Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Wagner.
Hi Katie , please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
After completing both my undergraduate and masters degrees in business administration and management, I took a corporate job with a large company as a catering director. Having grown up working in the family restaurant business, I shortly found that the corporate world was not for me. Both my grandfather and my mom owned restaurants and having worked for them, I knew my heart was still in small business. I looked around my hometown and thought about what we needed and where I could bring my passion for service back. I realized with the growing number of students at Benedictine College and the increasing popularity of speciality coffees, we certainly needed a coffee shop. I sat at my desk and drew up a business plan. With the help of family and friends, I used my resources to create The Sunflower Cafe. Our mission has always been to create a family oriented space that felt welcoming to the students, the locals of atchison, and to the tourists that visit each year. I knew nothing about coffee and honestly didn’t even really like it until the day I opened.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Owning your own business comes with many trials and tribulations. I really enjoyed the startup process and watching my vision come to life. Throughout the last 8 years, we have faced many challenges but so many triumphs. 2020 for obvious reasons was one of the toughest time we faced as a small business. I’m noticing now the impacts of the economy and how much harder it is to grow profits without raising prices too much. We love being able to offer an affordable treat to our customers, however with the changing times and unpredictable forecasts it is a challenge we currently face.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am the owner and manager of The Sunflower Cafe. I specialize in hospitality. I thrive on building relationships with my customers who become more like family. I am proud of my time management skills, as I make it a priority to still take time out to travel and reset my mind. It is with the help of our amazing crew that I am able to do so. Our quiches have said to be the “best.” I do take a lot of pride in my recipes for those and being able to come up with new ideas as the trends change.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
Growing up on a family farm came with many fond memories. From riding four wheelers to rock hunting and feeding the cows. On the flip side, we also worked at the restaurant and had exposure to so many important life lessons. I remember washing dishes in my soccer cleats after games. I looked around that packed restaurant so many times and all I could see was family. Family helping in every aspect. From hosting to cooking to bartending. That’s what laid the foundation in my mind for how I would operate my business if provided the chance.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thesunfloweratchison.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tsunflowerc
