CLEMMONS, N.C. — In Clemmons, North Carolina sits a coffee shop called the Dog-eared Coffee Company.
But for Lauren Ramirez, it’s so much more than that – it’s a living memorial.
“We bought it in 2021. I was pregnant at the time, and we found out that our daughter would have a congenital heart defect. We thought we would start everything once she got better. But after eight months in the hospital, she did not get better. And she unfortunately passed away in September of 2022. And we realized then that you don't have as much time as you think and that nothing is guaranteed," recalled Ramirez, co-owner of the shop.
Lauren and her husband, Gilbert, channeled every ounce of their love for Izzy into this shop, the Dog-eared Coffee Company, however, the first year proved to be challenging.
“Out of our nine months being open last year, probably five of them were really not breakeven months at all. It was really tough," Ramirez said.
So, she put a call out to the community on Facebook.
"We were really hoping people would consider giving us a try for their next stop for their next cup of coffee rather than going to the bigger places, that they would consider trying us or trying another local spot. Especially in advance of our daughter's second birthday coming up," Ramirez said.
That was on Dec. 29. Only one day later, the community answered.
The positive response was so overwhelming that on Dec. 30, Dog-eared Coffee Company ran out of coffee and had to close early.
“We made more on a Saturday than we made the entire month of November," recalled Ramirez.
Regular patrons and new customers alike flocked to the local coffee shop, breathing new life into it when it seemed darkest. But it was never just about the bottom line, it was always about Izzy.
“I feel really lucky and sometimes I feel undeserving of it but I'm just really grateful to be here. Like I said if nothing else, at the end of the day, all of the struggles will have been worth it If Izzy, and kids like her, memory gets to be honored," Ramirez said.
An extra shot of joy with a splash of kindness is what is served when you have community.