Help Kelsie Kay’s Coffee Depot after fire

Hi, my name is Kimberly Tilsen an entrepreneur expert. I am asking for support from our entrepreneur community for one of our own. I have worked with Kelsey for the 5 years.

The dream started in 2005. Auntie Kay gave Kelsie an at home espresso machine because her niece wanted a good cup of iced coffee in her hometown. Fast forward through a premie baby to a now 11 year old son, a full-time job, sometimes college student, beading to make ends meet, any time rancher, entrepreneurship student, years wait on a business space, business loan packaging, start-up incubator stage that she successfully graduated from, and survived a global pandemic by adapting and putting her customer’s needs first. Then, in 2021 Main Street Eagle Butte, SD becomes the permanent home of Kelsie Kay’s Coffee Depot – a Lakota woman owned and operated investment on the Cheyenne River Reservation.

On July 30, 2023, fire which caused extensive smoke and water damage to KK Coffee Depot’s building and equipment. Kelsie is working with her insurance company and will provide her loyal customers an update as soon as she can. In the meantime, Kelsie is highly concerned for her dedicated employees as they will have loss of income, all the costs not covered by insurance, and the temporary closing of a community hub that truly accommodated their customers needs and wants from bagel breakfasts to BLT lunches to an evening tanning bed session.

Kelsie’s generosity and give back to her community is immeasurable but here’s a short list of examples: donated door prizes to the CRST Tribal Health Department Community Events, Eagle Butte Hometown Days Cornhole Prize Donation, donation to High School Rodeo, providing retail space for local artists, cash donations to the CRST Horsemanship Program, soup maker for the annual High Stakes Coyote Calling Content, served on the CRST Headstart Policy Board for 2 years, sponsored The Depot’s Ranch Rodeo Team, consistently contributes to local fundraisers through purchasing and providing selling space, current member of the 7 Council Fires YMCA (Dupree, SD), supports as many local firefighting efforts as possible by providing drinks, food, and lending a hand where needed, logistics & financial manager of Longbrake Memorial saddle bronc matches (aka: The Chute Boss), collaborated with the State Bank of Eagle Butte Customer Appreciate Dinner and City Wide Clean-Up, and makes it a point to always be there in other’s time of need. Born and raised on Cheyenne River Reservation and the best part about Kelsie is how often she brags about how she is never leaving home because (when we asked her this, she broke down in tears and couldn’t answer– that’s how much all of you and this place mean to her). When she gained her composure, she said because everyone always says how bad it is here, but it isn’t. It’s a place where you can make anything. I have created a beautiful life here through hard work and I am Team Cheyenne River forever. I just want my shop to be back so I can keep meeting new people.

As one customer stated about the news, “It’s not just Kelsie Kay’s Coffee Shop, it’s the towns coffee shop because she created it that way. New customers walk in to a fun, comfortable atmosphere and are greeted with stellar service. The Regulars (repeat customers) walk in, are greeted by name, and baristas begin making their favorite drinks. And she even helps the elders by doing curb side services.”

And now it is our turn to support her. If you can contribute financially through the gofundme or the donation account at State Bank of Eagle Butte, it is appreciated, but prayers and good vibes are welcomed and even more appreciated.