By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
In 2009, two Zeeland couples teamed up to open a coffee shop adjoining Don’s Flowers and Gifts in the city’s downtown.
The only coffee shop that was in business at the time – Sweet Bean – was closing, and Doug Vos strongly believed there was a need for a new coffee shop downtown.
And thus, Mainstreet Beanery was born.
“We thought Zeeland could use a specialty coffee shop and a place for people to meet, and I think we accomplished that over 15 years,” Vos said.
Next Wednesday, Mainstreet Beanery will serve its last cups of coffee. While it was the only coffee shop in town when it opened, there are now five coffee shops in the city, including two with drive-through lanes.
“We’d love to keep it going, but times have changed,” Vos said.
Vos is proud of what Mainstreet Beanery has meant to so many Zeelanders.
“We’ve had church youth groups in the morning coming in, we’ve got ladies that come in and knit as a group, you’ve got business meetings, you’ve got old friends that haven’t seen each other in years meet,” he said. “We’ve got groups of retired people that come on a specific day at a specific (hour). Monday mornings, there’s a group of about eight that are here for an hour.”
“We feel good about the people that we’ve employed. We’ve learned from them, they’ve learned from us. Many of them … that were high school or college students have gone on to bigger and better things,” Vos added.
One employee, Amy Veldman, worked for Mainstreet Beanery throughout its 15-year history.
“She started day one with us, and is still here,” Vos said.
Through Mainstreet Beanery’s 15 years, Vos has seen Zeeland’s downtown has undergone a remarkable transformation.
“In 2009, there were empty storefronts. The city was just starting to invest in Abby deRoo’s position (marketing coordinator),” he said. “That stuff was all fairly new, and we were just starting to reap the benefits of that.
“Now (in) 2025, we’ve got Public and Gritzmaker and Tripelroot and La Crème, all in the main block. It’s great. (The other) night, I left about quarter to six, and there’s not a parking place (available) on Main. In 2009, you could have shot a cannon through there … Where we’re at as a downtown today compared to 2009, it’s incredible.”
“We have snowmelt … you sit here and have a cup of coffee in the morning and there’s people just out walking their dogs in the middle of winter, because of the snowmelt. We’re bringing people downtown,” Vos added.
No decisions have been made as to what might replace Mainstreet Beanery, Vos said.
“We have to work with the landlords and figure that next step out, and see what we can attract to Zeeland,” he said.
Zeeland Record
In 2009, two Zeeland couples teamed up to open a coffee shop adjoining Don’s Flowers and Gifts in the city’s downtown.
The only coffee shop that was in business at the time – Sweet Bean – was closing, and Doug Vos strongly believed there was a need for a new coffee shop downtown.
And thus, Mainstreet Beanery was born.
“We thought Zeeland could use a specialty coffee shop and a place for people to meet, and I think we accomplished that over 15 years,” Vos said.
Next Wednesday, Mainstreet Beanery will serve its last cups of coffee. While it was the only coffee shop in town when it opened, there are now five coffee shops in the city, including two with drive-through lanes.
“We’d love to keep it going, but times have changed,” Vos said.
Vos is proud of what Mainstreet Beanery has meant to so many Zeelanders.
“We’ve had church youth groups in the morning coming in, we’ve got ladies that come in and knit as a group, you’ve got business meetings, you’ve got old friends that haven’t seen each other in years meet,” he said. “We’ve got groups of retired people that come on a specific day at a specific (hour). Monday mornings, there’s a group of about eight that are here for an hour.”
“We feel good about the people that we’ve employed. We’ve learned from them, they’ve learned from us. Many of them … that were high school or college students have gone on to bigger and better things,” Vos added.
One employee, Amy Veldman, worked for Mainstreet Beanery throughout its 15-year history.
“She started day one with us, and is still here,” Vos said.
Through Mainstreet Beanery’s 15 years, Vos has seen Zeeland’s downtown has undergone a remarkable transformation.
“In 2009, there were empty storefronts. The city was just starting to invest in Abby deRoo’s position (marketing coordinator),” he said. “That stuff was all fairly new, and we were just starting to reap the benefits of that.
“Now (in) 2025, we’ve got Public and Gritzmaker and Tripelroot and La Crème, all in the main block. It’s great. (The other) night, I left about quarter to six, and there’s not a parking place (available) on Main. In 2009, you could have shot a cannon through there … Where we’re at as a downtown today compared to 2009, it’s incredible.”
“We have snowmelt … you sit here and have a cup of coffee in the morning and there’s people just out walking their dogs in the middle of winter, because of the snowmelt. We’re bringing people downtown,” Vos added.
No decisions have been made as to what might replace Mainstreet Beanery, Vos said.
“We have to work with the landlords and figure that next step out, and see what we can attract to Zeeland,” he said.
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