Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Generous Coffee, 121 W. Center St., Warsaw, received a $10,000 facade grant Monday from Main Street Warsaw.
Erica Deuel, Generous Coffee shop manager, said on the front of the building they put in an awning with the Generous logo. The panel on the back of the building was completely taken off and replaced, and a new garage door with windows was put in.
They opened in May 2024, so she estimated the work was completed in March/April 2024. Five other downtown Warsaw businesses received facade grants in 2024, so Generous Coffee received theirs this year.
CEO and co-owner Tyler Silveus estimated overall improvements to the facade of the business exceeded $20,000 to $30,000.
“It was a big project,” he said.
Deuel said she thinks the improvements “opened it up, made the corner of this intersection (Center and Lake) more inviting. People walking in the alleyway and the backway, now they stop. People even come in the backdoor with the logo, and peer in (the garage door windows). It kind of brings people in back there, too. So having traffic come both directions, and just awareness of another open business downtown.”
Silveus said, “We’re just happy to make a space that wasn’t available downtown available, and we plan on using for a long time.”
Mission To Be Generous
The mission behind Generous Coffee is that 100% of the profits is giving to nonprofits.
“So anything we sell online or in the store, all the profits are given away,” Deuel said. “And then, we love to have a donation pay coffee bar, so anyone in the community can come get a free cup of coffee. If they want to throw a couple bucks in to help cover the costs, we give 100% of that to local nonprofits.”
She said they are currently changing their local nonprofit every quarter this year. It’s currently Agaitas (https://agaitas.com/), who is providing 22 free summer camps for kids in the community, she stated.
Generous Coffee is open Tuesdays through Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Deuel said they have a coffee subscription service.
“We bag it by the bag, ship it to people’s homes or they can come in and buy a 12-ounce bag of coffee or 16-ounce bag of coffee, up to 5-pound bag of coffee,” she stated. “We do wholesale, too, so we provide all the coffee to The River coffee shops, as well as other coffee shops around the country. So that’s definitely where we bring in the most profits to be able to give away, but we do it for homes, businesses, companies.”
Shop online at Generouscoffee.com or check out their two Instagram accounts under Generous Coffee and Generous Coffee Roastery. Deuel said the Roastery account has more local events listed.
Community Block Party
On July 14, Generous Coffee Co. is hosting a Community Block Party from 6 to 8 p.m.
Deuel said Alderfer Bergen gave Generous Coffee permission to use their parking lot and the alleyway between the two buildings will be shut down.
Kona Ice and The River Coffeehouse will have their trucks there. There will be free kids’ crafts and youth art vendors.
Ben Higgins, Warsaw Community High School graduate, author, Generous co-founder and co-owner, entrepreneur and former “Bachelor,” will host a community talent show for kids up to adults.
Deuel said the performances will be done under a tent.
“It’s $25 to perform, free to attend and then $10 of every registration of the performers is going back to the Wagon Wheel, so they’ll be here as well,” she said.
Those wanting to perform should email erica@generousmovement.com
“We’re just so excited to help. It’s their busy season, too, and we’re just hoping to drive some traffic that way, but also people who can’t be on the stage at the Wagon Wheel can come here and just use their talents,” she said.
Facade Funds
The funds for the facade grants come from the city of Warsaw, but Main Street Warsaw manages them.
The facade grant program started over 20 years ago when the Hyett-Palma Study recommended it. When it started out, grants were maximized at $5,000 and a total of $25,000 was awarded.
When Doyle Hyett and Dolores Palma returned in 2023 to do another study, they recommended the city increase the facade grant and the city doubled the amount to a total of $50,000 with grants up to a maximum of $10,000 each.
For more information about the facade grants and applying, visit the website at https://www.warsawcdc.org/about/grants-loans/facade-grant/.
