Annie Lode Coffee Cabin owners are handing the cup to someone new

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KEVN) - 18 years ago, Dawnette and Rollie Owens took a chance on themselves and opened the first drive-through coffee stop in Hill City. Today, they are ready to pass on that legacy to new owners.

In July of 2006, the window to the Annie Lode Coffee Cabin opened for the first time. The small business was the first of its kind in Hill City.

“Rolly worked at Albertson’s and when they put in the Starbucks, around 2004, he saw how busy they were, and I like coffee! We both kind of wanted a change, we were just ready for a change. So, we thought about it for a couple of years, and we did some planning. So, we finally broke ground a couple of years after that process,” says owner Dawnette Owens.

The owners knew they faced challenges, but that did not stop them.

“When we first opened, we had a lot of obstacles. Being a new business, in an area that some people said was out in the middle of nowhere. But we have really good work ethics, and we work well together, so if you just stick it out, it’s going to work out,” she continues.

With the married couple being the only two employees, they counted on the community for help. They know that relationship is what a small business is all about.

“We try to go to Hill City to get a lot of our products, our milk, items like that. And for our bigger items, we’ll go to Rapid City. It’s just really nice being a part of the community and getting to know people,” Owens said.

While changes aren’t coming until April, the couple knows the iconic coffee stand will be in good hands.

“Jen who has the Black Hills Bistro, she’s going to lease this from us in April. She will reopen it; I think it’s going to be under a different name than the Black Hills Bistro and it won’t be the Coffee Cabin anymore.”

After nearly 20 years, Owens is going to miss their customers’ friendly faces the most.

“Meeting the community. All of the people who have become friends of ours, we’ll miss that the most. And I guess I’ve enjoyed working with Rolly. This is the first time we’ve ever worked together, but we’re both good workers. I don’t think it would have worked if we both weren’t good workers,” Owens concludes.

To the future of hopeful small business owners, they say it’s all about relying on your instincts.