Today we’d like to introduce you to Derek Belnap.
Hi Derek, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I started working in coffee 20 years ago and fell in love with it.
From there, I have worked in a handful of shops, the coffee garden being the longest stint before I opened up 3 Cups. 3 Cups has been in business since 2014. I always thought it would be fun to open up my own coffee shop. I wanted it to be a place for the community and one that offered quality coffee, service, and food.
We have since begun offering wine and beer to our menu and offer live music on Friday nights as well. Since opening up in Holladay, we have become a staple in the community and hope to continue to provide a community space for years to come.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It hasn’t always been a smooth road. This is my first business and that has led to me having to learn some things on the job. That being said, I think that Holladay has been very welcoming and supportive of us in our journey to provide our service to them.
The biggest struggle that we have encountered is the pandemic. It has presented a number of new challenges that we were not prepared for. The slow down in business, the restrictions of daily life, the struggle of being a customer-facing business and trying to keep a safe space for everyone, the staffing struggles that have presented themselves in one form or another during the pandemic.
We are hopefully coming out of the worst of it and are happy that we have made it through.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We are a coffee shop and bakery in the heart of Holladay. We pride ourselves on providing a great community space for all walks of life.
We offer in house baked goods and gelato, house-roasted coffee, and quality coffee beverages with in-house-made syrups, we offer wine and beer and have our wine and charcuterie nights from Tuesday-Saturday with live music on Friday nights, we also offer great workshops on Monday evenings, ranging from wine classes to crafting workshops.
I think what sets us apart is that we offer such a large range of products and services for a coffee shop while still maintaining high quality and service with a large welcoming space. I am most proud of our brand in that we are a community-focused business. We are proud to be a welcomed part of the community.
What are your plans for the future?
We want to maintain a high level of quality and continue to build upon it from within. We hope to expand in the future so we can provide our 3 Cups brand to other parts of Salt Lake City.
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.3cups.coffee
- Instagram: @3_cups_coffee
Image Credits
Elisha Braithwaite Photography
