By By Brenda Erdahl
Maple Lake’s favorite coffee shop, Irish Blessings will be under new ownership starting Thursday, Sept. 1.
Erin and Brandan Hoon have purchased the business on Oak Ave from long-time owners Chris and Natalie McClory. They said they have no major changes in store for the shop in the immediate future except to introduce their own brand of home-roasted coffee that has been a hit at local farmer’s markets – customers know them as Spooky Brew Coffee Co.
“We want to honor the history of this business and home, but make it our own too,” Erin said.
The Hoons, and their 14-month-old son Wyatt, are from St. Michael but are in the process of moving to Cokato. Erin is a labor and delivery nurse at Maple Grove Hospital. Brandan is the brew master in the family, but Erin has her own set of skills to bring to the business, including how to make a mean sourdough cinnamon bread.
Before Covid, Brandan was a restaurant manager and has worked for several large chains including Jimmy John’s and Noodles and Company. It was on the couple’s honeymoon to Key West that he discovered his love for brewing coffee.