Hidden Gems: Meet Karen Morris of Sweet Tee’s Coffee Shop

Today we’d like to introduce you to Karen Morris.

Hi Karen, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for sharing your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
In 2021, I decided it was time to leave corporate management and branch out as an entrepreneur. The pandemic taught me that I needed to do things that made me happy, not just work to put money in the bank. I retired from a 30-year career in business intelligence and bought a coffee shop, Sweet Tee’s Coffee Shop, in Olathe, KS. It was a local, community-focused shop about the people, not just the coffee. I have always loved to entertain, which allowed me to do so daily and become a true part of the Olathe community. I have lived in Olathe for almost 30 years and always thought it was the greatest ‘small town’ in the big city. With the help of an amazing partner and wonderful staff, we have expanded into 2 additional locations in the Olathe Libraries and, most recently, expanded our kitchen, event space, and catering offerings. This journey has included joining the Olathe Chamber of Commerce and participating on the advisory board for the Olathe Convention and Visitors Bureau. We have also worked with several organizations that support developmentally disabled youth and adults in Johnson County through employment and purchases. Having partnerships with these and other community organizations allows us to give back a little of what we have gained with the success of our business.

Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
Running your own business is never a ‘walk in the park,’ but I gain knowledge and more confidence in myself with every struggle. Since the pandemic, the biggest struggles have been the supply chain landscape and staffing. I have been lucky to hire some amazing individuals who have stuck with me through this journey; being a small business, it’s hard to pay a fair wage, compete with chains with deeper pockets, and still maintain fair pricing for my customers.

Let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Our main location focuses on a warm and welcoming atmosphere for you to meet with friends, get some work done, or spend time alone. I always say if “Friends” and “Cheers” had a baby, it would be Sweet Tees. We even have a red couch that reminds you of the “Central Perk” and a kitchen table like grandma. The central location has mugs lining the walls for you to select the one that ‘inspires’ you at each visit. We are blessed with many ‘regulars’ that we get the pleasure of learning about each day. Some of our drinks are even named after those regulars. We serve coffee, tea, lemonade, smoothies, ciders, pastries, and sandwiches. Our menu changes seasonally with drinks and pastries created by our staff. Our newest two locations are cafes within the Olathe Public Libraries. Those locations offer our custom-made drinks, pastries, and general concession-type items. We even have cake pops that the kids love after their reading time at the library. (sourced from Sunflower Bakery, one of those organizations I mentioned earlier). We offer catering for up to 100 and event space rental for small groups from 20-50.

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Ability to adapt and learn from those around me. I have had a very diverse business background, from working for an auction company to buying retail furniture and home decor for local and national companies and working in business intelligence and program management. In all of these roles, I have been lucky enough to have great mentors who helped me grow and learn that my potential is endless as long as I am willing to work to succeed. These mentors also taught me that you must be willing to do what you ask others to do for you. Whether cleaning bathrooms or getting up at 4 am to get a coffee order ready, I will do whatever is needed to serve our customers.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.sweetteescoffeeshop.com
• Instagram: http://instagram.com/sweetteescoffee
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/sweetteescoffeeshop
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/sweet-tees-coffee-shop-olathe?osq=coffee+shop

Image Credits
Artwork by Christina Jonas Studio