On the Menu
Backroads Coffeehouse & Lunchboxx
During her time as a teacher, Melissa Hericks and her colleagues carried out a running joke about starting a coffee truck. The group had witnessed the challenges within their roles as teachers, but saw how quickly the challenges were evolving. “We all had families and our own lives, but often joked about owning some shares in a coffee truck and supporting other teachers by delivering coffee to the various schools in Sioux Falls,” said Hericks. In 2016, Hericks took the chance to step back from teaching and moved to Watertown when she married her husband.
“Watertown has always felt like home to me since I grew up on a ranch a couple hours away,” shared Hericks. Though growing up on a ranch was challenging, the experience instilled a strong work ethic and motivated Hericks to discover her purpose. With that mindset and her expansive set of hobbies like baking, woodwork, repurposing furniture, coffee brewing, and winemaking, Hericks began brainstorming what Watertown needed. “I found the north part of Watertown was slim on eating establishments and nutritional foods as a whole,” stated Hericks.
Written by Gabby Sudenga
Photos by Cailyn Patterson
THE ROAD TRIP ISSUE may 2024
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