Wahkon’s The Den Coffee & Creamery: ‘Family Owned & Happy To Be Here’
If you've never heard of Wahkon, you'd be forgiven. Wahkon, located on the south side of Lake Mille Lacs, is a small community of less than 300 people that has been around since the 1880s. Recently, Wahkon got a new business, and it has gotten the locals fired up about coffee, ice cream, and community. Here's a little more about one of Wahkon's newest businesses, The Den Coffee & Creamery.
Family Owned & Happy To Be Here
That's what co-owner Shelby Skeie (pronounced Sky) told me on the phone this morning when I called her up to talk about The Den. What I took away from my 10-minute conversation was that Shelby is passionate about Wahkon and her customers.
Shelby and her wife Erika had been coming up to the Mille Lacs area for years and finally decided to call Wahkon home, and when they did that, they also started the journey that led them to open up The Den.
There Was A Need For Another Gathering Place
When I asked Shelby to describe what was created when they opened up The Den earlier this year, she told me that she felt Wahkon could use another space to gather that offered up food, but also served coffee.
There was already the Tullibee Tavern, Muggs, and El Limon, so how could they offer something different but also complementary to the existing restaurants in town? The answer is what The Den now offers: coffee, ice cream, breakfast and lunch sandwiches.
How Did You Settle On Your Business's Name, The Den?
The Den is attached to Copper Fox Gifts in a space that was once a two-bedroom apartment for rent. Where do foxes go to rest up and/or recharge? They often go 'home' to their dens.
You've got coffee, breakfast, lunch AND ice cream. How did you land on that combination?
Shelby told me that she used to manage a coffee shop in Osseo, so the coffee was a no-brainer, but not wanting to compete directly with her neighboring businesses, she wanted to focus on offering quick and easy meals for those wanting more than a coffee, so that is where the breakfast and lunch sandwiches came in.
As for the ice cream, Shelby remembered when she was visiting the Wahkon area as a kid, and there was an ice cream shop in town. Wanting to create new memories for families and kids like the ones she had of getting ice cream helped her decide to make that addition to the business.
Recommendations For First Timers To The Den
If you are in the area and stop in to The Den, I did get two recommendations from Shelby that she hopes you'll try. The first is a coffee drink called Minnesota Nice. It's a brown sugar latte with vanilla cold foam on top.
For sandwiches, you might want to try The Lynx. It features roast beef, pepper jack cheese, lettuce, and tomato with your choice of horseradish sauce or mayo.
Winter Additions Coming To The Den
Towards the end of my conversation with Shelby, I had to ask what the winter months would bring to The Den, as I wasn't sure if the business would be seasonal or not. I was told that there would be an addition coming to The Den that would keep people coming by during the winter months.
You should follow The Den on social media for more details on what is on the way this winter. Plus, it's a great way to know what specials and what the new drinks are.
The Den is located at 160 N Main Street in Wahkon.
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