Our Story
Nick and Amanda were born and grew up in the Mid-Michigan area. They moved out of state for school and careers. But they lived in Chesaning 2018-19. Nick had been laid off from the college where he was teaching due to budget cuts. Since it can take a while to get a new position in academia, they moved home to Michigan for the year. While there, they began brainstorming other careers and ways they could stay home with family and friends. One day, when they were stressed about the future, they went to a coffee shop. As they sat there, they thought how amazing it would be to have a coffee shop in Chesaning. They had a lot of great restaurants, but they didn’t have a lot of places to meet up and connect without getting a full meal.
Julie, Nick’s mom, and Steve are native Michiganders, too. They have been business people in Chesaning for a number of years. They have used their creative talents to make rental spaces in Chesaning and the surrounding area. But Julie has always had a passion for baking and dreamed of having a commercial kitchen for years. Her and Steve were always thinking of ways to bring delicious treats to people. So when Nick and Amanda brought up the idea of a coffee shop to them, they thought it was a fantastic idea.
But, Nick got another position, so they moved away again…
and they left their hearts behind in Michigan.
In Kansas, Nick’s academic career was going well and Amanda, a theatre-maker, was working as the education director at a community theater - her dream job. They met amazing people and had a good life… but they missed home. When they visited for Christmas and summer, it was hard to go back to another state. Living in Chesaning that year spoiled them. They wanted to come home.
Julie and Steve finished most of their spaces and accomplished important goals. As they looked at retirement, they were a little nervous. Being creators and dreamers, it seemed too soon to be done. What project would be next?
A couple of long, soul-searching conversations later - Big Rock Coffee & Events was born.
Staff
Amanda Joy Hauman - Events, Marketing, & General Manager, Owner
Nicholas Hauman - Head Roaster, Coffee Guru, Daily Operations Manager, Owner
Julie O’Dell - Kitchen Manager , Baker, Owner
Steve O’Dell - Building and Maintenance Manager, Everything Guy, Owner
Cayden Whiteherse - Marketing Manager, Social Media fanatic, Fill in barista
Shelby Stopka - Captain of Multitasking, Assistant Baker, Julie’s left hand
Claudia Mayhew - Executive Sherpa, Assistant baristaologist