The Dam Coffee Co. brews up new life near historic landmark

Rich Palzewic

Staff

May 18, 2026

CRIVITZ – Owner Courtney Mertens said Marinette County’s mix of outdoor access and small-town life made it an ideal spot for The Dam Coffee Co.

She said she chose Crivitz, especially, for its proximity to the High Falls Reservoir, opening at W11465 County Road X.

“Life here moves at a slower pace,” she said. “Summer weekends are spent fishing, boating, camping and gathering around the campfire.”

Mertens said the coffee shop is about a 15-minute drive from Crivitz – located on the main thoroughfare to the High Falls Reservoir, Governor Thompson State Park and other campgrounds.

“Everyone has to drive down County X to Parkway Road or to get to the state park,” she said. “There is a gas station on the opposite side, so people are either going to the gas station or coming from the gas station, too.”

Mertens said the shop reflects the area’s cozy cabins, rustic charm and laid-back Northwoods lifestyle.

“I wanted to create something for this community that feels familiar yet fresh – something we already love but haven’t had close by,” she said. “What could be better than starting your day with a fresh cup of coffee?”

Mertens said The Dam Coffee Co. – which opened in early May – has no indoor seating, offering two outdoor patios and a drive-thru instead.

“We also have an outdoor bathroom for convenience with a changing station for families with small children,” she said. “There are also picnic tables, and I would love to eventually bring it more to life with perhaps an outdoor playground and/or a small splash pad for families to enjoy. I want to create a nice, relaxing space for families to have their kids play while they enjoy a cup of coffee or another drink.”

Mertens said summer brings visitors from Illinois and other nearby states, many drawn to the reservoir’s surrounding cabins.

“There are a lot more cabins around here than we even realize,” she said. “The area is booming in the summer.”

Mertens said she expects only a slight winter dip, with snowmobiling and ice-fishing enthusiasts helping maintain traffic.

“I plan to be open year-round,” she said. “The snowmobile trails go right through the back of our property, and snowmobilers can access the business off the trails. Ice fishing is also huge up here in the winter. Eventually, I’d like to add soups and sandwiches, too. There are still quite a few people who come up to their cabins, even in the winter.”

Paying tribute

Mertens said The Dam Coffee Co. is named for the hydro dam built in 1910, which created the High Falls Reservoir – a landmark that forever changed the area’s landscape.

“Our name pays tribute to where it all started,” she said. “It took us a while to come up with a name, because I wanted something that people would remember and wasn’t your typical coffee name.”

Mertens said the name also reflects the shop’s location, “literally smack dab in this very touristy” area, especially in summer.

“Having a tagline like ‘dam good coffee’ or ‘dam good drinks’ sounds catchy, and I think people driving by might get a chuckle out of that,” she said.

Beyond the name, Mertens said the shop highlights the dam’s history, noting it created the recreation that draws visitors.

“Many people forget why this waterway is even here in the first place,” she said. “Without the flowage, you wouldn’t have everyone coming up here with their boats or going to their cabins surrounding [the water].”

Eventually, Mertens said she plans to add a wall or board featuring historical photos of the dam and surrounding area.

“I researched a lot of info from the Crivitz Area Museum about the process of how the dam was built,” she said. “It was fascinating to me. Back then, there weren’t cars, so everything came in by train and then horse and buggy from Crivitz to here. I think a lot of other people who come here will also find that interesting, just to see a little bit more of the history of the area.”

A vision two years in the making

Mertens said she and her husband, Bronson, had long talked about opening a drive-thru coffee shop near their home. 

Seeing a need in the area – and land for sale in Crivitz – they decided not to wait.

“It all moved pretty quickly,” she said. “Last March, we bought the land and drew up plans. We were anxious to see how fast we could get it open, and here we are, 12 months later, with a building up now serving coffee. Everything fell into place as it should have, and we really didn’t run into any issues with the building or equipment.”

Mertens said she plans to be open seven days a week, but customers should check the shop’s Facebook page for more specific days/times.

“I’m thinking 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., but we will play that by ear,” she said. “If people are still coming in later in the day for other drinks and not so much coffee, maybe we’ll stay open a bit later on certain days. For example, there is a waterski show that happens every Saturday, so that usually starts about 7 p.m.”

Mertens said she was intentional in choosing Door County Coffee for the shop’s coffee because she wanted to keep it local.

“I personally love Door County Coffee,” she said. “Everyone, for the most part, also loves Door County itself – another very touristy area. By bringing their coffee up here, we can have a little bit of the best of both worlds.”

Besides coffee, Mertens said dirty sodas, flavored lemonades and other drinks will also be offered – as well as caffeinated refreshers.

“Those are for people who want the caffeine but don’t like coffee,” she said. “Dirty sodas are very popular, but they really haven’t hit this area yet. I have a dirty soda menu where, really, the only thing that makes it dirty is if you add the half-and-half cream to it.”