The Upper Yard revitalizes local family’s historic property

Rachel Kroeger

Staff

June 29, 2026

MANITOWOC – Despite celebrating its grand opening June 6, Co-owners Sophie and Steven Phillips said The Upper Yard – the lakeshore’s newest coffee shop – has been “quietly” serving customers since the end of May.

“We wanted to prove [the concept] to ourselves first,” Sophie said. “So, we [opened] slowly, because you [only] do it once and you want to do it right.”

Located at 1 Maritime Drive in downtown Manitowoc, Sophie said the harbor-side building she and Steven renovated has been owned by McMullen & Pitz Construction – her family’s neighboring company specializing in both land- and marine-based construction – for more than a century.

“The company itself is going to be, hopefully, [operated by our] fourth generation,” she said.

Paying homage to her family’s roots in Manitowoc, Sophie said their shop is named after a piece of property her family nicknamed “the upper yard.”

“Growing up, my dad had a little sliver of land up [the river] that he calls the upper yard,” she said. “We [wanted] to keep a little bit of that legacy in addition to [being] right next to the company and keeping that nautical theme.”

Since their soft opening in May, Steven – a former recruiter turned stay-at-home dad for their two sons – said he and Sophie have enjoyed early interest from lakeshore locals.

“I don’t feel like it’s ours sometimes,” he said. “It is kind of surreal – maybe it’ll kick in later.”

‘Where they find me’

Sophie, a traveling night nurse, said despite her interest in health care, she’s “always wanted to open a coffee shop.”

“Since I was little, it was always my first dream – my mom actually works as a nurse,” she said. “So, I’ve always wanted to do nursing, and I did, and I love it. However, not to be cliché, but years down the road, I don’t want to be like…, ‘We always wanted to [open a coffee shop], but we never did.’”

After having their sons – three-year-old Odin and Artie, who’s nearly two – Steven said he and Sophie began seriously considering opening a coffee shop, with the vacant building on Maritime Drive presenting a prime opportunity.

“Construction [started] by January of this year,” he said, “but I think we originally started talking with [Manitowoc-based] Hamann Construction in June of 2025 – maybe even earlier.”

Sophie said the building had sat vacant “for a while” prior to them moving in, with full-spectrum renovations targeting aesthetics as well as overall function.

“We needed to knock a wall down – there used to be a vault that was my grandfather’s as well that we wanted to keep, but with the limited space, obviously we weren’t able to do that,” she said. “We tried to keep as much of the original charm. We sanded and re-varnished the trim, [and] the front door is original… We just refreshed everything.”

Drawing inspiration from her family’s Northwoods property, Sophie said she wanted to combine the coziness of a cabin with the building’s nautical roots.

“Any day off we have, we try to go up to our cabin, and that was part of our family legacy, too,” she said. “We like spending winter days, summer months, every chance we get up there. So, I wanted to incorporate some of that cottagey feel, too.”

Sophie said The Upper Yard’s slogan – “where they find me” – also pays homage to her family’s time in the Northwoods.

A look through decades of guest books at the family cabin, she said, revealed a meaningful family connection.

Written in entries by her grandfather – “who passed away when I was young” – and later her father, Sophie said, was the same phrase: “Where they find me.”

“I really liked that – whatever that may be for whoever,” she said. “If it’s your happy place, or for us it’s the cabin, it’s just where they find you.”

Sky’s the limit

Born and raised in Manitowoc, Sophie said her father would always suggest she “stay around” to help build the community.

“Being a travel nurse, [Steven and I have] done a few gigs around [the country], and we used to live in Colorado,” she said. “My dad was always [suggesting I] stay around and build the community. I kind of laughed and, like every kid when they graduate from high school, [said], ‘I’m moving out of state, [and] I’m getting out of here.’ But full circle, here we are.”

Sophie said The Upper Yard’s menu features smoothies, sandwiches and light breakfast fare to complement its various coffee-based beverage options.

“I like getting a really good cup of coffee – something that’s smooth, that feels better for your tummy and is not just loading you up with sugar,” she said. “But [when] you have caffeine, you get the jitters [and] want something good that balances it.”

Working with limited space, Steven said they had to curate their offerings to the building’s “capabilities.”

“Drawing from our experience, what we want to see at shops, [we decided on] easy-going meals,” he said. “Easy lunches or easy breakfast sides, where it’s not too complex.”

Sophie said Steven’s homemade breakfast sandwiches were an obvious choice for their menu.

“We always have family over – we like entertaining – and he always makes breakfast sandwiches or food in general,” she said. “Steven loves being in the kitchen, and it just worked out.”

Besides previously working in recruiting and sales, Steven said he also has hospitality experience.

“I first got into hospitality when I first got out of college… because I couldn’t find a job right away,” he said. “So, that part comes easier than, [for instance], being behind a desk then jumping into hospitality.”

As Sophie continues to travel for work, Steven said most days, he can be found behind the counter, serving customers at The Upper Yard.

“I was fortunate enough to spend time with the boys for a year,” he said. “[That] probably helped us launch this, too – just me being home.”

Though he misses the full-day company of his sons, at times, Steven said he hopes they are inspired by The Upper Yard as he and Sophie embark on their new adventure.

“I do miss being around the boys more – just because I know they’re only so young [for so long] and [they are] only this age once – but someone said the other day, they’ll be thankful for this down the road,” he said. “Maybe they can see how hard we worked, how we strived for something we wanted to do, that we enjoyed and we loved, and hopefully they can [see] the sky is the limit for them.”

For The Upper Yard’s full menu and hours of operation, visit its Facebook page.