'A labor of love'

It may have taken a lot of hard work, but the big smile on Emily Trojahn's face proves that everything was worth it.

The owner of the Daily Grind in Hartley has been grinning from ear to ear this summer following the opening of her new coffee shop. Located in the former d-Lux Drive-Inn on Highway 18, the business has been thriving thanks to a steady customer base eager to sample the vast selection of drinks and treats it has to offer.

"It's so refreshing to have people being appreciative and nice. It's just been amazing," Trojahn said. "From the time we bought the building to now, the whole thing has really been a labor of love."

Trojahn and her husband, Brian, acquired the building in February of this year and immediately began gutting the interior. The entire kitchen was renovated and nearly everything else was updated – only the furnace, water heater, shelving and a wash sink remain from before.

Luckily, the couple was able to do most of the renovation work themselves. Trojahn vividly remembers when she walked into the building for the first time with a headlamp on.

"It was in bad shape, but I could just see the potential," she recalled. "I could visualize everything for my customers, and my husband could envision the construction part."

The Daily Grind opened in late June. Running a coffee shop is nothing new for Trojahn, who previously served as a regional manager for Scooter's Coffee in northwest Iowa and Minnesota.

Though the corporate gig was nice, she wanted to branch out.

"I felt that I had achieved all of my goals, learned a lot from my bosses and I was ready to do my own thing," she said. "When this opportunity came up, we jumped. Right when I saw this building, I knew that I wanted it."

The rest is history. In addition to espresso and other traditional coffee drinks, the Daily Grind serves energy drink infusions, Lotus drinks, soft serve ice cream and other specialties.

Trojahn has enjoyed not having to follow a strict menu and loves creating her own concoctions.

"I'm able to have fun here," she said. "With my own business I can sort of relax now, and I can let my staff relax. There's nobody looking over my shoulder making sure I make every single person fall in line."

Trojahn has been rolling out her food menu slowly. She offers muffins, rolls and cookies, and has dabbled with other daily meal specials so far.

"I need to try things first and get them right before I'm ready to offer them. I need to know there's not a huge risk," she said. "I want to cater to everyone and offer them the best options that I can offer them. Without our customers, I have no business."

Her attention to detail and dedication to customer service has paid off so far. Traffic at the Daily Grind has remained steady, and Trojahn appreciated the reception she has received from the City With a Heart.

"It's been amazing. The community has been extremely supportive and encouraging," she said. "Business has been going really well. We get a lot of positive feedback, and it's been really great and refreshing."

Trojahn plans to keep adapting and making changes as she sees fit. She was proud of the business and looked forward to meeting more people in the months ahead.

"When you're going to put a lot of hard work into something, you want people to appreciate everything you've done," she said. "I'm really happy and pleased with everything."