Downtown Greeley has welcomed a new coffee shop to its ranks with the Spotlight Cafe and Creamery. The shop has been a dream come true for general manager, Megan Kranzler.
Kranzler began her coffee career as a barista working in many well-known coffee shops around Greeley, such as Zoe’s Cafe and Events. After later working in the distribution side of beverages, Kranzler and friend Danielle Cogan opened a coffee trailer that served the Front Range. The trailer’s popularity grew and business was good, but Kranzler and Cogan had to decide if they wanted to double down or go in a different direction.
“I was sort of doing a lot in Fort Collins and Windsor and just northern Colorado,” Said Kranzler. “But I wanted to be more in Greeley because Greeley just has that special flair.”
After deciding to sell the trailer, Kranzler ran into Ely Corliss, owner of the Moxi, in front of what would be the Spotlight’s building. Corliss urged Kranzler to check out the empty space in the building and a partnership was born. The two decided the shop would be affiliated with the Moxi and Corliss’ ventures, but serve Kranzler’s coffee brand, Bright Side Coffee.
Since their soft launch in December, Kranzler has felt the acceptance by the downtown Greeley community. Members of the community have dropped in to offer their support and form plans for collaborations in the future. Midnight Oil’s owner, Pablo Guzman, was one of the first to work with the Spotlight for the bookstore’s banned book event last month.
Kranzler intends to hold their grand opening during Greeley’s annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration, Blarney on the Block, on March 15th. The event, Kranzler hopes, will give Greeley locals and visitors a friendly welcome to the Spotlight, just as the downtown community has given to her.
