08/25/2026
Sorry friends, long message:
This is a post Iāve known would eventually have to comeā¦ but Iāve been standing firmly in the pit of denial, blindfolded, pretending this day simply wasnāt going to arrive. š„¹
Our girl Nina is heading off to college out of state.
Are we excited for her? Absolutely. She is incredibly talented, has big dreams, and quite frankly, keeping her here would be a disservice to the rest of the world. But are we ready to let her go? Absolutely not.
Nina started at The Serving CafĆ© in July 2021ājust one month after we opened our doors. She was a bright, sweet 14-year-old who somehow found joy in doing dishes and making sure our dish area absolutely sparkled. From deep cleaning things no one else noticed, to creating beautiful artwork on our chalkboards, to quietly singing while she workedā¦ Nina brought a sense of calm and peace wherever she was.
And she has stuck with me through all of it.
She was here while I figured out how in the world to run a business. She was here through growth, expansion, changes, crazy days, hard days and all the ups and downs that come with being part of a small business.
At one point Nina told me, āAs long as Iām living in Iowa, Iāll work at the cafĆ©.ā
And she meant it. ā¤ļø
Her loyalty and dedication to this little cafĆ©āand to me personallyāis something I will never forget. She is the coworker everyone loves working beside: positive, dependable, kind and calming. Nina simply makes a room better by being in it.
She has a passion for protecting our earth, a genuine love for people and their hearts, and an even deeper love for music. We know there are some pretty amazing things ahead for her.
So, Nina, this isnāt goodbye. Itās a see you later. We think you are pretty Top Notch! ā¤ļø You will be missed more than you know, and we are cheering you on every step of the way.
Go chase those big dreams, sweet girl.
And please remember us when youāre famous. šš¶ā¤ļø
