Dec. 5, 2024

There’s a new coffee option coming to southeast Sioux Falls next year.

Oregon-based The Human Bean is expanding to the market, thanks to local franchisee Elizabeth Menke.

After 15 years as a speech pathologist, she was looking for a change and “had lots of ideas but kept coming back to coffee,” she said. “So I started looking for brands to partner with and in looking at that found The Human Bean.”

As she looked into the company, its emphasis on “connecting with people and being part of the community” stood out, she said.

“They were dedicated to being good and doing good, and my clinician heart loved that,” Menke said. “And in talking to the support center, the headquarters and the founders of the company and other franchisees, I just got more excited about partnering with them.”

Her 600-square-foot location will offer drive-thru and walk-up service at 2801 E. Jackson St., not far from 69th Street and Southeastern Avenue.

Before committing, Menke and her husband traveled last year to the next closest Human Bean, which is in Missouri.

“After seeing the building and talking to the baristas and having that experience tasting the product, I was sold,” she said.

The menu includes specialty-grade coffee, real-fruit smoothies, whole-leaf teas, a proprietary energy drink and hot breakfast items, including sandwiches and bagels.

Every coffee beverage includes a chocolate-covered espresso bean on top to symbolize how the brand is about giving customers “more than they expect,” Menke said.

The location in southeast Sioux Falls is a strong one, said Isaac Jorgensen of Bender Commercial Real Estate Services, who helped broker the deal.

“The access and visibility are great, there are rooftops in all directions and growing in number, two schools within less than a mile and new commercial developments filling in to the east and the west,” he said. “The location — paired with quality leadership from Elizabeth — is a great recipe for success.”

The Human Bean also will have a patio area, “which I thought was really important, especially being in such a residential area with people walking constantly,” Menke said. “I want it to feel like part of the neighborhood, where you can take a walk, and if you’re not in a hurry, walk up to the window and meet your neighbor.”

The Human Bean coffee company has grown from a single location in 1998 in southern Oregon to a nationwide brand with more than 250 locations over the past 25 years.

“We’re thrilled to bring a new coffee experience to Sioux Falls. Giving customers something to look forward to and sharing a special moment with a friendly face, it’s really what it’s all about,” Scott Anderson, chief operating officer of The Human Bean, said in a statement.

The chain’s coffee shops host several fundraising events annually, with all money raised by the individual location staying in the local community, he said.

The Sioux Falls location plans to open in the spring. Follow the progress on Instagram and Facebook.