By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Since opening some 15 years ago, Perks Coffee Shop in downtown Great Bend has been through a few iterations. Last known as RePerks, the shop was closed in mid-November when its then-owners retired. Mark Mingenback, board member for MyTown, was part of the shop's reopening Monday morning.
"Perks Coffee Shop is part of the MyTown project," he said. "When the former operators of RePerks decided to retire, our board of directors at MyTown decided let's see if we can keep the coffee shop open and reopen it as the original name of Perks."
A new team of baristas has been hired and trained to improve the coffee selection in the shop. Perks is also going back to its original menu with light breakfast items like biscuits and gravy, a sausage and egg sandwich, and panini sandwiches served at lunch. Several pastry options and coffee will be available all day.
"We're really excited about it," Mingenback said. "The original intent of the MyTown project 15 years ago when we started it was to keep downtown Great Bend facilitated with stores and businesses. We're excited because, here in the Zarah Building, we're going to start constructing the 28 apartments in the higher floors of the building later this year."
READ MORE: Taking steps toward downtown Great Bend apartment project
The adjoining Tellers 1872 restaurant will remain closed until MyTown can find a restaurant operator to lease the space. Perks will be open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily with plans to extend hours from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. soon. Construction on the apartments above Perks could begin as soon as March.