Whether a student or community member, Pups and Cups, a coffee shop on Main Street, brings downtown a cozy, welcoming environment that keeps the spirit of Pullman alive.
Small-town businesses can be risky because they face a high probability of failure. However, Pups and Cups is determined to be a long-term, welcoming place for all people in Pullman, whether they are students or community residents.
Blair Anderson is a recent WSU graduate who decided to stay in Pullman and work before going to grad school. She discovered Pups and Cups during her junior year and started working as a barista in August.
“I actually didn’t know much about Pups and Cups when I first was a student here, until about my junior year. I would come every so often after that,” Anderson said.
Pups and Cups offers one thing most places do not: dog-friendly service. The emphasis is on the dogs with provisions like pupachinos and an off-leash area. Pups and Cups is a place where customers can take their dogs out while also getting work done, hanging out with people, or just getting a coffee.
With Pullman being a small town, Pups and Cups is one of the thriving businesses downtown run by love for the community that loves them back. The cafe and bar hosts many different events to keep people involved, as some of the other businesses start to close.
“We are trying to focus on advertising through Instagram and collaborating with other businesses and organizations,” Anderson said.
The community is focused on supporting small businesses in an effort to lessen reliance on big corporations. Pullman residents know when a community works in support of each other, it is possible to develop a loving and thriving atmosphere.
When the community supports the business, baristas like Anderson get to form connections and relationships with the customers.
“We actually have a group of older men that come in every morning, and they get the same coffee and pastries every morning,” Blair said. “So if we work in the morning, we get to see them.”
Baristas also make connections with the owner’s dogs.
“We have these two bulldogs who are probably my favorite; I love them so much. They know my name. Their owners say, ‘let’s go see Blair,’” Anderson said.
Anderson has immersed herself in the Pullman community through this job and has been able to see how a small-town community can come together to be self-sufficient.
“Until I worked downtown myself and got to see it, it’s been one of my favorite things about working downtown, getting to see the community,” Anderson said.
Pups and Cups is confident in keeping the business alive and running through new advertising, events, discounts and more. The cafe has a few discounts, ranging from student and Greek life discounts to discounts for dog owners and vets.
They are starting up open mic nights again, along with having live music a few times a week and other night events. They are also partnering with shops like “Terracotta” for Valentine’s Day events.
More events and general information about Pups and Cups can be found on their Instagram.
