BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — The coronavirus has impacted many local small businesses, but one local shop has taken a small part of its business and made it an essential part of staying open.
Kelly Archer is the owner of Archer The Storefront, a local interior decorating and design store. She said right now, all operations as far as designing have stopped because she can't go into people's homes. So instead, her focus is on social media and coffee.
"We're not essential but coffee is a consumable and people want it," Kelly said. "So we have gone to the internet and started with Instagram and Facebook and I kind of showcase some accessories and little things and we have no-touch curbside pick up."
Kelly's husband, Rodney, said shifting their focus hasn't come without complications. "This has definitely brought on some challenges," said Rodney. "Part of our process in doing this is we change gloves every single time we make coffee."
Kelly said although the coffee may not seem essential, it's become the bread and butter of their business. The coffee is not only stimulating revenue for Archer The Storenfront, but it has a history rooted right here in Bakersfield.
"This coffee has a history to Bakersfield," Kelly said. "It started with Olcotts and a lot of people that come in say they remember being with their parents and going into Olcotts and all the jars and smelling it. Then when Olcotts closed, it went to Belladagio. Then Belladagio was closing, they called us and asked us if we'd like to take it. And I'm born and raised in Bakersfield and I didn't want it to end. So we decided we have the perfect spot."
The coffee comes in multiple flavors: Snickerdoodle, Nutcracker, Butter Rum, and The Archer Blend.
"think one of the misnomers about flavored coffee is that's it's sweet," Rodney said. "So even if you see Butter Rum or Snickerdoodle, you think it's going to be sweet and it's not. Tastes just like black coffee but you just have the smell and the flavor at the end of whatever that flavor of coffee is."
Those interested in ordering coffee can visit the Archer The Storefront Facebook or Instagram and place and order.
