Rich and Reagan Osborne, owners of Greene Bean Coffee just north of the courthouse square in Jefferson, were named Entrepreneurs of the Year by Midwest Partnership EDC at that group’s annual meeting Thursday in Panora.
They are pictured with Greene County Chamber executive director Chris Henning (left) and Midwest Partnership president Warren Varley (right).
The Osbornes moved to Greene County from Colorado in 2007 and started Greene Bean Coffee as a home based business two years later with a small roaster in their basement. They purchased green, unroasted beans from importers. Rich roasted them, packaged them in distinctive bags designed by Reagan, and the two began introducing area residents to the world of coffee beyond the grocery store shelf.
After three years of operating from their home in Jefferson, and outgrowing three coffee roasters, they fulfilled Reagan’s dream of having her own coffee shop. Greene Bean Coffee opened in an 1880’s building in 2013. The Osbornes own the building and personally reclaimed the space from 120 years of use, much of it as a billiards parlor.
Greene Bean Coffee’s gross sales increased from $10,000 in 2012 to $58,000 in the seven months of operation at the shop in 2013. Gross sales grew to $117,000 in 2014.
Greene Bean Coffee is known for its signature blends and its unique drinks, with enough menu items to satisfy coffee-drinkers and non-drinkers alike. Even young children find a favorite drink, making Greene Bean Coffee a place an entire family can visit. The Osbornes promote other entrepreneurs, using fresh ingredients or selling items from Bee Mindful, John 15 Vineyard and Deal’s Orchard. Picket Fence Creamery is their sole source for dairy products.
For the full story of Greene Bean Coffee, as provided by Midwest Partnership, click here: Greene Bean Coffee
Midwest Partnership is a collaborative economic-development effort to facilitate the retention, expansion and attraction of businesses to create jobs and improve quality of life in Adair, Audubon, Greene and Guthrie Counties.
