The owners of a popular coffee business in downtown Red Deer have decided to sell as they move on to another stage of their lives.
Kevin Traptow and his wife Rebecca started Cool BeansCoffee Company Inc. as a family, in part so their six children (five boys and a girl) would have summer jobs. They’ve all paid their dues and worked their summers, he said Tuesday.
Now that their youngest is 15, and they are entering a new phase in their lives as grandparents, they kind of want their summers back, he said.
The coffee business operates from a 1964 big red London double-decker bus in an empty lot in downtown Red Deer, and has become a focal point for the food truck business, which have become a growth industry in Central Alberta in recent years. Food Truck Friday kicks off this Friday at the location, at 4740 50 St., from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sylvan Lake now has Food Truck Thursdays all summer as well.
“I don’t have to sell it. I still love doing it but we figured at the the beginning of the season is better to have someone taking it over than at the end of the season.” There’s been good interest since Sunday when they announced it was for sale, Traptow said.
The Traptows also have full-time jobs as Kevin is an elevator mechanic, and Rebecca is a therapist.
They started Cool Beans in 2009. They also operate Cool Beans Jr., which involves two Volkswagen buses that are the mobile aspect of Cool Beans, attending events such as weddings and The Market at Red Deer.
Red Deer Food Truck Friday kicks off this Friday, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The forecast looks good with a high of 19C and sunny skies.
Traptow, who helps co-ordinate the event, said there will be one new food truck there — Berries and Bowls, which serves a gluten-free dish. Other food trucks will be offering items such as tacos, poutine, hotdogs, grilled cheese and Filipino food.