Barista's Owners Turned Recession Into a Chance to Follow Their Dream

Deborah Becker worked for a physical therapy company for 25 years. Then, her company downsized.

At the same time, the recession took its toll on her husband, Mark Becker, who was working as a landscape contractor.

At a crossroads, the future looked unclear for the Northfield residents.

“We had always talked about opening a coffee shop,” Deborah Becker said as she sat in Tuesday morning, May 29. “He said, ‘We should open a coffee shop,’ and I said, ‘Are you serious?’”

He was, they did, and almost four years after Barista’s opened at 68 West Jimmie Leeds Road in Galloway, the coffee shop is going strong and gaining customers.

The Beckers hope to introduce their coffee shop to a new audience when it participates in the inaugural “Taste of Galloway,” on Thursday night, June 28, 5-8 p.m. The event, presented by the , will showcase the signature food and drinks from Galloway’s restaurants, and will take place on the Village Greene in

Frappes and smoothies will be on the menu June 28, as will any of their signature drinks, which include the Barista Latte, White Chocolate Carmella, the Hazelnut Truffle, the Coccocino and the Dulce Deleche. They also have 12 flavors of gelato, but they won’t be serving gelato at the Taste of Galloway event.

“We’ll have our smoothies, coffee and desserts,” said Becker, who added they will be featuring their pound cakes, muffins and brownies at the event. “We hope to draw new customers, people who don’t know we’re here yet.”

Barista’s opened on Nov. 3, 2008, but just last week, new customers walked through the door for the first time.

“People from the hospital came in and said they would pass out my cards for me,” Becker said, adding that her business has grown on the strength of word of mouth.

However, during the first year Barista’s was in business and before the word got out, the light at the end of the tunnel was difficult to see behind the darkening skies.

“2009 was tough,” Becker said. “We were taking care of my mom at the same time. That was a challenge for us to make sure she was taken care of and make sure the business was taken care of. We said a lot of prayers. There were a lot of sleepless nights.

“We’re both in our late fifties, and we took a big chance. We had a tough time when we first opened.”

Then they started seeing new customers, and the business got a little busier, Becker said.  Soon, Barista’s had a steady base of customers the Beckers would see every day.

“We have regulars who call in on their way to work and we have their order ready for them when they get here,” Becker said. “Some people come in and I know exactly what they’re going to get.”

It’s a mix of college students and those of retirement age, as well as those who bring in their families. Mothers frequent Barista’s because of the drive-through, Becker said, and she listens when they make suggestions.

Currently, their food menu consists of desserts and a breakfast sandwich, but the Beckers are looking to expand their menu to include sandwiches and soups for lunch. The owners listen to the suggestions of their customers, who feel like so much more to the Beckers.

“We see them every day,” Becker said. “We know their families. They’re like a second family to us.”

That’s important to a husband and wife duo that owns a coffee shop together.

“We’re like a team. He’s my best friend,” Becker said. “Not everyone can work with their spouse, but I think that’s why this place is so successful. … I always say I can’t run this place without him, and he says he can’t run this place without me.”

The Beckers have been married for 19 years, and have their disagreements at work, as co-workers and spouses are bound to do. However, the key for them is that they always know when to apologize, and they don’t carry their disputes over into the next day.

“That’s what people ask us more than anything else, how can you work with your spouse,” Becker said. “We’re a great team.”

The team is not new to being part of events, and has two coming up this weekend.

First, Medium Leslie Lagani returns to Barista’s for the third time this Saturday and Sunday, June 2 and 3. Those who hope to see her have to call ahead of time to make an appointment. Lagani comes to Barista’s once a month, Becker said.

Then, the coffee shop’s original monthly event, their music night, returns on Monday, June 4. Music night takes place the first Monday of every month.

“We do very well that night,” Becker said.

Very well could describe how they are doing overall.

“We are successful and we hope to continue to stay successful,” said Becker, who says she feels she and her husband made the right decision.

For more information on the Taste of Galloway event, visit http://www.gallowaybusiness.com/taste-of-galloway.