By Joe Bachman

“Coffee keeps me going until it’s an acceptable time to drink wine.” – Unknown

For 11 years now, Cravings Coffee & Wine Shop have been delivering their own brand of gourmet coffee to the Wisconsin Rapids masses. Owned by Wisconsin Rapids 5th grade teacher Lisa Sullivan and Aspirus Physician Assistant Linda Woghan, Cravings has become a Wisconsin Rapids gem since its humble beginnings.

A look at a large selection of wine for purchase at Cravings. (City Times Photo)

According to Manager Theresa Cashman, business is thriving, and roots in convenience and quality are what set Cravings apart from others in the area, as they are the only coffee shop in town with a drive-thru.

“Our drive-thru is huge, and I think location plays a factor,” said Cashman. “– and of course, our customer service.”

As with many small businesses, it’s not just the customer service, but those they are serving that set the path for a successful establishment. When asked if the Cravings customer base has been more than supportive in their history, a confident Cashman gave a one-word answer of “Absolutely”.

However, Cravings isn’t just a hot spot for gourmet java, but a place to grab some vino. Cravings has a vast selection of unique wines not found  anywhere else in the area, and along with that, they have started to serve beer.

“One thing that we would really like to take off is our wine and beer,” said Cashman. “It’s been hard to implement because we’re a coffee shop — but we’ve done wine tasting and things like that in the past.”

With their patio open into the night, Cravings welcomes everyone to kick back and relax, crack open a brew, enjoy a glass of wine, and of course, a cup o’ joe.

Cravings Coffee & Wine Shop is open seven days a week, from 6:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. They are located at 312 Eighth St. South.