Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

WELLS — With a grocery store, movie theater and several restaurants, Wells has become a great community to own a small business in. The owner of The Pink Cup coffee shop, Jenny Lutteke, has experienced this firsthand.

Previously the owner of Jenny’s Pink Petals flower shop, also in Wells, Lutteke said she closed the business two years ago to pursue a new venture. While she enjoyed selling flowers, she said, it was very time-consuming as she was always “on call.”

“I was just ready for a change,” Lutteke said. “And who doesn’t want to run a coffee shop?”

Lutteke had her eyes set on a special building downtown. In addition to being beautiful and spacious, it had also previously housed a prior coffee shop, The Bean.

In June, Lutteke and her husband, Chris, purchased the building. After some remodeling and decorating, Lutteke opened The Pink Cup in August during Wells Kernel Days.

The Pink Cup has a variety of coffee drinks as well as refresher drinks and baked goods. She said she also plans to introduce ice cream when the weather becomes warmer.

When she opened The Pink Cup, Lutteke said one of her goals was to create a space where the community could gather. It now regularly hosts Bible studies, book clubs and even live music events.

It has also become a regular after-school hangout spot.

“We get some kids after school … I love having the youth in here,” Lutteke said, adding she loves the young energy they bring to the shop.

Lutteke not only uses the building for the coffee shop, but she also keeps the upstairs space, which she has remodeled into a studio apartment for Airbnb. It has two beds, a kitchenette, an eating area and a bathroom. She said the apartment is typically booked every weekend.

Lutteke said the people in Wells have been really good about supporting local businesses, leading to The Pink Cup’s success.

As she tests new drink ideas for winter and spring, she hopes that this success continues for many seasons to come.