Brandon Twp – The name Carebee’s started out to be an old family nickname, but to Theresa Nance ‘Carebee’s Coffee? sounds much better.
‘When my little cousin would try to say my name it kept coming out as Carebee so the name stuck with the family, but I think it sounds better with coffee,? joked Theresa Nance, owner of the Ortonville coffee shop on M-15.
In February Nance and her husband Aaron, son Eric, and Hayley opened Carabee’s Coffee Shop at 830 M-15 in Ortonville.
And as the somewhat prophetic nickname implies, Nance is determined that the customers who visit Carebee’s Coffee Shop will be greeted by a comfortable retreat to relax and enjoy a good cup of coffee.
As a former doughnut shop employee, Nance says she knows it takes a friendly face and good cup of coffee for customers to become regulars, and is confident Carebee’s can supply both.
‘I’m not looking to get rich, but to just be able to start my customers? day our right,? smiled Nance.
‘I like to get to know the people I serve.?
‘I’m starting to get regulars that come in here in the mornings and that is nice because that gives me a chance to get to know the people in this community.?
Nance has a richly formulated recipe for regulars or for anyone who stops by for a quick ‘pick-me-up? by offering a healthy dose of flavored, decaffeinated, or regular coffee blends, roasted in Goodrich by ABeanToGo.
‘I realize that being on M-15 is a little inconvenient to stop by so I want to give them a good cup of coffee for their trouble,? Nance said.
‘For people to take the time and come in, that says to me the coffee is worth it and that’s a nice feeling.?
If coffee is not the way to start the day, perhaps Carebee’s cappuccino, lattes, hot chocolate, spiced cider, frappes, smoothies, jet teas, and house specialty drinks such as cinnabun swirl and cafe crunch bar will inspire a return visit.
In addition to the tasty steaming treats, Carabee customers can enjoy the cheerful bistro-type decor complete with an easy chair to pass a lazy afternoon with a good game of chess.
Looking forward to an increase in her summer business, Nance has plans to bring in wrapped sandwiches and soups and ice cream to add variety to the overly large, fruit-filled muffins, danishes, bagels, cookies and donuts, also supplied locally.
While Nance says the Carebee’s seems like a small establishment, her goal is to become a part of the community and the intimate atmosphere is what she envisioned so that she could take the time to get to know her customers.
‘That’s why we wanted to be here,? she said.
Although it took Nance almost three years to find and redecorate the building, she says she couldn’t have opened Carebee’s without the help and support of both the community, family, friend, and her husband Aaron.
‘This was exactly what I wanted, and we’ve been very blessed because everyone has been so nice.?