Heber Valley Life

Tag: coffee

  • Jade’s Cafe.

    Jade’s Cafe.

    It’s amazing how sometimes when you walk into a restaurant, a store, or cafe you can immediately feel the atmosphere that the owners are aiming for. This is exactly what happened to me the second I stepped foot in Jade’s Cafe, it was as if there was an enchanting aura that enveloped the entire space. The vibe that the owners, Halle and Mason Squires, are trying to achieve is a laid back cozy cafe, somewhere you feel right at home. In Halle’s words, “My favorite, we have this lady that comes in with her mom. Her mom’s old enough that the one time she gets out is to come get breakfast, and I loved creating a place for them to do that” she continues, “I’ve loved getting to host different groups of people, and just creating a place for people to come out and enjoy something together.”

    Jade’s Cafe opened in the summer of 2023. It’s always been Halle’s dream to open a coffee shop, and name it Jade’s Cafe, Jade being her middle name. Any time she vacations she insists on finding the cutest shops, on her most recent vacation she visited four in an hour just to see which was her favorite. Describing her dream becoming a reality, Halle says, “I always wanted to open it. I had envisioned how I wanted it and everything, I just didn’t know how it was going to be possible. But then, after we were married, I told Mason my interest in it, and he was like, ok, let’s do it, I’ll make it possible. So, he figured out all the logistics, and then I figured out how to make it pretty.” And make it pretty she did, the decor is reflective of the theme of the restaurant, “Food for the Mountains.” Rustic furnishings, deep rich colors and warm light, and lots of beautiful vintage photos of Halle and Mason’s family on what Halle calls the ancestor wall. The beauty and attention to detail shouldn’t come as a shock to anyone because Halle has a background in interior design. She owns and runs Nomad Soul with her mom and sisters, the store right next door to Jade’s. They’ve been running a very successful interior design business at other locations, but decided when they found what Halle describes as their “forever store” they would attach a cafe, “So it’s like, you come out with your girls, shop, eat, it’s a whole experience.” If cozy and comfy are what you’re going for, you’ll find it at Jade’s Cafe.

    The view from the restaurant can not be beat, and it’s so appropriate with the theme of the restaurant, looking directly out you have the most spectacular view of Mount Timpanogos. When I mentioned how inspiring the view was, both Mason and Halle touted it as one of the reasons they love this location, describing it as magical. Mason fondly recalls always visiting Heber Valley from the other side of Timpanogos, a short drive through Provo Canyon from his home town of Alpine. He says,“This is the perfect place to be up in the mountains, there’s three really great lakes for fishing close by.” So why “Food for the Mountains?” Mason relates, “I don’t know if you’re like me and my wife, we never like eating the same thing all the time, we like to try something new.” Halle continues, talking about Jade’s Cafe, “It’s hearty. It’s real food. That’s what I told our chef when he was like, ‘What do you want it to be like?’ I’m like, ‘I want it to be something that your mom would make for you in the morning but better.’ And so it’s just good home cooking, nothing so out of the norm that you’re not sure what it is yet, but it’s good.” Their menu is quite distinctive, it has your standard items like steak and eggs (for breakfast from 7 am to 2 pm) but it also features some more unique options like sticky pork belly (offered at dinner from 4 to 9 pm.) Halle gets a whole restaurant named after her, but don’t you worry, Mason gets his fifteen seconds of fame too, Mason’s Jar is a brownie and pudding dessert served in a mason jar, my mouth is watering just thinking about it. Dinner is a newer addition to the cafe, they were both excited when they started serving dinner, “I think it was fun to see our chef get to do a whole new category. He’s so creative, and he has so many ideas. I feel like we tasted a small little bit of what he could do with breakfast, and now we’re getting a little bit more with dinner, and then it will just be ever changing.” Their goal is to hold on to their menu for a season or so and then give their chef, Michael Grieco, a chance to dazzle the cafe with something new. Maybe you’re only looking for coffee, it is a cafe after all. They have a great selection, their hot blend comes from Stumptown Coffee out of Portland, while their cold brew comes from a local roaster called Pink Elephant just down the road in Heber.

    In Halle and Mason’s estimation, what they love most about Jade’s Cafe is getting to meet all the different people that stop by. Halle describes one group in particular that she loves, “We have a ladies coffee club that comes in once a week.

    It is so enjoyable to see them come and have a place where they feel comfortable, can sit and chat for hours and just enjoy it. I think that’s been the most fun.” The Squires love being in a smaller area like Heber because of the great community that it espouses. They’ve taken ownership of that community and the service that they are providing to this town, they want to take that service even further. Ultimately, it’s Halle’s goal to open more Jade’s Cafe locations. She states, “We’re looking to open in Saint George next and that will be ‘Food for the Desert’ and kind of just moving to each location, targeting exactly the environment, the landscape of each place, and making it [the cafe] feel like wherever you are. For other locations we would only pick small towns, so that we can get to know our people and be a part of the community.” I love the idea of emphasizing the things that make a community great and theming a restaurant after them, Jade’s is the perfect example of that. Wherever the future takes Jade’s Cafe, Heber Valley is a better place for having Mason and Halle building our community with a place everyone can go to enjoy something together.

    Drop in for a hearty meal, a visit, or a cup of coffee at Jade’s Cafe.
    200 Gateway Drive, Heber City  |  jadescafe.com

  • Community Coffee Gratitude

    Community Coffee Gratitude

    If you are anything like me, one of your favorite parts of downtown Heber would be the charming, unique shops that help cultivate the small-town vibes. Whether sun shining, leaves falling, or snow twirling, one cannot help but feel nostalgic while driving down the main street of ‘rural’ Heber that seems to be disappearing. The addition of modern buildings, though exciting, often creates an appreciation for the Heber City buildings of yesteryear. If you make time to take a serious look at some of our historic structures, you might discover the stories of those who built them within the bricks. Many who casually drive by these old homes may not realize it, but today, inside many of them, are community residents trying to preserve the structures and the stories.

    That is how I would describe Shawn McMullen, owner of Everyday Coffee House: a preserver. On the corner of Main and 300 South, inside a 19th century Victorian house, lies an authentic coffee house that seems as if it could have been here since Heber was first established. Everyday Coffee House aims to preserve the authenticity of our community, while at the same time creating a history of its own. The best part being that you and I get to take part in this story.

    Only a few years ago, Shawn held a corporate position that required him to relocate up and down both sides of the west coast. The constant moves and shifts left an empty gap and it was difficult to define where home was. When the 2020 COVID shutdowns spread, Shawn recognized there was no better moment to reimagine his life. Everything slowed down which allowed Shawn and his wife, Becka, to reinvent the life they wanted. A close family friend tipped them off to a small town in central Utah, named Heber City. Shawn shared, “When we came through town, everything was locked down, but still, we managed to have conversations with people here. The people were nice and friendly, and we said to one another ‘this is it. This is where we want to put down roots.’”

    The corporate lifestyle that had taken them so many places was no longer a source of joy in their lives, so they decided to put principle over profit, and pick up life in the Heber Valley. A drive down Main Street revealed historic buildings they instantly fell in love with. Shawn and Becka had a strong desire to not just live in this beautiful valley, but they wanted to be a part of it — a part of the community — and they wanted to create a business that centered on gratitude.

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    With one step into Everyday Coffee House, you’ll realize it isn’t anything like any coffee house you’ve been to before. The coffee house rings with the quiet rustle of books and papers of those working; and the steam rising from a toasted cup of coffee, combined with the quiet hustle of Main Street that seems to be painted onto the windows, signals that all are welcome. “Almost everyone comes together over a cup of coffee or tea, and I wanted to give everyone that experience — the coffee experience.” And, let me tell you, Shawn knows how to create that coffee experience. Shawn has put his all into everything that has gone into Everyday Coffee House. The goal is for everyone to feel that any moment spent there is a moment of serenity, a moment of nostalgia, a moment of gratitude, and a moment of discovery; feelings that are impossible to buy or create, but come from the raw and authentic parts of who we are.

    Everyday Coffee House is a European style café, with only the finest coffees. All the beans are completely organic and single origin to ensure the taste of quality. With a menu full of unique earthy tastes, your senses are sure to be enlightened. For the best experience, Shawn asks that you walk away from everything you know about coffee and allow yourself to drink coffee on the cusp —bold, roasted to the richest flavors, and see the difference it makes. While Shawn has a passion for coffee, his true passion is caring about people and what he can do to help their day go just a little bit smoother. That’s why this is not only a destination for your new favorite cup of coffee, but also the destination for the finest of teas, and the valley’s home-based favorite Dottie’s Kolaches.

    Whether you need a place to work, to relax, to throw a party, or host a gathering, Everyday Coffee House is your destination. The owner looks forward to the future of his business which is to include, monthly tastings, spreading authentic coffee throughout our hometown, and further gathering the community of the Heber Valley. “In five years from now,” Shawn shares, “I would like to see Heber maintain its quaintness and small-town vibe, as well as its ‘Ma and Pa’ businesses,” The very qualities that drew Shawn and Becka to Heber in the first place. “People come here to work, people come here to meet up…and people come here to play.”

    Everything about the coffee house has been done with authenticity and gratitude. Shawn explains, “There was one day we drove through Heber looking for a location to start our business, and I said, ‘None of these will work for me.’ But then we saw this house, and this house looks just like the house that my mom grew up in. This Victorian house reminded me of my grandmother’s home, so I walked up and knocked on the door to ask if I could rent the space.” Shawn’s tie to the house could be why it feels like home when you walk through the doors. He continued to share, “Later I found out that it is a historical building; it was the first mayor of Heber’s home and is registered on the national registry as the ‘James Clyde House.’” The history of the house is important to Shawn and he has dedicated himself to putting something in it that is unique, small-town, and speaks to the destination of Heber City.

    Come visit Everyday Coffee House, enjoy the culture of this small-town coffee house, and don’t be surprised if your new favorite pastime is watching the snow fall through the windows of that 19th century Victorian home, with a delicious drink warming your hands.

    People come here to work, people come here to meet up… and people come here to play drop in and say, hello!  312 s main, Heber City – just south of Heber City park –

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