This little coffee shop and its accompanying barber shop are attractive and inviting! Additionally, the large deck off the coffee shop is very nice; the big cottonwood trees surrounding it are lovely. I imagine that on summer evenings it would be a sweet spot to enjoy a beverage.
Even with this said, I cannot see how ARISE can make it. This is a conclusion that I am not happy to make. But I've come to my opinion because (1) a variety of coffee drinks and Italian ices are all that is available. The menu resembles what one sees at any Starbucks.
And (2) Arise is located much too far off the interstate to attract tourists.
People traveling through this part of the state are more likely to take in the activities at The Little Big Horn Battlefield and to enjoy a meal at the restaurant located near that site than they are to stop here. Nonetheless, if coffee and pie were offered at Arise, I think this delightful little spot would see some activity and perhaps even see some profit.
Now, I'm aware that profit is NOT what Arise is about. This is a Christian community meeting place. It's a fine idea and could be made finer by actually being able to bring in some people. Right?
(I'm not certain the founders did the research necessary to understand the "market" from which they intend to draw.)
I'd love to see this little business make a go of it in Lodge Grass. Clearly, a lot of time and effort have gone into putting an Arise coffee shop on the Crow reservation. The possibilities are there! And I don't mean to be glib, but Jesus doesn't just come for coffee. He comes for community. "Where two or three are gathered together, there I am among you" ~ a gathering of this sort IS the start of a community. True?
Yes! So get that gathering going!
Finally, I'll bet that the tourists you're looking to entice would be most interested in trying some Native Fry Bread and sweetened ice tea. Afterall, they can buy coffee, etc., any day of the week, from any coffee shop in any town or city off any interstate in the country.
Traffic is necessary for the communal & financial success Arise seeks. I sincerely hope this wonderful idea can, and will, revise its strategy into something that will ultimately work.
Best of luck! read more