The Market Almanac - January Settling In
January has become cold and looks to be staying that way as we move into February. The Kansas winter settled over us with that stillness that makes the warmth of a corner feel like refuge — and we were grateful to be here for it, doors open, coffee hot, welcoming you in from the cold. This was our first full month as stewards of The Market at Little River, and what a month it has been. We've learned the rhythms of early mornings when our coffee drinkers arrive before dawn, the mid-afternoon lulls, the evening rush before the weekend begins. We've watched the light change through our windows as January's short days give way, slowly, to the promise of longer ones ahead.
The shelves have been shifting, too — not just in their arrangement (though there's been plenty of that), but in what they hold. This month brought many new products such as fresh ginger, Chobani Flips, Yum Yum Sauce, and other additions that feel like they've always belonged here. And if you've noticed things moving around a bit, you're not imagining it. We've been rearranging with intention, listening to how you shop, what you reach for, where your eyes go when you walk through the door.
Behind the scenes, we're preparing for what comes next: a new point-of-sale system that will help us serve you better, and — though we're not quite ready to unveil it yet — something we're calling Market Munches, a way to share the recipes we love with the community we love serving. More on that soon. The century-old wood floors were cleaned this month, their grain and history revealed anew — a small act of stewardship that felt like honoring the community and those who have cared for the store before us (don’t worry, below is a before picture - stop in to see the new look).
The cold snap tested us all this month, but we all held steady. There's something reassuring about a place that knows how to weather a Kansas winter — and about the people who continue to show up for coffee and conversation even when the wind cuts sharp across the plains. Thank you for braving the cold to visit us, for your patience as we learn and adjust, and for the way you've made this place feel like home.
As we turn the page to February, we're already looking ahead. Valentine's Day candy is out and ready (because love, we've learned, is best celebrated with chocolate), and on the horizon is something we think you'll enjoy: National Pizza Day falls on February 9th this year — the same day as the Super Bowl. We're already thinking about how to celebrate, and we hope you'll join us.
Here's to January — to the cold mornings, the warm welcomes, and the steady company of neighbors who've become friends.
We'll see you at The Market.
— JD & John
