Stephanie Rognerud always knew she wanted to own a business.
She has worked in many of Borderland’s restaurants over the past 27 years, seeing personal ups and downs that have challenged her in realizing her dream.
Now, she is the new owner of the Coffee Landing Cafe in downtown International Falls. She took over the coffee shop and restaurant business in July from previous owner Sheila Johnson.
“It’s completely turning my life around,” Rognerud said.
“I went through treatment four-and-a-half years ago. When I was bartending for 10 years I just became an alcoholic and just went downhill. Four-and-a-half years ago I went to treatment and I haven’t had a drink since. I’ve been sober and just worked my way back up.”
But through hard work, Rognerud has gotten through hard times and is looking forward to the future with the new business.
She said that when other loan options failed, the unanimous support of local organization Koochco allowed her to get the funding to purchase the business.
“It’s just incredible, they stepped up and said ‘Let’s give her the money,’” she said. “Without them I wouldn’t be here right now.”
Both the business community and local clients have showed their support since she took over the popular local hangout.
“Incredible” is how she described the support of the local clients. “It’s the townspeople themselves and I think that’s great because they’ve watched me go through what I went through and I think they watched me take my slide down but they also watched me come back from treatment and crawl back up again.”
Rognerud’s three boys — ages 18, 13 and 12 — have played a large part in her opening the business. They’re her biggest supporters and have also helped in the transition. One of the biggest changes to her life, she said, has been spending more time with her kids after school now that her schedule is flexible and she’s not working nights.
“I get to be the mom they want me to be now,” she said. “It’s family-oriented and I love it.”
She and her family live in the apartments above the shop, so she is able to see her sons before and after school — whereas her schedule before demanded more of her time away from her kids.
“I still get to be a business owner, but I still get to be a mom, too,” she said. “I don’t have to pick and choose, I get to do both.”
The business itself has special meaning for Rognerud, who worked at the Coffee Landing previously as a server. “I love this place,” she said.
She grew up in the area when the location was a grocery store and she remembers shopping there as a kid. Now, she hopes to spend the next 20 years there, she said, until retirement.
“Something that I wasn’t expecting that’s been a really big surprise is the community support. I’m just overwhelmed. When I first got it, the flowers. I’m so appreciative of the community support.
“I love the community. People who haven’t been in here in a long time saying ‘Congratulations Stephanie, I’m glad you bought it,’” and that was something that is the most important and surprising thing.”
Rognerud will add some of her own touches to the space, including the main coffee shop up front and a back room. The back room will include a new entrance to the bathroom and an inside “gazebo” area with lattice work along the ceiling and new seating options.
Johnson will continue roasting coffee for the business, but outside the shop. Removing the roasters from the shop will provide additional room for seating, Rognerud said.
But much will stay the same, especially the menu — although changes may be made there, too. Customers can expect a similar bakery selection and hot breakfast; salads and sandwiches for lunch; and a full menu of coffee and other beverages.
The cafe will have a grand opening Thursday through Saturday with samples of some of the treats and a preview of some of the changes.
For more information, call the Coffee Landing at 283-8316.
