Sugar Rush by Amanda brings fresh sweetness to Suamico
Letting the sun do the work
August 12, 2024
SHEBOYGAN – Kate Krause – founder and owner of Paradigm Coffee and Music (1202 N. 8th St.) – said a lot has evolved with the eclectic cafe since opening 18 years ago.
“We are more than a cafe,” she said.
Krause said each year has seen growth – from its menu, to its music scene, to its customer base and its sourcing practices.
But what remains unchanged, she said, is its mission to continue to be there for the Sheboygan community.
Come for the coffee, food
Being multi-generational, Krause said, has always been an integral part of Paradigm’s mission.
“Through the years of running the business, we have had to pivot through changes,” she said.
An example of this, Krause said, is the cafe’s shift to a vegetarian menu.
“We decided to pivot as we continued to question the impact of our carbon footprint,” she said. “We produced a lot of waste and garbage and no matter how much we composted or recycled, it felt like we were never going to make a dent.”
The change, Krause said, has allowed for creativity in the kitchen.
“We do a lot of dairy and eggs – we get all of our eggs locally,” she said. “And we try to source locally as much as possible.”
Krause said Paradigm even produces some of its ingredients itself.
“My mom owns a farm just north of town,” she said. “She rents out 50’-x-50’-foot garden plots to the community, and we have space there as well. We grow cilantro, basil and incidental herbs – some of which show up by accident. We also have strawberry and asparagus patches.”
Krause said she and her partner Rebecca roll up their sleeves and garden as well.
“We have a small team of friends who go out (to the farm), pick and clean produce for Paradigm,” she said.
Paradigm’s menu, she said, is simple by design.
“When the cafe reopened after the pandemic, we only brought back the bagel sandwich and then added a couple of sandwiches after that,” she said.
Krause said Paradigm does all of its baking in-house.
“We make these pumpkin chocolate chip muffins a couple of times each day,” she said. “We are also known for our cherry pie pockets, along with savory turnovers. We have a few solid gluten-free recipes, though we are not a gluten-free kitchen.”
Like many other businesses in the service industry, part of that pivoting happened during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We closed our doors for more than four months during the pandemic,” she said. “We reopened as take-out only for a few months and also limited our hours. We are still at about 70% of our original operating hours and love it.”
Krause said Paradigm has kept some of its post-COVID hours.
“A small crew, including myself, comes in on Tuesdays, and we get the place ready to start for the week,” she said. “We used to be open first thing in the morning until nine or 10 p.m. Now, we get to say yes to more events, programming and music. It’s a lot more flexible.”
From a revenue standpoint, Krause said growth has been significant.
“What we used to do on an average day is now generated in an average hour,” she said.
Krause said Paradigm Coffee and Music has emerged into a pillar of the community.
“We used to be a hidden hole in the wall,” she said. “Some of our friends would argue that they missed that a little bit. We went from a coffee shop with no food to a place with a sandwich menu and a place for all to gather.”
Not only has Paradigm undergone many changes since its inception, Krause said, but so, too, has the Sheboygan community.
“I think our whole city has changed a lot in the last 18 years,” she said. “We are more of a tourist destination than we ever (have been). We have a tourist season and we feel that for sure. Our summers are really busy.”
Stay for the music
Krause said the origins of bringing music to Paradigm extends beyond the walls of the cafe.
“I wanted to help make Sheboygan a place where my friends and I wanted to live,” she said. “We went to a lot of shows in Milwaukee, so that gave me the idea to turn the space into a music venue. That’s how Paradigm Coffee and Music started.”
Krause said the establishment hosted its first show in 2006 – admitting they didn’t know what they were doing.
“We borrowed a sound system,” she said. “The wood stain on the stage was still wet. We charged five bucks at the door and had two local bands and a band out of Sweden. We handed out LaCroix from a little cooler behind the makeshift counter. We didn’t even have furniture – everybody sat on the floor. It was a great time.”
Krause said Paradigm has come a long way since then.
She said there is a seasonal flow to Paradigm’s summer crowds given all of the live music opportunities in the area.
But, Krause said there is no shortage of live music performances at Paradigm.
“We’ve done about 2,000 shows over the last 18 years,” she said. “Some of the touring musicians are bigger than you would expect to find in a coffee shop in Sheboygan.”
Krause said Paradigm is also involved in the annual Pride Picnic and Midsummer Festival of the Arts held at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center, where the cafe also offers baked goods.
“We set up early and serve the artists first thing in the morning,” she said. “We are there all day slinging coffee and iced tea and cold presses.”
What’s in a name?
Krause said when it came time to name the cafe, it was admittedly done rather quickly.
“I was 23 years old when we opened, and a friend and I were discussing names,” she said. “She suggested a song by The Smashing Pumpkins. (Then I said) if we’re going to name our place after anybody, it’s going to be an homage to Ani DiFranco, a popular folk musician. We agreed and picked Paradigm. This was something I listened to in my 20s. We don’t even think about it anymore.”
Ebbs and flows of business
Like many other business owners in the food service industry, Krause said she has faced challenges, especially when it comes to food prices.
“Everything feels volatile,” she said. “If we are not watching our case prices for things, like oat milk, it can fluctuate $10 a case. We go through 10 cases a week. This is all a new normal.”
Krause said watching pricing closely is equally balanced with an attempt to be accessible to everyone.
“We have a cup of coffee for $1 on our menu (so everyone can enjoy a cup of coffee),” she said. “But the price of everything is wild right now. It’s the fluctuation that gets us.”
Above all, Krause said, she wants the Paradigm to be that place on the map in Sheboygan that serves as a perfect example of the importance of supporting local businesses.
“(It’s all about) the importance of supporting local businesses and local humans who are adding to your community – it’s vital,” she said. “(It’s important to) think about your dollars and where you’re spending them and (think about) what you want to see more of in your community. It’s about giving back and keeping the money local and supporting local.”
Krause said the Sheboygan community is near and dear to her and believes in the reciprocal relationship the cafe has with it.
“The most rewarding thing about owning Paradigm Coffee and Music is showing up for the community every day and, in return, they show up for us,” she said. “That is by far and away the No. 1 takeaway.”
Krause said Paradigm aims to create that community within its walls, especially for the LGBTQ+ community.
“Paradigm Coffee and Music is a community-empowered restaurant and venue that strives to bring exceptional food, beverage and music to the Greater Sheboygan area,” she said.
Paradigm Coffee and Music is open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesdays, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursdays and from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
For more, visit paradigmvenue.com.
