SHELBY — The idea to open a coffee shop began brewing in Kimberly Mosler’s head a few years ago.
How she would do that was a bit blurred. But over the past few months, she’s turned the idea into a reality.
Also the founder and CEO of Ignited — a nonprofit organization to spark hope in the lives of women struggling with addiction or battling life-control problems — Mosler knew a for-profit business may be a need to help sustain Ignited.
“The cool thing about Milk & Honey is that it provides employment opportunities for the women that are coming out of trauma, exploitation and substance abuse,” she said. “That’s such a huge need.”
When women finish the program at Ignited, Mosler said it’s often challenging for them to find employment. Milk & Honey, the name chosen for the coffee company, will fill that gap by offering a chance to work in a healthy, stable environment.
Milk & Honey’s other goal is to resource its coffee beans from low-income or developing countries to help fulfill a hand-in-hand mission with Ignited of aiding orphans and widows around the globe.
“We’re taking a leap of faith and doing what we’re called to do,” Mosler said. “I think the shop is going to be really cutting edge for Shelby.”
Milk & Honey will begin serving customers out of its coffee trailer. Eventually, its downtown shop at 24 W. Main St. will also welcome patrons.
Mosler said the plan is to hard launch the coffee truck on Aug. 28., likely in the parking lot of O’Reilly Auto Parts, 222 Mansfield Ave.
Mosler aims to open downtown shop in spring 2026
Milk & Honey purchased its future brick and mortar storefront back at the end of May. The building was formerly home to Black Fork Commons Mercantile and The Well Coffee Shop.
Mosler said there are some hoops to jump through before the downtown shop can be opened to customers. She hopes to open the shop doors in early spring of 2026.
Milk & Honey’s lead barista is coming to Shelby after working for Goldberry Roasting Company, a well-known craft coffee roaster and coffeehouse in Ashland. The shop plans to initially source its beans from a roaster in Troy, Ohio, to begin serving customers.
The coffee trailer provides a unique opportunity for the coffee company to begin building clientele. Mosler said the trailer will likely be open to customers three days a week to start and will gradually begin increasing its hours.
“It requires more than me just hiring employees,” she said. “It’s us taking these women underneath our wings, so it’s a whole program in itself. There’s a little bit more attached to our employment training.”
