Brewed Awakenings is Filled to the Rim with Community and Comfort

Kim Kaster finally has her coffee shop. 

Brewed Awakenings Café, 7025 E. Michigan Ave., was filled to the rim on Saturday for its official Grand Opening Celebration. Located in the Country Creek Shopping Center at the corners of Michigan Avenue and Moon Road, the place is prime for locals to meet, greet, work and hang out with an assortment of coffee and tea beverages and comfort food.

Kaster was so busy caring for a packed crowd, she barely took a minute to cut her own grand opening ribbon. When Larry Osterling, Executive Director of the Saline area Chamber of Commerce, asked her to stop working for just a second to pose for a photo and cut the ribbon, she reluctantly pulled herself away from her customers.

“First I need to know, does everyone have all of their sandwiches and everything they need?” she asked.

Once Kaster took the scissors and was formally congratulated, the standing room only crowd burst into applause, and Kaster burst into tears. 

“I’m not usually a crier,” she said, “but this week has been incredible.” 

She thanked everyone for their support and then hurried back to the coffee bar and kitchen.

Brewed Awakenings is quaint and cozy, but with lots of natural light and  plenty of room. Cute bistro chairs align tables, filling most of the space. A large, more relaxed area surrounding a giant stone fireplace rounds out the room. Near the back, a full coffee bar with a very busy crew serves an assortment of coffees, tea, smoothies, pastries, giant cookies and a full array of breakfast and cold and grilled sandwiches. 

All fare is competitively priced and made on site.

Gretchen McCann and pals Terry Ocampo and Cathy Paolini like the place.

"The mocha scones are amazing," said Ocampo. 

"The location is perfect, and I love the colors," said Paolini. 

Saturday's grand opening was McCann's third visit of the week. 

"Every time you come in here you see locals," McCann said.  "It is big enough to have meetings, and busy enough that table conversations can be kept private." 

The shop is a family affair. Kim's husband Mike and their sons Zach and Nick are also part of the family business.

Mike Kaster took a minute to sing his wife’s praises as he served up some delicious confections. 

“This is her baby, but we are all a part of it,” Kaster said. “She managed a coffee shop for seven years so she knows what she is doing.  When the last place closed down, we just started planning a place of our own,” he said. 

By the time the prime location at the corner of the Country Creek Shopping Center became available, the Kasters were ready with their business plan in hand.  

The Kasters are no stranger to the Saline area and  been very involved with their sons and the schools. Kaster carries that relationship into her business. Student musicians are featured during her Open Mic nights on Saturday evenings. Brewed Awakenings is also working with the high school's culinary arts program and has already hired one student. The artwork and photographs of student artists decorates the walls of Kaster's business. Saline High School students also designed the business' menu, website and promotional swag, such as coffee mugs and t-shirts.

Saturday night, with a preview of the Saline Area Players' Sound of Music and performances by student musicians, Brewed Awakenings was packed and there was a constant line at the counter.

Business has been brisk. When she first opened, Kaster thought she might have hired too many employees. But by the end of her first week, Kaster realized she'd underestimated customer traffic and announced that she was understaffed.

Brewed Awakenings is open from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday.