Relationships Come First at the Village Coffee Shop

By Ethan Davison

October 4th, 2024

In the heart of Boulder, Colorado, the Village Coffee Shop has become a beloved fixture for over 50 years. Owned by Shanna Henkel and her husband Ryan, the Village is an essential morning pitstop for locals and visitors alike, with a menu that doesn’t break the bank.

Shanna is the heart and soul of the Village Coffee Shop. After getting to know her, it was clear why this place has consistently been a mainstay in Boulder. 

“The reason I get up in the morning and get out of bed is to go build relationships with people,” said Shanna. “People who choose to come to a greasy spoon diner in a town that's fancy pants like Boulder, are awesome, authentic people,” she said. 

It's those relationships that keep people coming back. 

“People that were in preschool when I started have finished grad school now. They come back and love to show off their next chapter, and I love to see it,” she proudly expressed.

On a daily basis, familiar faces stop in for breakfast and coffee, cultivating a sense of belonging. Alumni in town visiting CU, make it a point to stop in for a morning meal.

“I was in town this weekend to visit some old friends, and I told them we had to come by for breakfast one morning,” says Marc Borghi, a CU alumni now living in Boston.

There are of-course, the newby’s of the Village Coffee Shop. I won’t spoil it here, but when you tell a server it’s your first time eating there, you receive a warm welcome unlike no other. 

“They had me cracking up. This place is awesome, not to mention the food was fabulous. I’ll absolutely be coming back,” said Drake Hawks, a first time Village Coffee Shop goer. 

Shanna explained that the ritual predated her. It's one of those things that makes the place special.

Her connection to the Village Coffee Shop runs deep. She affectionately describes the initial owners, Chuck and particularly his wife Nancy. 

“Nancy was the outfront personality, and she brought so much to this place. She would tell me that maybe one day she and Chuck would sell us this restaurant,” recounts Shanna. 

In addition to serving great food, Shanna and Ryan have sponsored local youth sports teams, hosted fundraisers, and volunteered with local charities. They even volunteer-coached 42 soccer teams since taking over the Village.

It was their vital part in the local community that captured the interest of Dave Portnoy at Barstool Sports. The Covid-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the Village Coffee Shop. The Barstool Fund helped them to get through a few tough months, when in-person dining was at a restricted capacity. 

Fortunately, Shanna, Ryan and the Village Coffee Shop prevailed over the pandemic. 

Village Coffee Shop is more than just a diner, it’s a beacon of comfort and connection in the ever-changing landscape of Boulder. The motto truly depicts it all. 

890 square feet of reality, surrounded by Boulder.