By Jennifer Stultz
Tri-County Tribune Editor
jstultz@cherryroad.com
September 26, 2024, was a quiet, yet normal day with the usual hum of activity at N’Cahoots Coffee & Shoppe, 210 S. Main, Pratt. It just the kind of day that owner George Nusz loves, and a perfect day for celebrating the shop’s seventh anniversary in business.
“What I love is all the people who come in here and become like family,” Nusz said. “On any given week, we have junior high bible studies here, a ladies book club, farmers meeting with their financial advisors, pastors having coffee hours, harvesters, workers from the wind farms or the large dairy in Edwards County coming in, families meet here, people visit and connect. This is a happy place and I love it.”
Looking back at the past seven years, one could get hung up on the difficulties of the COVID years or the economic downturn, but Nusz, who has been assisted by her daughter Tiffany Riley in running the coffee shop, said that community support never wavered and they have never thought of quitting.
“There are a lot of people behind me who have helped through the years,” Nusz said. “I just really appreciate this community’s support. We are all better together, that has always been my motto.”
While N’Cahoots Coffee & Shoppe features Roasterie coffees and other cold and hot drinks, collectible clothing, hats, jewelry, books, and even quilts, Nusz said her whole goal as a Pratt downtown business owner has been to help her community.
“I think it is so important to be proactive, willing to change to meet customer needs, be innovative and progressive,” she said. “I’ve studied our traffic patterns, adjusted hours to when people want to be in here, and just tried to be very community orientated. That’s why we have been successful. That, plus I just have a great staff. I am so proud of my employees.”
Nusz employs an average of 12 part-time staff members, many who learn the basics of customer-service at her tutelage and then go on to bigger and better opportunities. Her former baristas often come in to say ‘hi’ and update her on their progress in life.
“We’re like a big family here,” she said. “We intentionally try to make sure there is time to visit and connect with our customers and to take care of each other.”
Pratt native Baylee Lauffer said she has worked many other places in Pratt already, but coming in to work at N’Cahoots is special.
“I love working here,” Lauffer said. “Making drinks is fun and being able to talk with people here keeps me happy. I’m a people person and you just don’t get the chance for conversation at a lot of other jobs.”
Nusz said she trains all her staff to make excellent, consistent hand-crafted coffees and drinks, and she also places importance on customer service that includes connecting with people and taking the time to talk.
“That is something we all benefit from,” she said.
N’Cahoots is open Monday-Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The shop is closed on Sunday to give employees time with their families.
