Three independent coffee shops in downtown Galesburg have collaborated to create a new community event, the first of its kind. The Beanhive Coffeehouse, Innkeeper’s Coffee, and Orange Cup Sidecar are hosting the Downtown Galesburg Coffee Crawl on Saturday, April 25.
The event will run from 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. All Tickets have been sold out as of late.
“We want to emphasize coffee, community, and connection,” said founder of The Social KD and marketer for The Beanhive Katelyn Davis.
Each ticket includes a punch card with stops at all three locations, a tote bag, and unlimited access to a trolley that will cycle between the shops throughout the morning. Participants who complete their punch cards will be entered into a raffle for prizes.
Orange Cup’s Communication & Consulting consultant Stephanie Sikorski emphasized the friendly nature of the shops’ relationships with one another.
“If you don’t know the story about how imperative it is that these three businesses work together, you might think ‘Galesburg has a coffee war,’” Sikorski said. “We’re trying to communicate [that] there is no problem to have three locally-owned downtown coffee shops. We wanna work together, we wanna support each other, we want the coffee community to find a vibe that fits their vibe.”
Both Davis and Sikorski are key organizers of the event and hope to encourage the town to shop locally. Everyone involved in planning the crawl has a personal connection to Galesburg.
The event’s tote bag, a 16-by-20-inch zippered design, was commissioned from Karley’s Collection. The artist, Karley Davis, is Katelyn Davis’ sibling and grew up in Galesburg.
“Together [Karley and Katelyn Davis], we were able to incorporate thoughtful details and subtle nods to each of the participating coffee shops,” Karley Davis said. “The most rewarding part for me is knowing my art can live on in a functional way while also encouraging more mindful, sustainable choices.”
Katelyn Davis also noted that the shops will offer a variety of non-coffee options, including tea, energy drinks, and pastries.
“It’s not just for coffee-lovers, it’s for all things local-lovers,” she said.
Knox College students are frequently seen studying at The Beanhive, and the shop occasionally partners with the college’s admissions office to host Coffee and Careers sessions. Orange Cup’s founder Scott Baldwin is also an alumnus of Knox.
“We really hope we get a representation of Knox students at the event, that would be wonderful,” Sikorski said.
