S2 E6 Tracy Heitmeyer - 5 Bean Coffee

Podcast Summary: Tracy Heitmeyer of 5 Bean Coffee

In this episode of Cosmos and Commerce, Michele and Janice sit down with Tracy Heitmeyer, the inspiring owner of 5 Bean Coffee in Reynoldsburg, Ohio. Tracy takes us on a journey through her entrepreneurial path, from her humble beginnings learning the ropes of running a business to navigating the challenges of starting a coffee shop at the height of the 2008 recession.

Tracy shares the origins of 5 Bean Coffee, explaining that the idea came from a family conversation about finding a business that would allow her to balance work and family. After researching franchise options and stumbling upon the local Crimson Cup, Tracy found a perfect fit. With their guidance, she was able to bring her vision to life.

The discussion also dives into the difficult early days, where slow business and the financial crash left Tracy and her husband, Jason, struggling. Tracy's determination, alongside strong customer service, helped the business grow steadily year after year, eventually doubling during the pandemic. Today, 5 Bean Coffee is known for its excellent service, innovative drinks, and unique marketing, including their viral A-frame signs that even caught the attention of Jennifer Aniston.

Tracy’s philosophy on leadership, customer relations, and maintaining a positive work environment has contributed to 5 Bean Coffee’s success. She emphasizes the importance of consistency, staff happiness, and focusing on loyal customers rather than trying to please everyone.

Tracy also opens up about her desire for balance, explaining how she’s learned to slow down and prioritize her health and family after years of nonstop hustle. While she’s not planning to expand 5 Bean Coffee, she is excited about continued growth and maintaining the shop’s reputation as a community favorite.

Tune in to hear Tracy’s invaluable insights on running a successful business, overcoming challenges, and staying true to your values.

Key Takeaways:

• Persistence and customer service are key to long-term business success.
• A supportive community and good staff culture can make or break a business.
• Balance in life and work is essential for long-term happiness and health.

Find 5 Bean Coffee:

• Website: 5 Bean Coffee
• Instagram: @5beancoffee
• Facebook: 5 Bean Coffee

Links

Holistic Remedies
Muellin Tea

https://cosmosandcommerce.com
https://www.facebook.com/cosmosandcommercepodcast

Transcript

5 Bean Coffee
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[00:00:00] 


Michele: Hello and welcome to Cosmos and Commerce, the podcast where insightful business discussions and

vibrant Cosmos cocktails intertwine to bring you a wealth of entrepreneurial 

knowledge. I'm Bodyache Escape. And with me is 

the ever enthusiastic Janice with RE MAX 

Connection and the Humble Crate. and we're here to enlighten your minds and fuel your entrepreneurial spirit.

Janis: That's right, Michele. Today we're in for a conversation as rich and stimulating as a well brewed cup of 

coffee. We're traveling to Reynoldsburg, Ohio to talk with the 

brilliant mind behind Five Bean Coffee, a sanctuary where every cup is a harmonious blend of 

passion, creativity, and ambition. 

Michele: Yes. We want to give a 

warm welcome to the coffee queen herself, Tracy Heitmeyer. Tracy, it's an honor to have 

you with us. [00:01:00] 

We're eager to discover all the secrets of 

your 

brewing

empire. 

Tracy: Are you,

Michele: Welcome. 

Tracy: here sometimes. 

Janis: Hey. you're welcome. So can you share the story behind the beginning of five 

being coffee? What inspired you to start a coffee 

shop? 

Tracy: I honestly, it wasn't like I, was like, I need to own a coffee

shop. I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do for the chapter of my life. Jason and I had I had a daughter from my first marriage and I had two kids together. They were four and five. I was not the type of person to sit still or ever

relax.

So I needed something to do in the next chapter. And I had been working for myself since

I was probably what, 20 in my early twenties, like one I started my dad had his own business. He's a general contractor and he said today, he's like, look, I, know [00:02:00] this lady, she hangs wallpaper, she makes a really good, he was setting out numbers.

And I was like, that sounds amazing. And he's like, you can do that. That'll be easy. He set up a job for me. He took me to somebody's house. He showed me how to put paper on one wall paper, slap it up on the wall, show me how to cut it. And he goes, okay, we'll be a couple hours and walked away. So that was, my dad just kind of was like trial by fire kind of, and so I, 

I provided a living wage for a couple of years and I married Jason and then I took some time off and I was still doing wallpaper. I started doing interior home painting, like the faux finishes and stuff. And then I worked

for my, one of my husband's interior painters.

So he taught me like how to do a really nice paint job. And, but I always made my own schedule and I knew I, never [00:03:00] wanted to work for someone else again. 

I I don't know. I just, we were trying to, we were sitting around the kitchen table with our next door neighbors trying to figure out what's Tracy going to do, what kind of business can I open that would give me the ability to be around in the evenings for my kids. Cause I wanted it

to fold into the family

and our next door neighbors were over and they actually said, well, why not like, a coffee shop? Because, those usually 

close up in the 

afternoons and 

then you wouldn't have to work in the evenings. And I was like, oh, sounds kind of good. So we started looking at

at this point in time, we still had Dan was doing some land development.

Or getting into it, my father in law

and so

we were like, well, there's a spot there and that was close to central high school. So we were like, well, maybe we can just, do 

something in that space. and [00:04:00] we said, okay, well, if I'm going to do it, I want to drive through because.

People drive by and hand you money, so,

So we just, we started rolling on that.

And then we looked at like a Dunkin Donuts franchise. We 

looked at

Tim Horton, like we started looking at all the big companies. And then I think Jason was

somewhere and he had a cup of crimson cup coffee and I saw it and he was like, this looks a 

smaller and it was they're based in Columbus. So we called 

them and lo and

behold, they kind of hold your hand and walk you through the 

whole, that's their job is they help independent coffee shops 

set up business. So I was like, well, that's perfect because I 

don't know a thing. I

know what I like, I just don't know how to

do anything. So we started engaging in the 

process with them.

It was a nice process because like, they didn't charge us a fee to do all

this. They were 

just helping us there. Yeah. Yeah. [00:05:00] They make their money back by us

purchasing from them. And now that I'm doing well, I make a lot of 

purchases. So, but they have been a good asset 

and trained me in

most 

everything, so it was and they're close. and,

they're all 

really nice. So it was, I think it was a perfect fit for. 

what we were 

looking for. 

Janis: So when was that? How long have you been open now? 

Tracy: that was back in 2000 and probably that was researching

was like 2006, 2007, 

we opened in October

of 2008 right when the housing market 

crashed. 

So that was, 

a lot of fun Cause my husband was a custom home builder.

So, and then I opened up 

expecting, well, people saw a 

coffee shop 

that they would 

just automatically be coming because. 

And so as I sat 

there and watched the Titanic one day with commercials [00:06:00] between

customers we kind of, it was bad. I mean, I, there were days I would make 200. So 

we were we were

very 

poor for a couple 

of years, but, and I was working open to close cause I couldn't afford to

pay anybody. Yeah. So when people always 

ask me, Oh, are you going to do another one? I'm like, I don't want to dance. I'm like, I have PTSD from that time in my life. I don't, I have no 

interest, none. 

So 

Janis: what were the biggest challenges that you faced during the startup of opening 5 Bean Coffee and how did you overcome

that? 

Tracy: Money. Money. Money. Money. we did have a cushion for me to be operating off of for a 

while, but, I legitimately, we burned through that. 

and, at home, we had no money either because Jason was out of work. 

so

He lost his job during all of this and then had to start, he started his [00:07:00] business. As it was his father's business and then he transitioned, started his business. But you know, there were times he was working temp jobs just to be able to feed us. So, and we had the three kids. I wasn't receiving child support for my oldest. So we, we had a lot of Challenges happening in those years, but, I just, we kept looking at the numbers and, every day, every week, it was growing a little bit and, my back in the day with just me, me, and I think I had 2 other employees I had to make 400. A day to make it and, we were 250 at first and then and then we, ended up, it, it didn't take too long, but long enough. It hurt. And then we just kinda the whole thing just kinda kept going at a [00:08:00] snail's pace. My signage is not great where I'm located. The first few years everyone was like, I never knew this existed.

Like they, people still do that. I've lived here for 10 years and I've never seen this. And I was like, you 

just have to turn your head when 

you're on the road. And 

Michele: like, open your eyes. 

Tracy: like, yeah, I don't know what else to tell you 

Janis: hear that. I've been here five 

years now, 

Michele: yeah. 

I hear it all the time, too. 

People are just,

Janis: And you're like, you're 14 years 

now. Right, Michelle?

Michele: And actually, we hired

Tracy's husband, Jason, to do our build out for our new scene. 

Janis: That's right. That's 

right.

Michele: he did

Tracy: a beautiful new 

space.

Michele: Yeah,

awesome. 

Janis: It is beautiful. It is 

beautiful. 

Tracy: I, I would be so happy if I could have a, Non 

cluttered, 

larger, clean space. 

Michele: Right, could have,

gone bigger now. 

Tracy: I bet. Well, I think whatever space you have, 

It's like your home. [00:09:00] Whatever 

space you 

Janis: Brilliant. You're right. 

Tracy: yeah, you, 

grow you grow 

to 

what you have. 

Janis: Yeah. Yeah. And you were worried that you weren't going to be able to like fill it in the beginning. 

Tracy: Oh my gosh, the space was so empty. And now I literally have 

boxes 

hanging from 

the 

rafters. 

our volume has just, 

there are days where I'm like, we 

just can't do more volume. it's, there are 

days we 

peak.

Michele: You said you started at 200 days. Where are you at now?

Tracy: We are between three and 4, 000 a day. 

Michele: Oh, 

Janis: That is 

Tracy: There are days we have gotten over that number, but those 

are, those are days where I 

feel like we're maxing out the potential of 

staff sanity and there's only so fast that you can work. and my kids, 

Michele: There's a 

lot of 

Tracy: yeah, it is. It's a lot 

of. being that fast, you have to have great staff or the quality really suffers. 

So, [00:10:00] we 

have 

in the times that 

we, 

Are growing 

or what there's there are

times like, we just had a time where we had, 

6 employee changes, 

So I have currently have 

like, 26 kids on staff. So it's a lot of, it's a lot of 

cats to 

herd 

Janis: Juggling and

scheduling. 

Tracy: one of the biggest 

challenges to just keeping everyone on the same page and, if, 

Kenzie makes your drink, Sienna should

make it the same, Hannah should make it the same, 

does it look the same?

Does it 

taste the same? And that's, 

We use 

a lot

like the roosters model. 

It's you don't go 

there because it's like 

the best food you've 

ever had. You go there because it's consistent. 

Like have you 

ever been 

there and the meals 

been 

off? 

I 

haven't it's just a consistency. I'm not a Cameron Mitchell's 

restaurant.

I'm a, 

like, like I would equate 

myself to [00:11:00] like the roosters 

philosophy. I want to be high volume, 

consistent. The coffee's 

good. It's really good. The, 

We've got a great variety of stuff. I'm 

really proud of what we serve, 

but it is it is good coffee fast. 

Janis: So Tracy, can you share a moment or achievement that you consider your biggest success with five bean coffee? 

Tracy: I don't know that there's one moment in particular. I think the, 

I 

think my biggest 

success is probably just getting it going. And keeping the growth up, 

adjusting 

to, I think I'm pretty good at, like, during the pandemic, we had to totally switch up what we were doing and close. We closed down the inside and we went drive through only and the processes that we had to put in place to get, 

It, 

we ended up. We used to just [00:12:00] write everything on a pad of paper. And that was, you would listen as the order was being taken in your little headset. You would mentally start making the drink and then, we would, someone at the register would write it down. So if you forgot it, you could double check. 

Well, when we started doing, we went from like six cars in the drive through is like a busy drive through rush to, we had a line of 40 cars all 

day.



Tracy: So we managed to get our drive through 

times by the time you ordered to the time you were 

cashed out was a minute and a half. It would drive through only 

If I could do drive through only I would do drive 

through only it is so efficient because you're not turning around. You're not taking an order from inside, blending that in with your and inside people like to talk more. 

Janis: Yeah. 

Tracy: So drive through is 

efficient and I like fast and efficient. That's 



Tracy: So, yeah, it's, 

It's been 

and then the process is to switch us [00:13:00] back to doing both and still trying to maintain those quick times. That's been, that's probably the most challenging. 

Michele: yeah. 

So you went from 

not busy to very busy. What is the marketing secret that you did to get yourself so busy? 

Tracy: we're known for our customer service. I mean, the steady growth 

we've always. 



Tracy: In the restaurant industry, 3 to 4 percent growth every year is 

normal until the pandemic. We were averaging between 

11 and 13 

percent every year. So, it was. We're basically word of mouth social media and I've been 

very fortunate.

Um, Pickerington social media is 

not always kind. We have the reputation for, I remember going to one of 

the chamber things and one of the people from Cameron Mitchell's was there and people were like, why can't we get a Cameron Mitchell's [00:14:00] restaurant here? And they were 

like your town has the reputation to tear up restaurants.

On social media. And he's like, we don't want involved with

that. 

Michele: I 

Tracy: Yeah. Great. Okay. We can't have nice things because people aren't 

nice. So 

Michele: was just telling Janice that I bought a package of posts to post about bodyache escape on Pickerington peeps. And I'm so nervous. 

I was like

Tracy: yeah, it's yeah, we'll, I'll jump 

in on you. 

It's okay. It's, But it is, there are those random

people who just can't be happy and you can't make them happy. And I, 

And 

this, well, yeah, and this may turn, I think this transitions to a question you 

had 

in the list later, but my, my 

business philosophy is what you concentrate 

on.

You grow.

So I always felt 

if [00:15:00] I 

was going to spend 20 minutes wasting my 

time. Because my time is valuable. We own businesses. We've got 

things to

do. I spent 20 minutes of 

my time concentrating on trying 

to 

make

someone happy who was unhappy 

and I didn't think I could ever

please. I would be doing that consistently. Whereas if I spent 20 

minutes concentrating on who 

are, 

10 customers who are great. And, we'll say 

nice things, so I just concentrate 

on them. There are 

several customers I've asked 

not to come 

back. I'm like, you know what? 

We're just this is a dysfunctional relationship. It doesn't seem like you, you really like 

us.

Yeah, and 

we just can't make you 

happy. So there's a store over there 

across the

street. You 

just, you go there, maybe they'll be 

better. 

Because obviously we 

just we can't keep you happy and I'm so sorry for 

that. I'm losing sleep over it, but I'm not gonna anymore. 

so 

right? There's. When I [00:16:00] started over there, there was just that 1 Starbucks and now we have 2 

Starbucks and there's 4 or 5 other coffee 

shops around.



Tracy: Yeah, our numbers are still good. The 

pandemic 

doubled my business 

Legitimately. Doubled it in 

the course of a 

month. 

people had nothing else to 

do, but sit in the drive through

line. so there, there were wanted to get out. Yeah. So that was their 

experience. And then we'd chat at 

them,

At the window. And I had some kids 

who, 

One girl who did not

want to work, she was 

afraid and she wanted to

stay home. So she was off the 

schedule, but there were some 

kids that were just like, put a 

mask on me and throw me at the window. I want 

to talk to people. 

So We 

did. Humans are social beings. We can't be locked up.

Yeah. 

Michele: Back to the marketing Question. I just have to give an honorable mention to your sign [00:17:00] out front. Your A frame sign with all the cute sayings that people take pictures of and post all over social media. 

Tracy: Yeah. That and I'm so mad. We 

didn't 

have our name on the sign

We had the 

one 

that went super 

viral. Like Jennifer Ann, Jennifer 

Aniston 

posted it.

Janis: Oh, wow.

Michele: What? 

Tracy: Yes. And I 

was like, that's my sign. There's my car 

in 

the 

Janis: That is so cool. 

Tracy: Yeah. 

Michele: do you remember What it 

was? What did it 

Tracy: It was 

everybody falls apart 

sometimes. Tacos do and we still love them.

Yeah. Yeah. But that was just like, that's just something I started a long 

time ago. And then my manager, Lauren now does the signs, but it, people get so much joy 

out of just 

those 

little tiny 

things. 

And when you work in the window, 

sometimes you 

talk to people 

and 

you're the

only person they see the whole day.

So

you know, being kind, being 

happy, complimenting 

their nails, Oh my gosh, 

[00:18:00] your earrings are great. Yeah. 

We just, we love to 

compliment our drive thru people 

and, make, 

them smile. And then they're, that's just, that's a 

great way to start 

your day. 

Janis: You make them feel good, and then they, yes, that 

Tracy: When somebody compliments you at the 

beginning of the day on what you're 

wearing or, wow, 

you look 

beautiful today.

Your smile's great, and you're like, oh my gosh. 

And 

That's a great way to start your day. 

Well, the, 

Michele: in business for a long time, well, one of them was Kimmy left after eight years cause she just had a baby and she's graduated college and 

Tracy: got married. Those are I wish those girls well, love them. 

And, some of them still come back to the, staff parties, but, I like to have A culture 

where. 

We don't do 

shenanigans.

There is no, there's no infighting. 

If there 

is 

someone who is upsetting the 

balance of the boat, then they go. 

I 

don't care who they 

are or how [00:19:00] well they work. It's not worth, 

your 

staff performs to the 

level of 

your lowest 

couple of

people. And if your lowest couple of people. 

have a 

lot of hours, then they're 

infecting. They're infecting the bag of apples. 

So they have to go. It's 

I like to have happy, positive people that want to come to work, that enjoy 

who they're working with. They 

get free coffee while they're there. They get all the food at cost when they're not working. They get 

half off their drink. 



Tracy: That's not to be 

taken

advantage of.

And we do have 

conversations

about, 

Staff 

meetings. 

I bring in like 

a list of the bills I had to pay this 

month. And, some of 

them are stupid. Cause 

it's like, 

repairs. And I'm like, well, I had to replace these

three 

things and this because we didn't take very good care of our things this month. so this would have 

been an extra, 3, 

000 [00:20:00] that could have went into raisins. There's all

these, I try to let them 

know 

if

I'm struggling with something, why I'm struggling 

with 

it, or if I'm complaining about something,

the reason for the complaint. Like, I 

think. 

Most of these kids, a lot of these kids, I'm 

their 

first 

job, so they have no 

basis 

for, and I don't think parents talk 

with money about their 

kids nearly

enough, or with their kids nearly 

enough 

because they don't have a clue 

like bills. My electric 

bill is 1, 

600 a month. 

I bought a second air 

conditioner 

because. We were all warm in there. So there's like,

there's 110 things. These kids don't 

understand 

that 

go into all 

these decisions that, that, the adults around them

make. And I was,

I mean, I parented my kids 

like 

that.

I just tried to 

explain to them, well, dad and I 

aren't trying to be mean. We're just, we know [00:21:00] what's 

around 

that corner. 

So 

this, and this is why I think they understand it better. And I try to just 

foster a space where, Hey, 

we can talk about, we can talk about, hard things, but we have to, we have 

to clear them out 

and let's, let's all work together because if we're working together 

and we're having a 

good time, work isn't that hard and

they're making good money.

The kids make really good money 

there. 

Michele: Yeah, so that's, I guess, one 

tip for working with the younger generation. I know one of the things I had to

Can Yeah. She's, I said, you need to put a stamp on that. And she said, are those,

American stickers, American flag stickers, 

Janis: Can I put it on 

my laptop? On my, 

Tracy: Yeah, on the back of your laptop? Yeah, sure. 

Oh my goodness. 

Yeah.

Janis: wow. 

Michele: so [00:22:00] you had, you have to teach your kids about bills. What 

are some 

of the other tips you have for managing the younger generation? 

Because I know that's one. One cool thing about 

having a coffee shop is that you can employ

younger 

Tracy: Yeah. 

Michele: Younger people.

So 

Tracy: I've had to, I have to 

have a lot of 

patience. I don't, know, I think like the teenager group seems 

to be like my, I get along with them, I think better

than, I don't feel like

my mom totally understood, like, understood anything about teenagers, But this group, this current group of teenagers is interesting because they were raised during the pandemic and they were stay home. Mom and dad are going to give you money. We don't want you

to work. It's best for you to, not

work. safe, they were rewarded for doing

nothing like that was and so 

some of this 

is like Residual that and well, why do I have to [00:23:00] work so hard? Well, you know I can make 15 an hour at McDonald's like but do you want to 

like it's 

Janis: Go to McDonald's.

Tracy: Yeah, it's There's 

teenagers are challenging, but they're 

also, 

they're these little creatures trying to figure out where they fit in the world. And a lot of times, they don't get along with their parents. So they come at me like I'm going to be like that And I'm pretty open. I'm pretty if there's an employee, we've had a couple of kids who are 

Gay, bisexual, what, whatever their definitions are, and they get picked 

on about that and I don't 

tolerate 

that at work.

So like, I hear about it, I go 

to the source of it and 

I'm like, this stops now or

you're done. And I 

fired a few people over things like that, 

but I. 

Once they know I'm 

gonna stand up for them,

I think it [00:24:00] gives them a little bit of comfort

for, yeah. And they know that they can talk to me about things. I'm just, I'm a normal 

person, 

but I'm also a mom. And I I've had to call adult men in positions of power in some communities around 

us and ask them to be professional when they speak to the girls at the coffee window. Yeah, and like, they're doing their job, and their job is good customer service.

This isn't a flirt with you and you're three times her age, so when you're here, let's keep it professional.

Janis: goodness. 

Michele: Yeah. 

Tracy: Yeah. What are you accusing me of?

I'm just asking you to be professional, it's

yeah, and there are men who give 60 year old men who 

give 20 year old girls their phone numbers 

say, Oh, call me. And then I call

and they're like, I didn't do

anything [00:25:00] inappropriate. And I was like, well, can I talk to your wife? Cause I want us to 

get her opinion on this. Yeah. So we do lose a few customers here and there from that kind of 

stuff. But 

Janis: Those are customers you don't need. Dingus. I 

Tracy: has had to kick out her fair share of 

creepy customers.

Yeah, 

Michele: probably the same guys. 

Tracy: could be. 

Janis: haven't had to deal with that here, so 

I'm, 

Tracy: That's good.

Janis: yeah.

Tracy: Yeah, it's yeah, it's just, 

it's the younger girls that are pretty and 

they're, And 

they're just, they're 

nice, and that's, you should be allowed to be nice as a female without that implying consent 

to, Yeah. 

Yeah. 

Michele: Everyone knows that reputation is crucial. 

One bad Google can do you in. I

feel like you answered this part. I'm going to ask it a little bit differently. Can you [00:26:00] share, do you have any tips or any, 

Tracy: Not really. Anymore. Like I, I 

used to just ask, 

Friends, family, customers, Hey, would would you leave us a 

review of, if you're 

Those 

negative ones. I did look at a company cause I have, there are 

a few, there 

are people you can't make

happy and A couple of the most scathing ones are 

people I've had to tell

not to come to the

shop again.



Tracy: But I I don't think it's, 

I just leave them on there now. It's an honest representation 

of all the shit that we go through.

So it's 

we do our very best 

to make sure everything is great, 

but. Customer service isn't always a hundred percent on point. And I always tell people 

when they complain, I thank them.

And they're like, I was so scared to tell 

you this. And I was like, don't, because how do I know 

what's wrong?

If you don't tell me, like, I can't skate 

along just thinking everything's always fine. And not. 

Like, I need to 

be [00:27:00] aware of where the weak things are because if 

I don't, if I don't know 

then I don't know what to work 

on.

So some of those are 

just, the price you 

pay. And there are a few 

that I 

think have been 

planted, 

On purpose. Those ones, but I've, 

I've responded to I respond to all 

of the negative feedback, but there 

are some that 

I think aren't legitimate and I don't deal 

with those.

Janis: Yeah. Yeah. 

So, Tracy, what's your daily routine and how it contributes to your success as an entrepreneur? Do you have any special 

things you 

do every day?

Tracy: my routine anymore is don't go to work.

Michele: Yeah.

Tracy: Can I? 

Yeah, we, 

I quit working 

in the shop 

about four years ago. 

I've got, Lauren is my manager. She is a lovely 

human. She's, 

she just had 

her second child. [00:28:00] She works three days a week, but manages, 

like, we, 

our group chats are some of the most. inconvenient things that 

happen just with questions or concerns or, Hey, so 

and so's 

this blah, blah, blah.

Can I switch shifts? 

And it's, 

A manager with 

a new person. It's just 

those type of, you have to have 

your, you have to be available. And so Lauren is, 

amazing. Does 

a great job. She. 

my philosophies. It took her a few 

years. I used to only do the hiring 

and 

the firing and now 

she's allowed to do that as well.

We had to get her people picker a little bit

better. I interviewed somebody. Cause Lauren's on maternity leave this this week and my youngest daughter, she's like, I want to sit in on this interview. 

You do. Cause I always tell her, I don't really interview. I just 

sit and talk 

to somebody for 10 minutes and get a feel for them.

Cause I don't need to know if they're 

like, I don't care if you're passionate about [00:29:00] coffee. I 

really don't. I'm not passionate. Like, I'm passionate about running a good business that makes 

money and

people like to work in. That's 

what I'm passionate about. Coffee is the

by product. So, we just, so I just sat there and talked to this girl for about 10 

minutes and I was like, okay, I like her. And, and then 

Brynn, because Brynn is just graduated college. She's going into her master's, but she's interviewed a 

lot. So she was like, I have a question. And, so she 

threw in a couple of questions, which I thought were great. And the girl 

gave really good answers. And 

I'm like, I'm interviewing to see if it's going to be a good customer service. 

Want. So, I can train knowledge.

I can't train attitude. Attitude just is not, 

Janis: Yeah. A hundred percent. 

Tracy: yeah.

Janis: Yeah. 

Tracy: I would rather work more. 

Then hire 

the wrong person, like I will I'll 

still, I'll be like, I just need a 

[00:30:00] body. And I was like, well, I'm going to be your body because I'm, I can 

be your worst employee for a little while until you 

find the right person. Because it is 

not worth wasting our time on the wrong person.

We, We, put a great deal of effort into 

training people and

It's a. Total, a hundred percent waste of time when we train the wrong people. And I gotta tell you a lot of those wrong people are working at other 

local 

coffee shops now. 

Janis: Wow. 

Tracy: So I yeah, 

I'm, well, I'm happy to have my worst employees 

be, theirs, so 

that's okay. 

Michele: Yeah. 

Tracy: There used to not be a lot of balance. I tried, I always took Sundays off. That was like my only day I 

was like, nope, not working. 

And it wasn't for church. It was just, 

I like a Sunday. 

I just, I like to 

roll out of bed late and 

we always have dinner with our neighbors on Sundays. 

So I just, that was like my only real break and then gradually, 

Transition to 

at all [00:31:00] the evenings off And then the weekends off.

And so it's it's just been a gradual transition 

into, now 

I just, I go in, I check in there two or three times a week. I grabbed the dirty towels, make sure I talked to everybody. 

If there's a problem employee, I go in and I hang out and I work a little bit and I watch and then I'll just, I have conversations.

I 

said that I just popped in the other day and I looked at somebody's drink and I was like, wow, that drink looks so delicious. It's got so much extra caramel 

on it, but they didn't order extra 

caramel. So I said, she's going to be really upset when she comes through next time. 

And her 

drink looks like half. Half drizzled 

because 

you overdid it. I said, so I'm not saying 

your drink doesn't look beautiful and it's not going to taste great. I'm saying you're going to make her 

disappointed if you keep doing 

this. She's going to be disappointed every other time you don't make the drink. [00:32:00] So we have consistency for a reason.

It's and she's like, well, the, hole's too 

big on the top of the squeeze bottle. I said, you know what the joy of that is? 

There's 50 more lids 

back there. Go get one that 

works better. 

Fix your problem. 

Well, I had to put this much on because the top's too big. No, you 

didn't. Just fix your problem.

Take some initiative, go back there, 

Janis: lower Your poor. Lower your poor. 

Tracy: Well, when it's hot, the sauces get 

Janis: they get softer. 

Tracy: so they come out faster. I mean, it's a simple, 

Science project. So, but, 

A lot, I don't, 

I think some 

kids, their parents just don't let them do anything. So they don't know how to solve their 

own issues. There are some kids 

that come in and they 

like completely can't make decisions. 

Or they're scared 

to make a decision. I didn't know 

if I was allowed 

to change this. 

Well, if it's dirty and needs cleaned, then of 

course. 

I'm 

not, [00:33:00] I'm never going to yell at somebody 

for trying their best or you thought, 

You thought,

it was going to be helpful.

Okay. 

But it's, 

No, I always try to 

prag the, pat the kids on the head that 

take the initiative 

to 

do things. So, 

Janis: Yeah. 

Michele: I always love the mantra. It's better to ask forgiveness 

than permission. 

Tracy: I used that one in the marriage, too.

I'm sorry I bought that. 

I'm so sorry. 

Michele: Tracy, you may know this, but my husband's name is Joe and I have two dogs named Java and Mocha. So I'm the only one without a coffee name. And I feel pretty, 

Tracy: Okay. 

Michele: if you were to come up with a

coffee and name it, Michelle, what would be, how would it 

be made? 

Tracy: Okay. I thought about this and the only thing it 

hinges on is if you like this flavor. Okay. Okay. Okay. But I don't know if you like, 

this flavor, because I know you like I 

know you 

like [00:34:00] white chocolate and chocolate. 

Yeah, but we have a new drink And it is a frozen

chocolate covered banana. 

It, is because it is it's pretty, I feel like you're,

I feel like you're like me kind of in 

business. It's a little bit like 

I get this, yeah, you're just kind of, you're not super 

complicated. You're 

like, I would just, I want a 

good business and you work at 

it you're working on 

it. So 

It is espresso

milk that polar powder that we use and then a real

banana. 

So there's a little bit of healthy in there, still nice and sweet, it's delicious, and then

you get a little bit of 

chocolate, and then 

we put a 

crunchy hard 

shell on the top, just as a little added 

surprise and just because it's 

fun, and sometimes you gotta be a 

little crunchy.



Tracy: I can tell them. 

Ha. 

Janis: it Yeah. No, but I was trying to find something that had like 

Tracy: [00:35:00] some,

well because not all of our drinks have a lot of natural ingredients in them. Some

do. Some don't. But the frozen ones can get a 

little So I was like, I need 

something that, has a 

natural ingredient in it. and that, that one 

has a

Michele: it. I love it.

This is great. So good with my wellness 

vibe. 

Janis: yeah it's good and 

healthy. Sounds 

Tracy: There you go. 

Janis: to crazy. What piece of advice would you give an aspiring entrepreneur looking to start their own coffee shop or 

any other business?

Tracy: Have a lot of money. 

it is, it

just,

Michele: So much easier to 

grow. 

Tracy: oh God, it's so things are so expensive. It's, people come in all the time and they're like, Oh, I've always wanted to own a coffee shop. And I was like, Oh, you want to 

work 16 hour days 

and not 

make any money for quite a

while. Right. And they're like, well, you seem to be doing good now. 

And I was like, Girl, yeah, they, it's, 



Tracy: Lot of

work and well, Michelle, you just did a build out, it is not cheap. Like I want 

to [00:36:00] 

I'm struggling cause there's, I need to 

do some, I would love to remodel the inside of my place and just make it a little more functional for how we work.

And, but then I got to shut down for a few days. So then I'm missing all that revenue and then. I've got to spend all of that money, so I'm trying, I always try to figure out how 

to do 

our repairs overnight. Like, we will shut 

down. I'll shut down a couple hours early if it's a big 1, but and then, we've replaced flooring.

We've, changed out cabinetry and countertops overnight. It's it's that I do have a wonderful construction guy that 

will, do that for me. 

Janis: You're fortunate in that 

regard.

Tracy: yeah, it's, 

it's just, I don't know. There's a lot of things I would like to 

do and I totally forgot what the actual question was. 

Janis: that we give to 

budding entrepreneur. Money. 

Tracy: It's money. Money. Money solves a lot of issues.[00:37:00] 

Yes. 

Janis: what you

Michele: Yeah. 

Janis: when 

Tracy: It 

Michele: It's so much easier to scale when You 

have money, like you can 

hire the right people, you 

can 

Tracy: Yeah.

Yeah. 

Janis: you want, 

yeah. 

Michele: Janice is still learning Janice is still learning how to figure that out.

She needs to start hiring 

people so 

she 

can 

Tracy: Oh, yeah. 

Janis: so I can do 

Tracy: Yeah. 

Janis: and now I'm only five years in. 

So I'm a newbie compared to you

guys. 

Tracy: Well, 

Janis: of course I've been in my real estate for 28 

years. So. I mean, I have been running a business, but it's just me. But still, customer service and all that jazz it makes a difference in everything that we do. 

Tracy: Oh, absolutely. 

Janis: Yeah. So Tracy, knowing what you know now, is there anything you would have done differently when starting Five Bean Coffee? Oh,

Tracy: Um, 

Janis: wow. [00:38:00] 

Tracy: I, I wouldn't say I would have gone to a bigger space, but I probably would

have planned our space a little differently because back, I mean, back then 

we didn't have I would like to get back into DoorDash, 

And like the 

delivery stuff 

because I quit doing it. It, I literally, there was one point. 

During, it's maybe a year, like in 2020. 1 or 2022 I just, I had to, I was working pretty regularly for a couple of weeks for some reason. And we do, we were doing door dash and I literally went home and I was just sick about going to work the next day. I was like, keeping up with the door dash and there's an issue.

There's always an issue with every order. People were trying to make their drinks, I want extra shots. I want extra this milk. I want this. And then [00:39:00] we're

ringing it up.

So we're constantly getting shorted money. It just wasn't put together quite 

right. And I was sick about going to 

work. I was 

hearing that bell go 

off in my head all night.

I was like, I don't even want to go to work in the morning. So I called DoorDash at 5 AM. And said, we're done this day. Take me off. I do not want to fill one more order. I can't do it. And I went to work and told everyone and a couple of people cried. They were 

So happy and I got hugs from the whole 

staff.

It was just bringing morale down so much. But I lost a thousand dollars profit a week. Because of it. So that was a nice revenue stream. So I would, I'm considering I, I need to do some remodeling stuff. I'm considering picking that back up and taking away pretty much the rest of my indoor seating. 

Janis: Oh. [00:40:00] 

Tracy: But that's a big commitment to make. So, because I'm down to 3 little tables. 

Janis: Are they filled up most of the time? I mean, people come 

in and just sit and, with their laptops, and read 

book, and drink coffee. 

Tracy: One, one or two of them. Yeah. 

Yeah. 

And that, but then there's, on the weekends, it's 

always, there's the tables inside, but the tables out, people will sit outside 

as long as the weather's not awful. I think if I vamp up

the patio 

and then did that, I think I would have to do both at the same, make that available.

But Because and then they could still walk in and order things, but it wouldn't be and some people just like 

to walk in and order. But the indoor seating is that's the thing. I just, I don't have 

anywhere else to go. I'm 

970 square feet. 

I mean, I have you've seen, 

I have boxes to the rafters. There's not an inch [00:41:00] of backspace that I can 

spare. 

Janis: Yeah. Same 

Tracy: So 

Yeah. it's just, but I don't want to increase my rent. Rent right now is stupid. 

Yeah. 

And my rent's pretty decent. I mean, it's, but it's still a big expense. 

Janis: For real. 

Michele: take that nail salon 

out? 

Just 

Tracy: What? But then my rent would double and then my cam fees would double, which the fees are stupid. 



Janis: So what resources would you recommend to someone looking to start their own entrepreneurial journey? 

Tracy: A good financial 

advisor. I think you have to, because I honestly, if you're working for yourself, you have to be able to account for your 

home life. you have to be able to pay your bills at home. And I was fortunate at 

the time when

we started, I was able to I was able to.

Start this. I actually, I raised the money. Like I did [00:42:00] a whole presentation to a group of people and got three, four main investors, and then a couple of people who did physical work for me and I paid them later kind of thing. So that was key. I've paid off all of, all but one of my

investors. 

Like several years ago. And then the one, the 

last investor, they didn't want ,they wouldn't let me buy them 

out. 

So yeah, 

Michele: So

Tracy: yeah, well, they, they've always had, I 

think, it's either eight or 11%. 

Yeah. 

So I just every year I just write him a 

check and move on 

with my day. 

He, like, I barely ever 

hear from him.

Yeah. He doesn't give a shit what I do. He just wants that check 

every year. So. 

You know, 

Michele: same. I want to invest in a business like that. I guess I did, but not, 

Tracy: I 

was like, I would like to be done 

with this. Can I just write you a big check and you go away? And they were like, no, 

I was like, [00:43:00] damn it. 

So, 

Janis: Maybe one day 

they'll . Yeah.

Tracy: I don't know. Who knows? So, 

, just talking 

to a good financial advisor, making 

sure that 

you're, you've got your ducks in a row. And also, 

You

know how much everything costs and you can afford to pay your bills without the right amount of 

income coming in.

Because I think a lot, that's a lot of 

people who just get their, get in over their 

heads. And with interest rates the way they are right now, I don't know how you survive 

that. 

Yeah, it's, uh, that's, 

Michele: the next big thing? What's the next big plan for Five Bean?

Tracy: um, 

well, it may be that little bit of remodeling 

and changing up what we do, 

um, That, that will involve a pretty serious conversation with, with Lauren too, because eventually Lauren wants to buy the business like she would buy it 

now. 

I'm 

holding out because Jason and I are still building 

our retirement nest egg [00:44:00] 

and, My 

salary.

Half of my salary goes into our retirement 

as, in 2008, we got 

wiped 

out. So we were, we were living on pennies. So 

we we have a lot of work we've 

been doing. Randy Holloway has been 

helping us, he put 

us, we get us all put back together and whole. 

And so, 

when we 

I'm, we call me, I'm practicing retiring.

Yeah 

I'm trying. And then 

Jason, he's finally 

gotten, he's not working on weekends now, which is for the first 

time in, since we've been 

married, which is 

nice. 

So we're, our goals are 

just to, kind of keep 

transitioning where he doesn't have to be 

working 80 hours a 

week. 

So now he's 

working 60, which seems more reasonable. 

So,

yeah, 

Michele: Are there any other business ventures you're considering or would like to explore in the future? 

Tracy: no, once, [00:45:00] honestly, I think my 

mindset changed so much. 

I used to have to be incessantly moving all the time, couldn't sit still. And, 

I 

think, I had 

breast cancer 

10 years ago. and 

I kept 

trying to keep going and kept moving and doing, 

and I kept screwing 

up my surgeries. So I burst a blood 

vessel.

I had complications. And then I. And then in 17, 17 and 18 I tore a muscle, the labrum in my hip and I got it 

fixed, started doing too much, ripped it again. So like 

my life has taught me like, just

slow down a 

little bit. So I've learned 

to enjoy the 

not running around. 

And being crazy 

all the 

time. I really, 

I try to operate on a [00:46:00] more just a slower pace, less 

chaotic, and I've learned to like 

less 

chaos. So when people say, Oh, you should open another 

one. I was like, no, 

absolutely 

not. I like, I would, if Lauren wanted to

open a second one I would 

probably help her financially and emotional support.

But I'm not interested 

in that kind of chaos in my life anymore. I just, I 

cried so much. When I opened that business and 

just how am I going to pay these bills? 

I owe 

Michele: Yeah, but you would be starting from experience, not from 

nothing. 

Tracy: correct, but I just, what if it doesn't take off 

fast and I got to work 

16 hours again and 

Michele: Never. It would, no, It wouldn't. You're going to be starting from what you know now, not from what you knew 

then. 

Tracy: the, I don't know, it's just it's just more I'm telling you, I got PTSD from the whole thing. I just 

don't, I don't want [00:47:00] the 

Janis: You just don't have the desire to do that. You're transitioning into a slower paced

Tracy: Yeah. Yeah. 

and I don't 

I, 

make a very, I make more off the shop than I ever thought I 

would. 

I thought this would be a nice little, 

job that would just, give me a little bit of 

spending money, and it would, just Be around 

for however, I 

didn't really know, but it has well succeeded my expectations. So I just I'm very happy with where it's at. I don't need to make more money. I like, I guess I could, but then I'd be working more and I. I'm enjoying, I have two year old grand twins, I see them five days a week Katie's baby, something goes wrong with Katie's nanny, I'm over there there's just, there's a lot of, there's a lot 

of

bonuses to just being around.

I have a mother in law with dementia, when they need help, I'm available. my mom lives [00:48:00] with 

us, I'm available. So I spend my lives, my, a lot 

of my day times and more acts of service now than than I used to have time for. 

Janis: Understand. I understand being my age too. I understand that. Having taken care of parents and adult kids, where you're coming.

Michele: yeah, when my sister was off work for a little bit I always said that there should be always someone in the family that is not working to be able to take care of all of the things. 

That 

Janis: It's available for everybody. 

Yeah. Yeah 

Tracy: Yeah. 

Sometimes it's 

great. And sometimes 

I'm like.

Oh, I'm 

not doing anything for 

me, so

yeah, I have started 

this year. I'm like, this is the year of me. It's I'm 

getting this fixed. 

I'm my, I'm going to get a revision 

down here this year. I'm. I started exercising

this year. 

I cut back on my drinking. I'm like, this is [00:49:00] the year that I'm going to get my shit together

and start feeling better because it's just been all about, it was all about the business, all about the kids, 

Janis: And as a woman too, I think a lot of us 

feel guilty if we take care of ourselves more and put ourselves in front of some of the others around us. And so don't feel guilty about making

this 

the year of you.

Tracy: I honestly, yeah, I don't anymore because like, as the kids are getting

older, they're making all these decisions and some of them, they just don't even consider our opinion. So I was like, well, They're gonna quit needing my opinion. I'm gonna quit caring about theirs.

Not quite that harsh,

I'm 

just, yeah, I'm gonna make what I want 

and need a priority right now.

Janis: Good for you. Good for you. 

Yeah. So, 

okay. 

We're going to switch gears into the lightning 

round. Now we're going to ask you fast questions. They don't necessarily have to [00:50:00] fast 

answer. Let me start over, Michelle.

All right. 

Tracy, we're going to switch to the 

lightning round. We're going to ask you some questions and you just give the answer that comes to your 

mind first. 

Tracy: This could be dangerous. 

Janis: Yeah. 

Oh,

Michele: as a gift or the book that made the biggest impact on you? 

Tracy: Honestly, it, there's there's a book that's, um, Holistic Remedies. , I I'm not a big fan of like medications and I, I'll take, I'll take a lot of supplements.

I'll do, I like to try to fix myself without medication most of the time. 

been

helpful.

Michele: your favorite holistic remedy? Oh geez. I'm really into, there's a 

Tracy: mullin tea.

That's M U L E I N. Like, my mom has this really weird cough. But anyway, this tea and you drink it and it's supposed to clear [00:51:00] your sinus, like all of the phlegm in your body and the 

mucus.

It's supposed to keep your mucus healthy. So my mom's cough is 

gone.

Michele: Oh, I need to get that for Joe. it is, it's 

Tracy: amazing. But they have it in drops and they have it in a

tea that you 

can drink 

Janis: you get that? 

Tracy: Amazon.

Janis: Okay. 

Tracy: Yeah. It's just, it's been versus mom just kept trying all these different cough syrups and medications. She's always sucking on it.

Like, I was like, just try this. And she did. 

And she was like, I haven't coughed in two days. wow. It works. I love it. What's an unusual habit or absurd thing that you love? 

Oh god my my thing I love, the TV show Love 

Island. 

It's 

my, and the 

UK version 

it's on Hula, Hulu, 

Love Island. It is these 20 and 30 year olds just 

all trying to find love 

and they're all ridiculous and it's so stupid. And that's 

actually that's where I [00:52:00] found 

my car. 

We were watching it during the 

pandemic and. 

There's like 10 seasons of the UK but like the second or third season, they drove up

and these 

little convertibles. And I was like, that's

the coolest 

car. And so I found one and I bought one, 

Janis: Oh. 

Tracy: but that's where I got my car from. But no, that's, I just 

I'm obsessed with the show.

It's the ringtone on my phone. It's 

Janis: I'll have to check that out. 

Michele: I never, I never 

would have 

Tracy: it is, 

It is the dumbest thing ever, but I 

just love 

it. I love 

it. 

Janis: I love it.

Michele: What's your proudest accomplishment?

Tracy: , 

My 

kids. I 

there's, 

They're, 

I'm so proud of them. They're all, they all have a work ethic. That 

is the

biggest brag 

I get on them all the time. 

Everyone is like, I 

just don't know kids that 

work like this anymore. So they're all 

really hard 

workers. 

Janis: Oh, good. 

Michele: I learned from their 

parents. 

Janis: exactly. 

Tracy: Well, 

They grew 

up, all three of them worked at the

coffee [00:53:00] shop. 

One of them 

might have gotten fired three times, but

Janis: Three times.

Michele: I'm going to guess that's Katie. I I knew you'd know! Oh, that's hilarious. So what purchase of 100 or less has most positively impacted your life?

Tracy: Oh, jeez. 

I buy a 

lot of stuff. 

just dumb stuff. 

just like anything that I can organize with. I'm, I can be very 

scattered. So, bins, hooks, Having a space for each thing. And like at the coffee shop, they all laugh at me. Cause I like a label maker and 

I like things to have 

homes. 

So I like bins and things just to, or yeah, anything to 

organize or 

keep things visually clutter 

free. It makes my brain happier and I like being able to find [00:54:00] things.

Michele: What is your current 

passion project? 

Tracy: I don't really have one right now. I think my passion project is 

me right 

Janis: was going to say, it's your shop, right? 

Tracy: it's 

probably me because I'm just, I'm 

trying, I've been 

going to Pilates 

now. 

I'm 

trying to find an exercise where I don't 

hurt myself again. I was like, 

my hip needs 

fixed 

again, but I, It's, it needs replaced when I, 

do, it's a long story, 

but I'm trying to get all my scar tissue stretched out. 

and prep 

myself to

be

a 

better candidate or better at surgery when I do it at the end of the year.

So, 

I'm just working on getting myself in a better space. So when I get all these things done, then I can just move on, relax. 

Janis: Yeah. So do you have one skill that you'd like to master?

Tracy: I I have a lot of skills that I'm [00:55:00] 

good. I'm reasonably good at. I'm not 

great at what's, was it doer of all 

master of none 



Tracy: I. I 

don't know that there's anything I really, I would like 

Michele: I know what you're a master of,

Tracy: what? 

Michele: putting together furniture. 

She volunteered 

to 

come 

help 

Tracy: okay with that. 

Michele: furniture when we were moving in to our new space. Karen 

said 

she 

Janis: Whoa, nice. 

Tracy: well, 

I'm, good at that. I do it all the time. 



Tracy: I, I just, I 

don't,

I've been doing, handy projects 

since I 

was young, I used to repair my brother's

matchbox cars with paperclips, like their axles would break and I would, and my dad would let me solder stuff. Like my dad didn't

ever treat me 

like a girl. He 

taught me just, well, if you want to fix This is how you 

fix 

it.

So, 

I don't know that there's anything I really want to 

master. 

I do

want to, 

I want, to 

[00:56:00] watercolor 

paint. I

really want 

to,

it's like one style of painting I haven't done, but I love

it. So that is on my radar this year 

that I want to 

start. I want to learn how to watercolor 

paint because I can 

Janis: vendors in here does watercolors on cards. Maybe I should have her 

teach you or do a

Tracy: There you go. Oh, that 

would be fun. Yeah, hook 

me up with her. 

I am Lois Clark. Do you

remember her? She always had stuff at the at the library and she used to work at

the 

library. 

Janis: do know that name. Okay. 

Tracy: She's she's lived in Pickerington forever. We lived next door to her growing up and I have several of her 

watercolors 

hanging in my

bedroom 

because I just love them. I just think they're 

so pretty. And I want to do that,

but 

I just, I have not invested 

the time because

I don't like to do things I'm not good 

at. 

So I put

off doing 

what I do. Don't know how to 

do 

Janis: I guess practice 

makes perfect.

Tracy: yeah I need to 

start practicing because I'm I haven't 

[00:57:00] even I'm not I'm scared 

to do Things

that

I don't think I'm gonna do well, 

Janis: Yeah, 

I get 

that. 

Tracy: so yeah So 

Michele: What was your first job? 

Tracy: I worked at the pool in Huntington Hills

when I was 

14 

Janis: Oh, 

Tracy: Yeah, 

my dad said you're 14.

That's the minimum 

age to

work down there

and None of my kids not gonna be laying around on the 

weekends, so I worked at the pool You



Tracy: Probably fairly 

similarly. I don't know,

I don't know when or how I'm

transitioning selling this business. 

But I think Laura needs a little bit 

more time to figure 

out. 

I only want to sell it if I know it's gonna be successful. I, cause 

I 

don't want to, I've 

had

offers from other people and I didn't think that they would get what I was doing. And I think the staff culture 

is so important there that they 

need it. [00:58:00] 

Parented similar, at least this 

staff needs parented similarly. 

So I don't want 

to sell it to someone 

who's 

not 

going 

to keep it, keep it 

going as 

well.

Janis: Yeah, that's your 

Tracy: Yeah. So, but I would 

like to. Be 

coming down to 

Florida, 



Tracy: we come down every five or six

weeks for a week. 

I want to keep doing that. 

I'd probably 

be adding visiting my two other kids because I don't know where Brynn's going to end up. She 

says she'll end up close to us. I don't know. Danny's in

Cincinnati. So, if he 

ever 

settles

down, gets married, I'd like to,

Go down there and 

spend time with his kids. 

I'm sure 

I will be helping Katie, 

With the twins going to activities because 

she's one person with Two children who 

don't like to do the 

same thing ever. 

Janis: It's a handful. Handful.

Tracy: Yeah. Two handfuls. Yes. Yes. [00:59:00] So what song do you turn on when you want to get pumped up? my favorite song is Earth Wind and Fire September. That's my favorite. Yeah 

someone told me that 

they that was they did a study of songs that make people 

happy and that was like the 

number one song 

and I was 

like Okay. Well This explains a 

lot for me 

because I If I'm in a bad mood, I put that song on and I 

can't 

not you can't not sing and 

dance 

I'm very affected by 

the 

things around me, so happy 

music is good. if I'm around a bunch of sourpuss people, I turn into that, If 

it's,

yeah, I can be, emotionally overwhelmed by walking into a big room of people sometimes. So music 

Is very helpful. I listen to music all day long here in the shop and I I 

Janis: love it.

Tracy: Yeah, like we never have coffee shop music playing at the coffee shop. I tell the staff, 

as long as [01:00:00] it's 

not, we're not doing rap 

or not. It has to be coffee shop appropriate, but we don't, I don't have music in the 

background. I 

was 

like, play the music you 

like and It puts you in a good mood. 

So some days it's country, some days it's, 

Janis: Yeah. 

My genre changes from time to time 

as well. Yeah. 

All right, Tracy. Would you rather have the ability to create any flavor of coffee in the world, but it can only be served cold, or would you rather have the ability to make the most aromatic and robust coffee, but it can only be served piping hot, even on the hottest day of summer?

Cold? 

Tracy: Oh, 

by far, our 

cold drinks outsell our 

hot 

drinks. 

Janis: Anytime of the year. 

Tracy: All year long, even in winter. 

Michele: don't think I've ever had 

cold 

coffee. 

Tracy: It's just 

so delicious. 

Janis: My dad used to sit on the porch and he was a coffee drinker all [01:01:00] day long, but he would always throw ice in his coffee in the summertime and just, he loved ice coffee. 

Tracy: our stuff is so good cold. It's, in like, even in the winter, it's one frozen drink, one ice drink 

to 

one, to one hot drink. and then in the summer, it's. 

Janis: yeah. 

Tracy: three ice drinks to one hot drink.

Michele: Oh, wow. So no wonder they give me a weird look when I say I want to. 

Tracy: it's totally fine. A lot of 

people do it, but it is 

Our, we are known well in the ridiculous amount of flavors that we have, we're just,

kind of known for all those different combinations of things. Often imitated. But never quite duplicated, 

so,

Janis: we're in original. 

Michele: Tracy, 

thank you so much for joining us on Cosmos and Commerce. This has been amazing. And I know our listeners will have so many 

takeaways. 

Tracy: [01:02:00] yes, 

Michele: Tell me, where can our listeners find you?

Tracy: um, 

we are physically 

located at 2087 a state 256, in Reynoldsburg. We're 

just across or 

just under, you know, under 70 

on

256 And we're 

just a quarter mile up 

the street on the left. Near 

Bebe Bop across from Chipotle and then it's fivebeancoffee. com. We do have Facebook, Instagram, and we do have a TikTok that we've got some cute stuff on.

So 

yeah. 

Janis: Well, I'm sure that a lot of our listeners are going to be 

following you

and coming now if they haven't. So thank 

you so much. and thank you all of our listeners for joining 

us. We hope you're 

able to sip some wisdom, savor some 

insights and are now ready to brew your 

own 

success. 

Michele: Don't forget to hit that subscribe button and stay updated on [01:03:00] our latest episodes. And if you're thirsty for more, find us at cosmosandcommerce. com. Until next time, keep sipping, keep savoring and keep 

succeeding. 

Tracy: Thank 

Janis: Cheers. Have a good day. Thanks Tracy so much. 

Tracy: you. I appreciate it, 

girls. 

Janis: Appreciate you.