SPOKANE, WASH- Sigrid Houske the owner of the popular North Spokane coffeehouse “BRU,” is celebrating a mile stone.
A recent study and reporting from The Bellingham Herald indicates that Washington is the second most coffee obsessed state, with 4,000 shops stateswide—that’s 57.3 shops per 100,000 residents.
Of course Stabucks has a major hold on the state and market, but for Houske the game is worth being a player in.
“Five years of vision. One year of reality,” Houske said.
Statistically most small businesses fail in the first year, a small businesses is defined as businesses with fewer than 500 employees. it’s a major mile stone. The next major mile stone is five years.
As a young female business owner, Houske encountered challenges, with some contractors and her attorneys advising her to give up and declare bankruptcy.
“They told me, ‘Stay in your lane, you’re a girl and don’t know what you’re talking about,'” Houske said in a previous interview with Nonstop Local.
About two-thirds of businesses survive two years in business, half of all businesses will survive five years, and one-third will survive 10 years
Houske says to celebrate they will hide balloons across the city with gift cards and host a “HAUSE,” party from 8 a.m.-1 p.m., with live entertainment on August 3.
Drinks will be $3.65 drinks a nod to 365 days in business. She says proceeds from the drinks will be donated to local children’s charity.
In a 2023 study from , it shows that Spokane is tied for first for the most coffee shops per capita. Spokane tied with Salt Lake City, Richmond, Orlando and Pittsburgh.
This includes all shops as well as stands.
“Spokane, you’ve loved BRU as much as I’ve loved building it—and that makes me the most grateful girl alive,” Houske said.
