• LinkedIn
  • X
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
Call now: (800) 780-7133Login
Test Env1
  • Solutions
  • Products We Offer
  • Partner
  • Blog
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Search
  • Menu Menu

BRB Stories: Cafe de Stir It Up and the Fight for Dietary Freedom

Being a Business Owner, Business Stories
by Brandon Wyson5 minutes / December 17, 2022
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on X
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Share on Vk
Two coffee cups about to touch

Congratulations to Cafe de Stir it Up, an Alaskan-based small coffee shop and eatery that offers dietary-restriction-friendly fare, for receiving one of five third-place prizes in Kapitus’ inaugural Building Resilient Businesses (BRB) contest! Cafe de Stir it Up has received $20,000 to help grow their business

The world at large has undergone a dietary revolution in recent years. As nutritional choices and restrictions become more commonplace, eating at restaurants and cafes harbors much less anxiety for all those with limitations. Cities like New York, London, and even gastronomically-traditional Paris have numerous vegan, gluten-free, and other restriction-conscious spaces. But under Alaskan skies, such great expectations ought to be adjusted … or should they? Enter Café de Stir it Up, owned and operated by Michaella Perez, the premiere locale for dietary restriction-friendly fare in Fairbanks, Alaska.

 “Some people wonder why we withstand -25-degree plus temperatures, but there is just something about the Golden Heart City that keeps us here,” said Perez. And the voters of Kapitus’s Building Resilient Businesses Contest agreed, giving Perez and Stir it Up enough votes to earn them a $20,000 grant.

After capturing minds and hearts in the BRB contest, now is our chance to learn more about the soul behind Stir it Up and what inspired a mom, entrepreneur, and visionary to bring dietary freedom to Fairbanks.

Authentic Inspiration

Stir It Up is a business born from inspiration rather than cold data. While a Starbucks or McDonald’s will go up on a corner because analysts calculated that area has the most foot traffic and potential for sales, Stir It Up came to be because a determined and business-savvy mother wanted to heighten the lives and experiences of those in her community. Dietary restrictions exist in a complex space where – until you, or someone you know well are faced with one – it can be hard to visualize how hard getting a good meal can be. Gluten-free, lactose mal-absorbent, vegetarian, vegan, keto, egg-free – it may sound like a fantasy to meaningfully serve these incrementally demanding restrictions, but according to Perez, it’s just part of the job.

After seeing one of her children deal with the unending blandness of most allergy-safe meals – white rice and salads can only last so long – Perez knew she could make dietary restrictions not just manageable but delicious and fun. “To survive in this market, you have to have a niche,” explains Perez. Café Stir it Up isn’t simply prepared for dietary restrictions; they are up to the challenge. “I realized that my community had a need: a place that truly understood dietary challenges,” Perez said about her business. With a gluten-free bakery and a collection of dairy substitutes on-hand, it is near-inconceivable for someone not to find the proper fix for their dietary lifestyle.

Power to the People, Power to Grow

In 2015, Perez and her team expanded to a brick-and-mortar location in Fairbanks, making the “café” in their namesake true to its merits. Now with increased capacity for customers and service, Café Stir it Up quickly became a community gathering spot for the Fairbanks community and everyone else willing to brave the cold. 

“Little did we know that we would be negatively impacted by a pandemic, major road construction, and shortages of revenue, supplies and employees,” Perez explained when talking about the challenges of maintaining Stir it Up. Cafés especially faced a share of hardships during the pandemic, and hiring troubles can quickly become hiring crises when the applicant pool only includes the greater Fairbanks area.

Keeping Cafe Stir it Up alive during the most challenging moments didn’t happen by chance or coincidence; Perez and her team put in the hours. Through engagement with their local community and a commitment to serve Fairbanks as best they could, Perez and her team got creative and survived as a result. Especially for those with dietary restrictions, Stir it Up stands for much more than a place to get good coffee and service. By having a business serve your needs, that business further justifies the legitimacy of your needs. Stir it Up gives a voice to a community that is usually restricted to much larger urban areas. While a dietary-restriction-friendly café may be a drop in the bucket in New York City, the people of Fairbanks know how lucky they are to have Stir it Up.

BRB for Growth

After submitting her video to the Kapitus Building Resilient Businesses Contest, Perez, and Stir It Up, found lots of love during the public voting phase. She and her team took home one of the five third-place prizes of $20,000. “We are ecstatic to win this prize,” Perez said. “So, to think…little old me in little ol’ Fairbanks won something and took third. This is huge for us. We are honored. $20k is going to help SO much.”

One of the many goals of the BRB contest is to enable small businesses to strengthen their communities. There are few better examples than Stir it Up and Perez when it comes to community empowerment. With these resources from BRB, Perez doesn’t just improve her business. With every coffee and meal served, Stir it Up fosters a home for dietary freedom.

Learn the stories of all of our small business winners:

BRB Stories: After Devastating Setback, Play Pits Takes First Place in Kapitus’ BRB Contest!

BRB Stories: Relying on Faith and Passion for Business Success

BRB Stories: Creating Libraries-worth of Unforgettable Memories!

BRB Stories: Healing Relationships with Body & Fitness

BRB Stories: Frères Branchiaux and the Fragrance Revolution

Brandon Wyson

Brandon Wyson

  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Youtube
  • Instagram

Read More Articles >>

Related Posts

Our trending spaces

December 12, 2024 Uncategorized

new post

December 12, 2024/by Samata Huddar
November 14, 2024 Uncategorized

[forminator_form id="129616"]

November 14, 2024/by Samata Huddar
July 23, 2024 Uncategorized

Hello world!

July 23, 2024/by [email protected]
Load more
Tags: building resilient businesses
https://kapstaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/iStock-1389061959.jpg 939 2200 Brandon Wyson https://kapitus.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Kapitus_Logo_white-220.webp Brandon Wyson2022-12-17 07:55:132022-12-17 07:55:13BRB Stories: Cafe de Stir It Up and the Fight for Dietary Freedom
You might also like
TFTI Experience, Brian Andaya, Building Resilient Businesses Contest, Small Businesses, KapitusBRB Stories: Creating Libraries-worth of Unforgettable Memories!
Strands of Faith, Ameka Coleman, small business, Building Resilient Businesses, KapitusBRB Stories: Relying on Faith and Passion for Business Success
Candle in middle frameBRB Stories: Frères Branchiaux and the Fragrance Revolution
BRB Stories: Healing Relationships with Body & Fitness
Play Pits, Building Resilient Businesses, Chantel PowellKapitusBRB Stories: After Devastating Setback, Play Pits Takes First Place in Kapitus’ BRB Contest!
Small Business ContestKapitus Launches Building Resilient Businesses Contest with $250K to Assist Small Businesses

Pages

  • #130302 (no title)
  • 1 Address Lookup
  • 2 SICs Code Looup
  • About Us
  • Accolades
  • Announcements
  • Blog
  • Blog (copy)
  • BRB Rules
  • BRB Rules
  • BRB Submit
  • BRB Vote
  • Build Errors
  • Build Errors 2
  • Building Resilient Businesses
  • Business Funding
  • Business Lines of Credit
  • Business Lines of Credit LP
  • Business Loans
  • Business Loans Financing LP New
  • California Privacy Thank you
  • Careers
  • Casa
  • Charm Solutions
  • CJ Affiliate
  • Club Anabella Corp
  • CMS Funding
  • Commercial HVAC
  • Contact Us
  • Coverdash
  • CTA Estimate
  • Custom Header
  • CUSTOMIZE YOUR JOURNEY
  • Data Privacy Request
  • Developer Documentation
  • Diamond R Equipment
  • Diamond R Equipment Application
  • Document Upload
  • Equipment
  • Equipment Application
  • Equipment Financing Application
  • Equipment Financing Thank you
  • Errors
  • Experian
  • FAST APPLICATION
  • Fast Application Thank you
  • Fast Business Loans
  • Footer Cobrand
  • Form Move
  • Form Move (copy)
  • Gutenberg Example
  • Home
  • Home Plus
  • HOMEPAGE
  • In The News
  • Investable
  • Invoice Factoring Application
  • Invoice Factoring Application Thank you
  • Media Center
  • Nav
  • NEW FORM PAGE
  • new page
  • next js redirection
  • Orkah Holdings
  • Our Leadership
  • Partner
  • Payability
  • Penhurst
  • Penhurst Equipment Application
  • Press Kit
  • Press Releases
  • PRIVACY POLICY New
  • PRIVACY STATEMENT – CALIFORNIA
  • Products We Offer
  • Radio Bill
  • Radio Nospin
  • react_form
  • ReactjsDemo
  • Redirection Page
  • Referral Partner Program
  • Referral Partners
  • Renewal Document Upload
  • Sales Partner Program
  • Sales Partners
  • Share Your Story
  • Sitemap
  • Solutions
  • STAY
  • STICKY foot
  • STICKY FOOTER
  • Subscribe
  • Success Stories
  • TERMS OF USE
  • The Kapitus Difference
  • Ucc payment

Categories

  • Automotive
  • Uncategorized

Archive

  • December 2024
  • November 2024
  • July 2024
  • June 2024
  • May 2024
  • April 2024
  • March 2024
  • February 2024
  • August 2023
  • May 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • April 2021
  • October 2020
  • August 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • November 2017
  • August 2017
  • March 2017
  • November 2016
  • July 2016

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

Join

Discover

  • Kapitus Difference
  • Resource Center
  • Success Stories

About

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Leadership Team
  • Careers
  • Media Center
  • Kapitus Partner API

Products

  • Business Loans
  • SBA Loans
  • Line of Credit
  • Equipment Financing
  • Helix® Healthcare Financing
  • Revenue Based Financing
  • Invoicing Factoring
  • Purchase Order Financing

Copyright 2024 Strategic Funding Source, Inc. All rights reserved. Kapitus and the Kapitus logo are registered trademarks of Strategic Funding Source, Inc. Loans made or brokered in California are made or brokered pursuant to California Finance Lenders License No. 603-G807.

  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
Scroll to top