Red Deer Downtown Business Association
Downtown Business Spotlight: U Pick Koffee
This week’s Business Spotlight shines on U Pick Koffee! Located at 4710 51 Ave, this local shop has everything you need for your Keurig K-Cup stock. We sat down with the general manager, Ken Van Someren, to learn more about this business!
What is your business?
Our business is U Pick Koffee, here in Red Deer. We have only been in business for a couple of months. Our main product line is Keurig K-Cups. We specialize in the mix-and-match program, where you can buy many pods of different kinds to try and find a new favorite pod!
When did you open?
We opened officially on the 1st of September and our operating hours are 9 a.m. – 5 p.m, Monday through Friday as well as 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Saturday.
What would you say makes your business unique?
I think it’s unique because of the mix-and-match program. You can buy K-Cups in a number of grocery stores, but we have a much bigger variety. We are working towards getting up to 250 to 300 different varieties. We have regular coffee, decaf coffee, we have teas, we have flavored coffees, we have dark roasts—all the roasts that you could want! And we have some that are even on special. Also, we don’t have an exact date yet, but you can check our Facebook page and Website because we will be having a coffee tasting night in November!
What are some products/services that you offer?
The products we carry are of all varieties, we don’t carry just Folgers. We’ve got Timothy’s. Tim Horton’s, Van Houtte, Torani, and Starbucks. We have pretty much all of them and we’re getting more in all the time. We’ll soon have some Christmas special ones in— a Christmas hot chocolate is coming! We also sell regular bean and ground coffee from two suppliers right now. They’re both unique to this area and you can’t buy them in just any grocery store. One is White Frog Café, from Sylvan Lake. There is only a couple of us in Red Deer that sell it, and we have grounds and beans. We also have coffee from a company called Rampage Coffee, they are out of Saskatoon. We have beans and grounds from them, and we’re the only ones in Central Alberta that are selling that product.
Why did you choose Downtown Red Deer as the location for your business?
We wanted somewhere that there would be visibility. We didn’t want to go into a mall where we were mandated to the hours that we can open. We wanted good exposure and we found that in Downtown Red Deer.
What do you think makes Downtown vibrant?
I think it’s the people that are Downtown and working together to make it better. Although there is a lot of empty spots Downtown right now, the ones that are there are really into the Downtown and want to make it even more vibrant. I think the City is working on that as well, leaving the patio open this year. I think that’s a good idea. There are things that need to happen, and they will happen!
I love Downtown Red Deer because… The people are friendly, and the businesses are inviting. People don’t want to go to malls all the time!
If you’re looking for a place that offers a wide variety of coffee and specialized K-Cups, look no further than U Pick Koffee!
Website: https://upickkoffee.ca/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/upickkoffeerd/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UPickKoffeerd/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uPickKoffeerd
With great enthusiasm and anticipation, the Downtown Business Association (DBA) is thrilled to share some exciting updates and plans for the future! After careful consideration and a deep understanding of our community’s needs, we are here to announce our latest developments.
Firstly, while we understand the disappointment caused by the cancellation of the upcoming season of the Downtown Saturday Market, we want to assure you that this decision was made with the utmost care and consideration. Our valued vendors and attendees have shown incredible support and enthusiasm for this new venture, and for that, we are truly grateful.
Though we faced time constraints and logistical challenges that hindered our ability to organize the event effectively, we have not lost sight of our mission to bring joy and entertainment to the community. Our plans for the Wednesday Market remain unchanged and we are are thrilled to inform you that the music programming meant for Saturday market entertainment will continue to thrive!
Every Saturday from 2-4pm, the public patio will come alive with soul-stirring performances from amazing artists from all over Central Alberta and beyond. Best of all, this event is free and open to the public, inviting everyone to share in the magic of live music. This will be in addition to the regularly scheduled Tuesday – Friday Programming, with an extra special open mic night every Thursday evening. Friday’s will take it up a notch with business-led events that will make your evenings truly unforgettable.
We have an incredible lineup of events and activities planned for this summer to enhance your enjoyment of the Ross Street Patio, day and night. To stay up-to-date with all the showtimes and artist line-ups, we encourage you to follow us on our social media channels.
In addition, our Host-It! Program offers community partners the opportunity to use the stage every Saturday throughout the summer. Imagine the possibilities—music, theatre, art galleries, and so much more. We are committed to providing a platform for diverse activities that will invigorate the heart of our downtown. And let’s not forget the festivals! The Downtown Business Association is proud to support several upcoming festivals on Ross Street and nearby this summer. These celebrations will infuse the area with a joyful and festive atmosphere, attracting thousands of visitors to revel in the excitement. After immersing yourself in these vibrant events, the Ross Street Patio will be the perfect spot to unwind and savor a refreshing beverage.
Our little Entertainment District has flourished, and we couldn’t be prouder. The first full summer season with this new bylaw in place promises to be an absolute triumph, as we are still the only Entertainment District in Alberta.
Looking ahead, the DBA remains dedicated to fostering a vibrant and thriving downtown. We are already hard at work planning an afternoon market for next year based on valuable community feedback. This revised schedule will provide vendors with greater flexibility and the opportunity to participate in other morning markets. We are committed to announcing and implementing these efforts earlier, ensuring that vendors have ample time to plan their seasons accordingly.
Together, as a united community, we will continue to create successful opportunities for all. Let’s embrace the vibrant future that awaits us and build a downtown that will inspire and uplift us all.
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