Perk Place Coffeehouse and Bakery celebrated its one year anniversary last week. The locally-owned coffee shop opened on Jan. 22, 2014 and has become a go-to stop for students and community members alike. “It’s not just students who stop by,” manager Ria Takhar said. “It’s a very well-rounded community.”
This is likely due to Perk Place’s location in the Kenwood strip mall, right next to Super One and the Kenwood Laundromat.
“It’s close to the universities and near a bunch of things that people need. It’s a perfect place to stop by,” Takhar said.
A convenient location isn’t the only thing Perk Place has to offer. According to Takhar, Perk Place provides a great area to study.
“It’s pretty quiet. And there are tons of outlets, which make for great ambience because you don't have to worry about your laptop battery dying,” Takhar said.
There is also a large fireplace surrounded by leather couches and chairs. Local art hangs on the wall and is available to purchase.
There is also a wide variety of coffee, food and dessert to choose from, including vegetarian and gluten-free options. One of the most popular meals is an egg bake that includes hash browns, peppers and fried sausage. This breakfast is served all day long.
As far as coffee goes, Takhar recommends the Vietnamese iced coffee.
“One customer told me it’s considered a kind of delicacy. And I know that not many other Duluth coffeehouses offer it,” Takhar said.
But Takhar’s favorite part of Perk Place isn’t the ambience or the coffee.
“My favorite part is definitely the interactions with customers,” Takhar said. “So many of them have become family. It’s awesome to be part of our customers’ lives.”
Many of the 54 reviews on Perk Place’s Facebook page echo Takhar's statement.
“Friendly staff, welcoming environment, and comparable prices to big chain companies,” Andrew Wallin posted on Jan. 3, 2015. “I’m a fan of the frappes and their smoothies are delicious.”
Katie Granmo had a similar opinion, posting the following review on April 28, 2014:
“Perk Place really has it all! From opening day to present day, Jodi, Ria, Harry, and their staff go above and beyond to connect with everyone that comes in — making them feel incredibly special!”
Takhar says that this connection with customers is true for much of the staff at Perk Place.
“We all try to be personable with customers. It’s been really important the we look at them and talk to them. The employees have even become friends with many of our customers,” Takhar said.
Takhar adds that this is not an attitude the employees are forced to have. “It’s very genuine,” she says.