New coffeeshop aims to be refuge for creativity, belonging

Cheryl Hentz

Contributor

April 6, 2026

MANITOWOC – Coffee shops seem to be everywhere these days, each trying to stand out. 

However, Owner Katrina Buechner said few are quite like the recently opened Inspire Coffeehouse in Manitowoc.

Opening in late February at 932 S. 10th St., Buechner said the shop reflects a vision she’s been building for years, rooted in her and her husband Barry’s shared passion for coffee, community and connection.

“I had a vision and a dream that I was supposed to open a coffee shop and help the community,” she said. “At the same time, the owner of the building we found was looking for a Christian couple or Christian family to run a coffee shop. We felt like the timing to do this was right.”

According to inspire-coffeehouse.com, Inspire is a “safe, welcoming space where everyone belongs, whether you’re here for a moment or a meaningful conversation… It’s a refuge for connection, creativity and belonging in a world that often feels disconnected.” 

Buechner said the business name reflects what they are trying to create.

“Our values are that anyone who walks through the doors is to be seen, valued and heard – that’s our goal,” she said. “We want to inspire people who come in with whatever inspiration they may need.”

Buechner said that vision carries through in the details, including inspirational coffee cups made by a friend.

“Each one has a different inspirational saying,” she said. “We have inspirational sayings displayed all around our coffee shop on the tables and so forth.”

Buechner said she and Barry aim to inspire people in the community.

“Maybe it’s a woman or a family trying to open her own business or someone who may be struggling in some way,” she said. “People and their stories are valued, and we are working toward building a community.”

Hand in hand with Mosaic

Buechner said the coffeehouse will be complemented by the adjoining Mosaic – a faith-based music and event center opening soon.

“Mosaic is a large, open space that features a stage that can accommodate up to 10 people and is poised to feature live music and other events,” she said. “We’re planning on having live, family-friendly music Fridays, Saturdays or Sundays.”

Buechner said Mosaic is still awaiting glass dividers and doors that will create separation between it and the coffee shop.

“The Mosaic’s occupancy is 70, and when the glass doors are open to Inspire, an additional 30 seats are gained for a total occupancy of 100,” she said.

Buechner said the coffee shop and music venue concept reflects a vision the landlord has pursued for more than a decade.

“She was envisioning in her plans to have a coffee shop and a music venue,” she said. “In my vision, I saw having a coffee shop and something to help the community, so we collaborated together. It’s like this was meant to be.”

Buechner said when she and Barry first toured the building two-and-a-half years ago, it was simply one large, empty space.

“Everything you see here now is what we had constructed for the coffee shop,” she said. “My husband and I sat down with the architect and landlord of the building and designed and constructed it the way we wanted it to be. The architect came with the plans, and we looked at counters and lights together and agreed on things.” 

Buechner said her vision for a community-centered coffee shop began three years ago, and once they chose a location and determined the design for both the coffeehouse and Mosaic center, construction got underway.

“As in most construction or renovation projects, we ran into problems along the way,” she said. “We hit construction delay after delay in doing the renovations, etc., but as I look back at it now, everything happened for the right reasons and at the right time – it all worked out.” 

Coffee, paninis and more…

Before going into business for herself, Buechner said she worked for six or seven years as a pre-school teacher, as well as a K-8 music teacher.

Most recently, she said, she spent 18 years working for a local Culver’s. 

“At the time I left, I was working as an assistant manager,” she said. “That knowledge and skillset is what I bring to Inspire. I had a dream of being in business for myself. It was a blessing that everything came together as it did at this particular time.” 

Drawing from her previous work experiences, Buechner said she identified what worked and what didn’t, while also considering ways to meet needs within the community.

“I used those things to put together our coffee shop,” she said. “What we offer is very unique, especially for a coffee shop.”

Buechner said there are several coffee shops within a two-block radius of her location, and though she wasn’t looking to compete, she wanted to create a space she would personally enjoy spending time in. 

Though she has a strong appreciation for food and coffee, she said her goal was to make Inspire’s environment feel different.

“The warm, welcoming environment and making everyone feel special when they walk in the door is what we pride ourselves on,” she said. 

A look at Inspire’s online menu shows a wide range of coffee and non-coffee drinks, including flavored lattes, espressos, macchiatos, cappuccinos and freshly squeezed lemonade.

For those looking for something to eat, Buechner said the shop also offers breakfast and lunch paninis, which are among its most popular items.

“We also have regular nachos and BBQ chicken nachos,” she said. “In addition, the menu offers soups and sides – which change regularly – as well as pastries, chocolate desserts and fluffs.”

Buechner said Inspire’s soups are sourced locally, as the shop does not have a stove or oven of its own.

“I plan to change up the soup flavors every few months,” she said. “We only have the panini presses.” 

The fluff factor

Buechner said the shop’s signature item is its “fluff,” a unique creation she has been making for nearly two decades.

“When I was younger, I worked at a grocery store where they sold fluff, as many grocery stores’ deli departments do,” she said. “I liked the idea of fluff and wondered if I could make my own.” 

From there, Buechner said she began looking through cookbooks, searching online and occasionally using AI to generate ideas.

“Most of what I come up with is my own through experimentation,” she said. “Flavors include strawberry cheesecake, cookies ‘n cream, mint Oreo and even a vanilla fluff with Lucky Charms for St. Patrick’s Day.” 

Buechner said she has long made fluff for holidays and added it to the menu at her sister’s suggestion, recognizing it as something unique that few others offer.

Buechner said the Fluff-of-the-Week offerings “change every week.”

“I’ve probably already made 20-25 different kinds and continue to experiment, so there will be more to come,” she said.

Beyond fluff, Buechner said she enjoys making a variety of desserts, which is reflected in Inspire’s dessert flight of the month, featuring rotating items.

Buechner said chocolate-covered strawberries have been a popular item as well.

“We did light chocolate-covered strawberries with gold sprinkles, too,” she said.

Buechner said she often tailors the dessert options to match any holidays that fall within the month.

“Patrons may dine in or get items to go,” she said. “They can also call in their orders, then pick them up.”

Though online ordering will be available within the next month, Buechner said delivery will not be offered to keep the focus on in-person connections.

“We won’t be offering delivery services because that would defeat the point of getting customers in the door so we can connect with them,” she said. 

Buechner said though they value their coffee and food offerings, those are not their main priority.

“I really just want to get people in the door and make them comfortable while here,” she said. “We offer free Wi-Fi, and we sell several products with inspirational sayings on them. Those include caps, shirts, mugs, etc.” 

In a world that can sometimes feel isolating, Buechner said she is happy to provide a place where everyone feels they belong.

“Inspire is a place of acceptance, where friendships can grow, where we care for each other and help lift each other up,” she said. “We can accommodate 30 people, but if we need extra space, we can use the Mosaic center for overflow, as long as nothing is going on there at the time.”

Inspire Coffeehouse’s hours are 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily, except on Tuesday, when the coffee shop is closed.