Native-owned coffee shop grows through community and culture
Family-run coffee shop on the Fond du Lac Reservation puts community first while expanding to a second location
MiigWitches Brew, a Native-owned coffee business on the Fond du Lac Reservation in northeastern Minnesota, is expanding while focusing on community over profit, according to reporting from MPR News. Jackson Ripley, a citizen of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation, and his family opened the first location in 2024. The business recently added a second shop at the Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College.
Ripley said he wanted to bring quality coffee to the reservation, where residents previously traveled farther for coffee. The business also supports other Native and local businesses by purchasing coffee, baked goods and maple syrup from nearby suppliers. Andrea Reese, CEO of the Mni Sota Fund, told MPR News that Native entrepreneurs often prioritize supporting their communities over maximizing profits. Ripley said staying close to family and serving the community remain central to the business.
- 1.Quality coffee, Ojibwe bonds build a business on the Fond du Lac Reservation in NE Minnesota. MPR News.
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