris said, but he compared the product to other small-batch drinks.
“So, it's kind of a different world,” he said. “It's (an) elevated, more hard-to-find experience because there's not a lot of farmers (who are doing) it.”
Aside from coffee, the Olsons said customers will also find:
- Teas
- Hot chocolate
- Chai latte
- Kombucha
A handful of food items are also featured on the menu. Chris said they may offer more options in the future, but Kelsey added that they do not want the menu to be “too food heavy.”
Chris said customers will find doughnuts, yogurt bowls and crookies. He said the treat "blends a chocolate chip cookie and a croissant into one big gooey deliciousness.”
"We like to be different on the menu like with the coffee,” he said. “We're gonna do that with our food offering so we're gonna make something simple be elevated if we can.”
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Creating ‘cozy elegance’
This simple yet elevated approach translates to the style of the space – which Kelsey describes as “cozy elegance.”
Inside, customers will find a quartz waterfall ordering counter situated in front of a vivid green backsplash. Nearby, a couple of chairs sit across from a fireplace. Plant murals adorn various parts of the walls, and in the second sitting area, Kelsey created a striking black accent wall with paint and picture frames.
Kelsey was hands on with many of the projects at Reverence. On social media, she shared videos of herself painting the interior, painting the logo and reupholstering stools.
“It's been cool getting all these ideas out of my head – finally – like being able to make it beautiful as opposed to, for a while, we were like making it really ugly to get it to the beautiful point,” she said. “So, like just seeing it all come together is awesome.”
Getting to this point, however, was not easy. The husband-and-wife team knew they wanted to be close to the Levee District but said there was no listing for the building. Once they secured the location, they needed to renovate the space.
“It was in rough shape,” Chris said. “All the contractors would run into issues because either it wasn't level or wasn't straight.”
Kelsey said she realized there would be challenges along the way. For a while, however, she said it felt as though they were running into “hurdle after hurdle.”
Yet, once the work was complete, she said family and friends were “blown away” by the result.
The couple tried to remember the little things that would make the space comfortable and convenient for guests – such as a changing table in the bathroom, chargers for electronics and areas and activities for children to enjoy.
Not far away, Chris and Kelsey said they were also excited to learn about a new residential and commercial building being constructed. Chris said they hope to offer a “more slowed down” space for people in the community to gather and connect.
That is why, Kelsey said, they did not want a building with a drive through. Though, she added that guests can order ahead if they have limited time.
“People might think we're crazy for not (having a drive through),” Kelsey said. “But we like really do want people to come here and slow down and enjoy time with their friends, their family, use this as a spot to meet with clients, coworkers like – just take a second and enjoy some good coffee with good company.”
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Connect with Reverence Coffee
Address: 409 Richland St., East Peoria
Hours: 7 a.m. until 3 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. Sunday and closed Monday.
Website: https://reverencecoffeeil.com/
