BEANS COFFEE BAR: POURING Love ... ONE CUP AT A TIME

Words by Megan Bartholomay Photography by Kensie Wallner Photography

As high school sweethearts at Fargo South, Heidi and Chris Holland never imagined they’d be married with seven (yup, SEVEN!) kids and running one of the area’s newest and trendiest coffee bars. Enter Beans.

When you walk into Beans Coffee Bar, you’ll notice a few things that don’t come with your average coffee shop: the delicious smell of mini donuts (yes, mini donuts!), the bright and modern décor reminiscent of an upscale spa and the family-friendly atmosphere complete with a play area for kids.

Holland's nickname growing up was always Beans. It was a name her father, legendary NDSU football coach and ardent coffee lover, Don Larson, affectionately gave her early on.

She recalled with a laugh, "My parents never called me Heidi unless I was in big trouble. And I like beans. A lot." So when her father suddenly passed away of a heart attack more than 10 years ago, she envisioned opening a coffee shop in honor of his memory.

Holland never shared her dream with anyone until one day in early 2014 when she confided in Chris, who insisted she pursue her dream and immediately found her the perfect retail spot.

"I was pretty scared," Holland said. "I was a stay-at-home mom for 10 years, but with my youngest in kindergarten, it was the perfect time for Beans to finally happen.” But with the love and support of Chris and her family, and their total dependence on God's will, ev- erything just fell into place. And they haven't looked back since.

In November 2014, Beans made its debut on Veteran’s Boulevard with plans to open a second location on South University Drive this spring. Holland said both locations offer some unique perks like a bar with outlets to recharge your gadgets, mandatory drive-thru windows, same-visit free refills on regular coffee, homemade mini donuts on every drink (which she affectionately calls DON-uts, in honor of her dad), an array of breads and pastries from local bakers, free wifi and a play area with books, games and snacks for kids.

Holland said her inspiration for a kid-friendly space and modern décor stemmed from her own experiences frequenting coffee shops. She said, “When my kids were younger, I spent a lot of time with them in coffee shops, so I knew what worked and what didn’t.” Holland and Chris, whose kids ranging in age from 7 to 21, named their specialty drinks after each child and offer half price discounts on each of their birthdays. Holland laughed, “It’s really cute. They get very competitive about who sold the most drinks with their name every month.” She even has a drink named after Chris called the Love-A-Latte.

And she attributes much of Beans' success to the overwhelming support from the community and outpouring of love from customers. "They've just rallied around us. Beans brings people together. We all have parents and loss and a chance to bless the lives of others, even if it’s just a smile and a yummy hot cup of coffee. Beans is all about giving back and glorifying God every step of the way." Holland and Chris' foundation is their faith, which is evident on their Bean of Light board daily inspirations (also found on their custom cups and website), and they often donate their retail space to host fundraisers and community-based causes. Beans hosts open mic nights and is home to periodic painting parties, Coffee and Canvas. To celebrate God's work and blessing in their lives, Beans exclusively plays Christian music every Sunday.

Patrons can see Holland’s commitment to her clientele by her infectious smile to anyone entering Beans. And the love for her dad is apparent as the shop is lined with photos she’s had made into giant custom canvases. “I miss him every day,” said Holland. With tears in her eyes, she said opening Beans has given her some closure with her dad’s passing. “He would have been here every day getting a light roast, black. He’d be laughing and smiling and welcoming the customers. And I feel him every day saying, ‘Beans, I’m so proud of you.’” [AWM]