Reporter for The Canyon Weekly
A Gates high schooler has gone into business for herself after buying a local coffee stand and is learning unique lessons about balancing work with the obligations of senior year.
Bella Mitchell, 17, a senior at Santiam Jr./Sr. High School, opened Bell’s Brew Aug. 16 after purchasing Canyon Espresso at 101 N Santiam Hwy. E, in Gates.
She has undertaken the responsibilities one would expect of a small business owner including hiring and managing staff, ordering product and working the kiosk herself.
This is in addition to serving as study body president, playing volleyball, participating in 4H, caring for livestock and maintaining relationships with her family and friends.
Mitchell told The Canyon Weekly that balancing all these priorities has been “a true struggle, but I love every second.”
“Even if I can’t be in the shop every day, when I do get to see [customers] I truly appreciate it,” said Mitchell. “I love hearing all their stories and about all their lives and I care for each and every one of them.”
Mitchell said she received support from previous owners Robert Rumplik and Cynthee Hooper, the son and daughter-in-law of Canyon Espresso founder Mona Rumplik who opened the kiosk in 2010 and turned Canyon Espresso into a local favorite, with promotional gift card giveaways and well-loved menu items like cinnamon rolls and biscuits and gravy.
Mona Rumplik died in 2023 at the age of 62.
Mitchell said she plans to bring back homemade baked goods and also try something new with Canyon Sodas, a menu of popular soft drinks with flavorful twists. Examples include Dr. Pepper with coconut, fresh lime and half-and-half, Sprite with grapefruit and guava, and Mountain Dew with peach and blackberry.
One unexpected hit, said Mitchell, has been a simple offering of hotdogs. She said she did not expect much when they were made available and word quickly spread that Bell’s Brew was the place to grab frankfurters.
She said learning and adjusting to customers’ tastes has become a significant part of how she runs Bell’s Brew, including offering new specials every week to gauge what customers enjoy. She said the goal is to “match people’s wants and needs so they enjoy coming through.”
Mitchell said she hopes to be able to spend more at her new business when her schedule becomes clearer after volleyball season is over and other obligations calm down. She said, after finishing high school, she plans to seek a business degree from Chemeketa Community College and hopes to use her education to expand the business.
Mitchell said owning a small business has had its challenges, such as managing employees who are also friends and classmates, and accepting that not every customer will be happy. She said a successful business owner can’t become fixated on what other people think, and should instead pursue something they feel passionate about.
“You can’t make everyone happy but the people that do enjoy what you’re doing will make you feel amazing and make your vision come true,” said Mitchell.